Vacancies and Applications

Application Process for Boards, Commissions & Committees

Adult Boards, Commissions & Committees

Before You Apply

• Read a summary of the purpose of each Board, Commission, or Committee, and the day, place, and time they meet. Attend a meeting of the Commissions you are interested in joining to determine which would be the best fit for your interests and availability.
• Confirm you meet the Residency Requirements (Council Policy 2-11):  
  • Adult Commissioners must reside within the incorporated municipal limits of the Town of Los Gatos;
  • Youth Commissioners must reside within the incorporated municipal limits of the Town of Los Gatos OR reside in the unincorporated areas of the County of Santa Clara County, which have a Los Gatos mailing address.
• Speak to the Commission Chair and/or the staff liaison assigned to the Commission for further information regarding time commitment, Commission projects and sub-committees, and the role of a Commission member.
• Attend a Town Council meeting, or watch it televised on KCAT or on the Town website, to learn more about Town government and current issues. Subscribe to the Town of Los Gatos “What’s New!” eMail Delivery Service for more information about Town government and the community. Read the Commissioner Handbook for more information.
• Confirm you are available for the meeting date, time, and frequency of the meetings for the Commission you are interested in applying for.
• Review the Council Commission Appointments, Residency and Attendance Requirements, and Establishing a Quorum Policy 2-11.

Application Instructions

1. Click on the hyperlink below for the Board, Commission, or Committee you are interested in to open the application.
2. Complete and sign the application
3. Save a copy to your computer
4. Email the completed and signed application to clerk@losgatosca.gov by the deadline date and time.
5. If you are applying to more than one, you will have to repeat the steps for each one.

• Submit a new application even if you are re-applying to a Commission.
• If not completing the online application, type or print neatly so your application can be easily read when reproduced.
• Be sure to answer all supplemental questions.
• Limit attachments to two single-sided pages.
• Sign your application.
• Youth Commissioner applicants must submit a current photo, shoulders and above and no larger than 2x3 (similar to a student ID or Drivers License photo) with the application.
• Applications will be kept active for 12 months for those who do not interview or are not appointed for the current recruitment.
• Submit your application by the deadline date and time to the Clerk Department.
• Contact the Clerk Department at (408) 354-6834 or Clerk@losgatosca.gov with any questions.

What Happens Next...

• After the application deadline, qualified applications will be reproduced and given to Council members to review.
• The Clerk Department will notify all applicants via email of their status and/or confirm the interview date and time. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your spam/junk mail folder and/or contact the Clerk Department to confirm your application was received by the deadline date and time.
• Qualified applicants will be interviewed; Town Council makes all appointments.
• Adult Commissioner Interviews and appointments to Commissions are generally made at a Town Council meeting. There are no alternate dates or times for interviews if you are unable to attend. If mid year appointments are necessary, the date and time of the interviews and appointments will be announced; there are no alternate dates or times for interviews if you are unable to attend.
• Youth Commissioner interviews are conducted by the Town Council Selection Committee in May and appointments are ratified by the Town Council at the first meeting in June; there are no alternate dates or times for interviews if you are unable to attend.

If Appointed, You Should Expect to...

Take an Oath of Office and attend a mandatory Commissioner Orientation before the first meeting of the Advisory Body you are appointed to. 

Fill out a Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Statement of Economic Interests Form 700 each year, disclosing as public record any potential conflicts of interest you may have in discharging your duties, within 30 days of appointment. Youth Commissioners are exempt from the Form 700 requirement.  Planning Commissioners are also required to take biannual Ethics Training (AB 1234).

Attend all meetings of the Commission that you are appointed to. Any member of an appointive Town Advisory Body who is absent from the number of regular meetings listed below appropriate to his or her Advisory Body shall, as a result, surrender his or her office on the Advisory Body and the office shall be considered vacant (Council Policy 2-11).

• For an Advisory Body which holds six (6) or more regular meetings per a consecutive twelve (12) month period: three (3) regular meetings.
• For an Advisory Body which holds five (5) or fewer regular meetings per a consecutive twelve (12) month period: two (2) regular meetings.
• For an Advisory Body which holds sixteen (16) or more regular meetings per a consecutive twelve (12) month period: eight (8) regular meetings.

Spend time before each meeting reading the packet of information provided to you, and come to each meeting prepared to participate fully in all items on the agenda.

Serve a term ranging from one to five years, depending on the Commission. If you are appointed to fill an unexpired vacancy, you will serve the time remaining for the vacancy.

Participate in your local government process in a meaningful way and make a lasting positive difference in your community.