LONG BEACH : Council May Cut Some Advisory Commissions

A City Council committee is considering a proposal that would save money by consolidating or eliminating some of the city’s 37 advisory commissions.

The commissions consumed $3.1 million last year, mostly in staff costs, and some council members believe that it’s time to cut them back.

“The City Council tended to christen a commission and send it on its way and then forget about it,” said Councilman Jeffrey Kellogg, who is chairman of the committee that is drawing up a list of possible consolidations.

Councilwoman Jenny Oropeza, a member of the committee, said she agrees that some commissions could be consolidated, but she warned that the elimination of too many could jeopardize the level of public involvement in city government. More than 300 people serve on the city commissions, she noted.

The commissions range from the three-member Board of Plumber Examiners, which tests beginning plumbers and issues journeyman certificates, to the seven-member Board of Health and Human Services, which delves into public health matters and social services. Some commissioners receive no pay for attending meetings, others are paid up to $100 per meeting.

Six of the boards, including the powerful Harbor and Planning commissions, were created by city charter and may not be eliminated. The other 31 were created by the council, however, and could be done away with or consolidated.