Join a Commission, Committee or Board
Petaluma's Commissions, Committees, and Boards (CCBs) provide important oversight to City operations and the decision-making process.
While the Council alone has the power to adopt policies, issue proclamations, and complete other official acts, the CCBs do important background work that helps to inform Council decisions.
To be a member of a City Commission, Committee, or Board, you must apply and be appointed by the City Council. In most cases you must also be a City of Petaluma resident.
Here are some exceptions:
Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC) – 2 may live outside city limits but within county
Public Art Committee – must be within Urban Growth Boundary
Senior Advisory Committee – residence must have Petaluma mailing address
Youth Commission – must live within school districts
Vacancies - May 2022 Update
The annual recruitment period to fill vacancies is now open! Applications must be submitted to the City Clerk's Office by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The City Council will review the applications and make appointments at the City Council Regular Meeting on Monday, June 20, 2022. The City Clerk's Office has just launched a new online application portal, please CLICK HERE TO APPLY ELECTRONICALLY.
Alternatively, if you prefer to fill out a hard-copy application, you can access the hard-copy form HERE and submit it to the City Clerk's Office via email: [email protected]; mail: 11 English Street, Petaluma, CA; or in-person during City Hall office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am - 2pm.
AIRPORT COMMISSION
(2 Regular Members)
ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(3 Regular Members)
CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION
(3 Regular Members; 2 Youth Members)
MEASURE U OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
(1 Regular Member)
PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(1 Regular Member)
PLANNING COMMISSION
(2 Regular Member)
PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE
(2 Regular Members)
RECREATION, MUSIC, AND PARKS COMMISSION
(2 Regular Members)
SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(3 Regular Members)
SONOMA COUNTY LIBRARY COMMISSION
(1 Regular Member)
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(3 Regular Members)
TRANSIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(3 Regular Members)
TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(3 Regular Members)
YOUTH COMMISSION
(6 Adult Members)


Term Requirements
Commission, Committee, and Board members generally serve two-, three-, or four-year overlapping terms. There is no monetary compensation or benefits for their time or their service. At the end of the term, the City Council may reappoint the member or fill the vacancy.

Responsibilities
Commissions, Committees, and Boards must establish their rules for operating, solicit community input at public meetings, make budget recommendations, advise and make recommendations to the City Council, and follow city policies.

Vacancies
Vacancies arise when a member's term ends or, in some cases, when a member resigns before his/her term ends. Click HERE to view vacancies on the new CCB portal.

Is this for you?
Advisory group members must be familiar with the community, understand local issues, commit to the term of services, and have established community relationships.