Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Apply For a Committee
The City's advisory bodies - always open to the general public - are established by the City Council to make recommendations to the Council on issues ranging from bicycle and pedestrian improvements; housing; parks and open space; land use; public art projects; public safety issues; and more. For meeting times, agendas, minutes, staff contact, and other more detailed information, see below. You can also contact the City Clerk's Office at 510-596-4300. The Planning Commission and ECCL Governance Committee meetings are broadcast live on ETV: Cable Television Station 27, and rebroadcast according to the ETV programming schedule.
All committee meetings have assisted listening devices available and locations are wheelchair accessible. For other disability access accommodations, please contact the City Clerk's Office at least 72 hours in advance. Animals other than service animals, are prohibited in city facilities.
To apply to one of the City's advisory bodies, please complete an online application. Interested community members may also obtain an application through the City Clerk's Office and mail/hand deliver to the City Clerk's Office, Emeryville Civic Center located at 1333 Park Avenue, Emeryville, CA 94608.
City Council Committees
City Council Committees are designed as a forum for more detailed reporting or discussion regarding policy direction, program and budget priorities, and oversight than can be accomplished, due to time constraints, at regular City Council meetings on specific areas of City responsibility. Only City Council Members serve as voting members on City Council Committees, with membership limited to less than a quorum of the full City Council (up to two members). Committee meeting agendas are publicly noticed and the public is welcome to attend the meetings. Recommendations from City Council Committees must be reviewed and considered by the full City Council for final consideration/action.
Budget and Governance Committee
Community Services Committee
Public Safety Committee
Transportation and Sustainability Committee
Planning Commission and Housing Advisory & Appeals Board
The Planning Commission and the Housing Advisory & Appeals Board (which consists solely of Planning Commissioners) are community advisory bodies that also have some independent regulatory powers, with some, but not all, decisions subject to City Council review or appeal. These bodies are listed in the City’s Local Roster of Boards, Commissions and Committees, but have separate rules and procedures/by-laws than the community advisory bodies described below.
Planning Commission
Housing Advisory & Appeals Board
Community Advisory Committees
Community Advisory Committees are a structured way for community members to share their opinions and perspectives, study issues, develop policy and/or program recommendations, and provide feedback regarding City initiatives in a focused, small group structure, and are thus an integral part of furthering public participation in government. Community Advisory Committees have community members as voting members. All meetings are publicly noticed and the public is welcome to attend the meetings. City Council Members may attend advisory body meetings to observe, but not participate in the discussion, deliberation, or vote on any item within the subject matter jurisdiction of such bodies. Recommendations by Community Advisory Committees are forwarded to a City Council Sub-Committee or may be submitted directly to the City Council. However, community advisory committee recommendations may only be approved by a majority of the full City Council.
Standing Committees
Standing Committees are “permanent” (on-going) committees designed for community input on issues that are relatively broad in scope.
Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Budget Advisory Committee
Commission on Aging
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Housing Committee
Parks and Recreation Committee
Public Art Committee
Ad Hoc Committees
Ad Hoc Committees are temporary committees designed for community input on a focused issue within a limited timeframe.
Community Promotions Grant Subcommittee
County, Regional and Statewide Bodies
The City of Emeryville maintains representation on various county, regional and statement joint powers authorities and advisory bodies as a means of furthering the City’s interest. Designated City representatives are appointed to the various boards, commissions and committees to serve for one-year terms, unless otherwise noted.
On August 21, 2012, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 12-146 thereby directing the City Clerk to complete and publicly notice the Fair Political Practices Commission Form No. 806 of City representatives appointed to compensated positions on county regular and statewide bodies (FPPC Regulation 18705.5). All Council Members may participate in a decision to appoint a representative to a compensated position.
FPPC Form 806: Agency Report of Public Official Appointments (2025)(PDF, 1MB)
1 Emeryville residents are frequently appointed to various county, regional or statewide advisory bodies, in lieu of elected officials.
2 Designated alternate representatives are 1) not required, or 2) appointed directly by the board, commission or committee.
3 Appointments made by other advisory bodies; noted here for information only.