By Lookout Staff

May 25, 2011 -- For Santa Monicans interested in serving their city in an official way, now is their chance.

The City Clerk’s office is accepting applications to fill openings in a dozen boards and commissions that help govern everything from the airport to urban planning to social services.

Some two dozen positions will become available at the end of June when the City Council will appoint members to fill the vacancies. However it is unlikely that all of the appointments will be new faces.

While City board and commission members are restricted by term limits, many of the current members are eligible for reappointment.

For example, three planning commissioners’ terms are set to end June 30 this year: Jason Perry, Jim Ries and Ted Winterer. All three have only served one term and are eligible for reappointment.

However a fourth seat on the commission recently became open this month when long-time commissioner Gwynne Pugh unexpectedly had to step down (“Pugh Leaves Planning Commission,” May 20, 2011). The council now must decide whether to fill the open seat this year or wait until June 30, 2012, when Pugh’s term was set to end.

Closely related to the Planning Commission, the council will make one appointment to the Architectural Review Board. The seven members of the board – which helps make sure that buildings in Santa Monica are well designed and in good taste – serve staggered terms of four years each.

One slot is opening up in the five-member Personnel Board, which acts as a quasi-judicial body for hearing City employees’ appeals. The board seeks to balance the rights and interests of the City, the community and City employees. The opening is for a five-year term.

Two openings will be available in the Housing Commission, which requires special qualifications: board members must be participants in Section 8 low-income housing programs, and one member must be 62 or older. The commissioners serve two-year terms and work to ensure the preservation and production of affordable housing in Santa Monica.

Also requiring special qualification, two seats will be available on the Disabilities Commission. Applicants must have a self-identified disability and should be prepared to serve a four-year term.

Openings are also becoming available on the Airport Commission (2), the Arts Commission (3), Commission for the Senior Community (2), Commission on the Status of Women (2), Library Board (1), Recreation and Parks Commission (1) and the Social Services Commission (3). All of these are for four-year terms.

To get more information about duties, restrictions and eligibility for board and commission positions and to file an application go to the City Clerk’s webpage.