By serving on a City commission, you can participate in local government and help plan the future of Davis. Commissions serve as a conduit for citizen input – a way of gathering, analyzing and recommending options to the City Council. Commissions provide an important avenue for determining the community’s feelings about various issues and extending the reach of the democratic process.

Information about each of our City Commissions may be found on the Commissions and Committees web page.

Application Form

Commission Application Form

Anyone 18 years of age or older and who is a resident of the City of Davis may apply to serve on a City commission. Individuals employed by the City of Davis may not serve on a City commission.

Applications are available at City Hall during normal business hours (530-757-5648) and available via the link above. Applications are generally accepted on a rolling basis, with exceptions for scheduled recruitment periods during which an application deadline is established. Regular commission appointments occur on a biennial basis, with approximately 2-month recruitment periods. The City of Davis will advertise all recruitments in the local newspaper, city website, and other media.

Applications are kept on file for a period of two years from the date submitted. On-file applicants will be contacted as vacancies occur to ensure their continued interest in serving on a commission. Please be aware that all applications and accompanied documents are considered public information and may be disclosed/released pursuant to the California Public Records Act. Applications are submitted to City Council for appointment at a regular Council meeting.

Applications can be submitted via e-mail to ClerkWeb@cityofdavis.org; or in person or via mail to the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 23 Russell Blvd., Suite 1, Davis CA 95616.

Commission Handbook

The purpose of the City of Davis Commission Handbook is to introduce commissioners and community members to the role commissioners and commissions by outlining accepted practices. While attempting not to be overly restrictive, procedures are established so that expectations and practices can be clearly articulated to guide commissioners in their actions. The handbook:

• Outlines the roles and functions of the City’s boards/commissions/committees;
• Reviews important guidelines and expectations of appointed members;
• Provides information about the history and composition of the City organization; and
• Provides members with information necessary to understand areas of responsibility for their respective board, commission, or committee, and their role in serving the City.

The handbook provides a summary of important aspects of City government and commission activities. However, it cannot incorporate all material and information necessary for undertaking the business of commissions. Many other laws, plans and documents exist which bind the commissioners to certain courses of action and practices.

Download a copy of the Commission Handbook (PDF) (Updated December 2020)