Volunteer Opportunities, Appointment and Re-Appointment Process and Applications

Volunteer Opportunities

The City Commission relies on the approximately 70 volunteer community members who serve on the City's 19 boards, commissions, and committees (BCC).  Each BCC has a different purpose, and some require special skills or interests.  However, all help to shape the future of the community and, in some cases, work to implement portions of adopted plans. 

In some cases, the different BCCs act on citizen requests associated with private property or make recommendations to the City Commission.  Depending on the BCC, terms of service range between one and five years. The roster provides the existing members' names and when their terms expire. Most volunteers live within the City of St. Joseph; however, a few boards have criteria that allow non-residents with particular qualifications to be members.

In many cases, the BCC meets monthly at a set date and time; however, there are BCCs that meet less frequently, and in some cases, additional meetings are necessary to consider the business before a BCC.  

New Appointment Process

Requesting appointment to a BCC requires completion of the Appoint to a Board, Commission, or Committee Application.  Once completed, the application needs to be returned to the City Clerk’s Office for processing.  In most cases, two City Commissioners, assisted by a representative of the BCC and staff, will conduct interviews to find the best-suited individual for a vacancy.  Once interviews are completed, the two City Commissioners make a recommendation to the full City Commission for possible appointment.

Once appointed, the staff liaison will contact the new member and provide background information and any rules and regulations to help prepare for the first meeting.

It is not necessary to wait until there is a vacancy to file an application.  If there are no vacancies, or if there are more applicants than positions available, we hold applications on file for one year and will reach back out to the applicant if there is a new opportunity during that time.

Re-Appointment Process

The City Clerk’s Office reaches out to appointed members before their terms expire to see if they are interested in being reappointed.  The Re-Appointment Questionnaire for Boards, Commissions, and Committees Application must be completed and returned to the City Clerk’s Office for review by the City Commission.