County commission for women and girls is short of members

Contra Costa County is looking for people to fill empty seats on its Commission for Women and Girls, and the commission meets Tuesday night.

The county said in a notice posted Sept. 16 that At-Large seats and the District IV seat are vacant. Applicants have to live or work in Contra Costa County. Application forms come from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, at 925-655-2000 or contracosta.ca.gov/3418.

The commission has 15 member seats and one alternate: five district members and 10 at-large. The Board of Supervisors created it in 1984, and its stated job is to advise the board on issues affecting women, with a mission to improve the economic status, social welfare and overall quality of life for women in the county.

The seats do turn over. On Aug. 5 the supervisors accepted a resignation, declared the At-Large #9 seat vacant for a term ending Feb. 28, 2027, and directed the clerk to post it. Two more at-large appointments were moving through the county's Family and Human Services Committee as recently as Sept. 9.

Members meet the fourth Tuesday of the month from 7 to 9 p.m., except holidays, and serve on sub-committees between meetings. The September meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. at 3338 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette, with a Zoom link posted on the agenda. The consent calendar that night includes a recommendation to appoint Ruth Fernandez to the commission, the treasurer's report, minutes from July and August, and a report from the legislative committee.

Anyone weighing an application can sit in on Tuesday first. Agendas, past minutes and the Zoom link for each meeting are posted on the county's public meeting portal.