REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Reappointment of Board and Commission Members, Declaring Commissioner Vacancies, and Setting Dates for Recruitment and Interviews
Report
BACKGROUND
Members of City Boards, Commissions, and Committees are generally appointed to four-year term (full term) and may serve a maximum of two consecutive full terms. When an existing member is eligible for reappointment, past City practice has been for staff to contact the incumbent to determine whether they wish to be considered for an additional term. The City Council then takes formal action to reappoint those eligible incumbents who express interest in continuing their service.
If an individual is appointed to complete a partial term, that individual may subsequently serve up to two full terms. Full terms are effective July 1st of the appointing year and expire on June 30th of the fourth year.
DISCUSSION
Consistent with past practice, staff contacted all incumbents eligible for reappointment to inquire about their interest in serving an additional term. Regular attendance is a requirement for service on Boards and Commissions; therefore, an attendance roster for all Boards and Commissions is provided for City Council review (Attachment 1).
The terms of the following commissioners will expire on June 30, 2026. The individuals listed below have expressed interest in being considered for reappointment to a subsequent term ending June 30, 2030:
Parks and Recreation (1) Maureen Riley Chu
Planning Commission (2) Nancy Biagini
Mario Bouza
Senior Advisory Commission (2) Rebecca J. Selden
Kris Kapadia
The following commissioners will complete their second consecutive full term on June 30, 2026. In accordance with term limits, these positions will become vacant, creating five full-term vacancies ending June 30, 2030, on the following Board and Commissions:
Board of Library Trustees - Debbie Tryforos
Civil Service Commission - Franklin Felizardo
Cultural Commission - Louis Samara
Historical and Landmarks Commission - Michael Celso
Historical and Landmarks Commission - Ana Vargas-Smith
Resignations
• The Parks and Recreation Commission received a resignation effective September 30, 2025, creating one vacant full-term ending June 30, 2030.
• The Senior Advisory Commission received two resignations, effective September 2025 and October 2025, respectively, resulting in two vacancies:
o One partial term ending June 30, 2028, and One full-term ending June 30, 2030.
Based on the above, staff recommends that City Council declare eight (8) vacancies and fill the following terms:
• Seven (7) full terms ending June 30, 2030, one on the Board of Library Trustees, one on the Civil Service Commission, one on the Cultural Commission, two on the Historical and Landmarks Commission, one on the Parks and Recreation Commission and one on the Senior Advisory Commission
• One (1) partial term ending June 30, 2028, on the Senior Advisory Commission
Staff also recommends that City Council set the recruitment period to begin on March 6, 2026, with an application deadline of Friday, April 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.; and set May 26, 2026, as the tentative date for conducting interviews.
Staff will return at a future City Council meeting with Special Orders of Business to recognize outgoing commissioners for their service.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no additional cost to the city other than administrative staff time and expense.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Reappoint the five (5) eligible members to serve a four-year term each ending June 30, 2030, as follows: (a) Maureen Riley Chu to the Parks and Recreation Commission; (b) Nancy Biagini and Mario Bouza to the Planning Commission; (c) Rebecca J. Selden and Kris Kapadia to the Senior Advisory Commission;
2. Declare eight (8) vacancies to fill the following full terms: (a) Seven (7) full terms ending June 30, 2030, one on the Board of Library Trustees, one on the Civil Service Commission, one on the Cultural Commission, two on the Historical and Landmarks Commission, one on the Parks and Recreation Commission, and one on the Senior Advisory Commission; and (b) One (1) partial term ending June 30, 2028, on the Senior Advisory Commission;
3. Set the recruitment to open on Friday, March 6, 2026;
4. Set Friday, April 24, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. as the application deadline; and
5. Set Tuesday, May 26, 2026, tentatively, to conduct interviews.
Staff
Reviewed by: Nora Pimentel, Assistant City Clerk
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENT
1. Board/Commissions Attendance Roster 2025-2026