REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Reappointment of Board and Commission Members, Declaring Commissioner Vacancies, and Setting Dates for Recruitment and Interviews
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
Board, Commission and Committee members are generally appointed to a four-year term (full term) and may serve a maximum of two consecutive full terms. In the case where an existing member is eligible for another term, past City practice has been for staff to contact those existing members and inquire if the there is an interest to be considered for re-appointment to serve another term. The Council then takes formal action to reappoint those existing members who indicate an interest to serve a second term. If an individual is appointed to fill a partial term, he or she may serve an additional two full terms. Full terms are effective July 1st of the appointing year and expire on June 30th of the fourth year.
DISCUSSION
Staff has continued with the past practice of reaching out to the incumbents eligible for reappointment and inquiring if there is an interest to continue to serve another term. Regular attendance is one of the requirements to serve on a Board or Commission, staff has attached an attendance roster (Attachment 1) of all Boards and Commissions for Council’s review.
The terms for the following commissioners will expire on June 30, 2025; staff has reached out to all eligible incumbents and those who wished to be considered for reappointment to serve another term ending June 30, 2029, are listed below:
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (1) Guillermo Jenaro
Board of Library Trustees (1) Jonathon Evans
Civil Service Commission (1) Wesley Dudzinski
Cultural Commission (1) Neetu Garg
Historical and Landmarks Commission (2) Kathleen Romano
Ed Stocks
Planning Commission (1) Qian Huang
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Update
There a are two committee members on the BPAC that will term out on June 30, 2025, which are not eligible for reappointment. These members were previously appointed by the former BPAC process and not by the City Council. On December 14, 2021, the council approved to modify the way the BPAC members are interviewed and appointed. If these members want to serve on the committee, they may apply and go through the process.
Resignations
• The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) received a resignation on September 5, 2024, creating a vacancy for a partial term ending June 30, 2027.
• The Cultural Commission received a resignation on December 2, 2024, creating a vacancy for a partial term ending June 20, 2028
• The Senior Advisory Commission received five resignations: (1) November 18, 2024, (2) January 1, 2025, (3) January 14, 2025, and (4) February 24, 2025, and (5) February 26, 2025. Creating five vacancies for the following terms: (1) three partial terms ending June 30, 2026, (2) one partial term ending June 30, 2027; and (3) one partial term ending June 30, 2028.
Commissioners Not Seeking Reappointment
The following three commissioners are not seeking reappointment:
• Cultural Commissioner Jonathan Marinaro
• Historical and Landmarks Commissioner Amy Kirby
• Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sajid Hai
Creating a vacancy for three full terms ending June 30, 2029
Due to the above vacancies, staff recommends that the Council declare vacancies for twelve (12) positions and fill the following terms:
• One partial term ending on June 30, 2027, and two full terms each ending June 30, 2029, on the BPAC;
• One partial term ending on June 30, 2028, and One full term ending June 30, 2029, on the Cultural Commission;
• One full term ending June 30, 2029, on the Historical and Landmarks Commission;
• One full term ending June 30, 2029, on the Parks and Recreation Commission;
• Three partial terms ending June 30, 2026, one partial term ending June 30, 2027, and one partial term ending June 30, 2028, on the Senior Advisory Commission.
Staff also recommends that City Council set the recruitment for vacant positions to begin on March 14, 2025, with an application deadline of Friday, April 25, 2025, by 5:00 p.m.; and set May 20, 2025, as the tentative date to conduct interviews.
Staff will bring forward Special Orders of Business to recognize outgoing commissioners at a future Council meeting.
In addition, the city is in the process of forming the Citizens Oversight Committee (COC) for Measure I, the City’s Public Facilities and Infrastructure Bond Measure, which was passed this past November. The COC is tasked with ensuring that Measure I bond-funded projects are implemented in accordance with the Bond measure requirements and the adopted expenditure plan. The COC will also be responsible for reviewing and reporting on annual audits and reviewing and providing recommendations to the City Council on any proposed amendment to the Expenditure Plan. The COC will be comprised of 9 members, which will include seven residents, one large business representative, and one small business representative. The application for the COC will be available mid-March, and staff will conduct an active outreach and recruitment process for the committee. An update on Measure I Bond Measure activities will be provided at the April 8, 2025, City Council meeting.
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 seven (7) eligible members to serve a four-year term each ending June 30, 2029 as follows: (1) Guillermo Jenaro to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory; (2) Jonathon Evans to the Board of Library Trustees; (3) Wesley Dudzinski to the Civil Service Commission; (4) Neetu Garg to the Cultural Commission; (5) Kathleen Romano and Ed Stocks to the Historical and Landmarks Commission; and (6) Qian Huang to the Planning Commission;
2. Declare 12 vacancies to fill the following terms: (1) One partial term ending on June 30, 2027 and two full terms each ending June 30, 2029, on the BPAC; (2) One partial term ending on June 30, 2028 and One full term ending June 30, 2029 on the Cultural Commission; (3) One full term ending June 30, 2029 on the Historical and Landmarks Commission; (4) One full term ending June 30, 2029 on the Parks and Recreation Commission; (5) Three partial terms ending June 30, 2026, One partial term ending June 30, 2027 and One partial term ending June 30, 2028 on the Senior Advisory Commission;
3. Set the recruitment to open on Friday, March 14, 2025;
4. Set Friday, April 25, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. as the application deadline; and
5. Set Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 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 2024-2025