MEETING DATE:
JUNE 23, 2026
SUBJECT:
Title
APPOINTMENTS TO CITY BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS
Body
Recommendation
Recommendation
APPOINT individuals to positions on City Boards, Committees and Commissions.
Body
Board or Commission Action
Not applicable.
Introduction
The City Council has established boards and commissions to assist with various functions of the City. The roles of the boards and commissions vary from making decisions to making recommendations to the City Council. These boards and commissions consist of individuals who meet certain criteria outlined in bylaws, the San Marcos Municipal Code, or resolution. The City Council has the opportunity every year to review the vacant and expiring positions with the opportunity to appoint new individuals to serve in those positions. Commission terms range from two (2) to four (4) years. Pursuant to Government Code Section 1302, “every officer whose term has expired shall continue to discharge the duties of his/her office until his/her successor has qualified” and been appointed by the City Council.
As part of the board and commission appointment process, the City enables and ensures all citizens of the City, pursuant to the Maddy Act (Act), have equal access to specific and current information about the many local regulating and advisory boards, commissions, and committees. The Act provides citizens equal opportunity to be informed of vacancies which shall occur, so that they may pursue, participate in, and contribute to the operations of local government by serving on such boards, commissions and committees. In compliance with the Act, the notice of vacancies was posted on the City’s website. The application period was from April 29, 2026 to June 12, 2026. The City Clerk’s Office received a total of 15 applicants for Commission vacancies. Applications were then screened by the City Clerk’s Office to ensure that eligibility requirements met each respective board’s governing documents. Qualified applicants were invited to attend the June 23, 2026, City Council meeting to be interviewed and to provide an opportunity to speak to their qualifications for service.
Discussion
The City Council has the opportunity to annually consider making appointments to various City boards, committees, and commissions. The Council is reminded that for those appointments which carry a stipend, the provisions of San Marcos Municipal Code (SMMC) Chapter 2.16 (Controls on Campaign Contributions) restrict Council Member decision or action, or participate in making or attempting to influence any governmental decision or action on campaign contributors relating to a person who has contributed in excess of $500, consistent with the Levine Act. See SMMC section 2.16.070. In the event an applicant has made such a contribution to a Council Member within the last 12 months, that Council Member must state the financial disqualification on the record and must then leave the dais during any action and consideration concerning that candidate.
The Mayor is the appointing authority with approval from the City Council as delineated in the Municipal Code or by City Council Resolution for the following commissions:
• Youth Commission - SMMC Section 9.12.010
Committees where the Mayor is specifically identified as the appointing authority:
• Community Foundation - Resolution No. 87-2706
Committees with either General City Council appointment authority, or unspecified appointment authority:
• Budget Review Committee - Resolution No. 1997-4900
Following is a list of vacancies:
|
Commission/Committee/Board |
Term (Years) |
Vacancies |
|
Budget Review Committee |
3 |
2 Regular, 1 Alternate |
|
Community Foundation |
2 |
1 Regular |
|
Youth Commission |
3 |
5 Regular |
As noted above, Government Code Section 1302 provides that “every officer whose term has expired shall continue to discharge the duties of his/her office until his/her successor has qualified” and been appointed by the City Council.
The following is a list of the commission, committee and board vacancies with term, stipend (if any), and qualifications for serving in that position. Qualified applicants are listed below alphabetically.
Budget Review Committee: One (1) Alternate and Two (2) Regular scheduled vacancies; 3-year term - new term expires 06/30/2029. •
• Qualifications: Applicant must reside within city limits and be a qualified elector of the City or be a business within the City or be a business location manager for a business within the City. •
• Commissioners whose terms expired are James Knowlton (Regular - Expired), Benjamin P. Barlow (Alternate - Expired), and Joanne Harris-Malone (Regular - Expired). •
• Stipend per meeting: None
Applicants:
|
Alison Stanton |
Benjamin P. Barlow (Reapplying) |
|
James Knowlton (Reapplying) |
Jawid Habib (2nd Choice) |
|
Joanne Harris-Malone (Reapplying) |
Ray Deal (1st Choice) |
|
Vanessa Crespin (1st Choice) |
|
San Marcos Community Foundation: One (1) Regular unscheduled vacancy; 2-year term - term expires 12/31/2026.
• Qualifications: Applicant must reside within city limits or have a business in San Marcos and be a qualified elector.
• Commissioner whose term had an unscheduled vacancy is Jennifer Ho (Regular - Resigned- Term End 12/31/2026)
• Stipend per meeting: None
Applicants:
|
Jawid Habib (1st Choice)Katie Croskrey (1st Choice) |
|
|
Ray Deal (2nd Choice) |
|
Youth Commission: Four (4) Regular scheduled vacancies, new term expires 06/30/2029 and One (1) Regular unscheduled vacancy, term expires 6/30/2028.
• Qualifications: Applicant must reside within city limits or within the boundaries of the San Marcos Unified School District; have completed the sixth grade but not yet attained the age of twenty-one years at the time of the appointment.
• Commissioners whose terms expired are Reid Emoto-Garay (Regular -Expired), Savera Sekhon (Regular - Expired), Harshini Subramanian (Regular - Expired), and Siddharth Subramanian (Regular - Expired). Commissioner whose term had an unscheduled vacancy is Nethra Gopalakrishnan (Regular - Resigned- Term End 06/30/2028)
• Stipend per meeting: Chair - $30 per meeting / Commissioner - $15 per meeting
Applicants:
|
Atharva Jadhav (Current Alternate)Diya Subramanian |
|
|
Gina Lee |
Kendra Schreckengaust |
|
Madeline Cohen |
Natalie Carrillo |
|
Reid Emoto-Garay (Reapplying) |
|
Fiscal Impact
The Fiscal Year 2026-27 stipends and membership costs have been budgeted in the General Fund (100) in the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operations and Maintenance Budget. Future stipends and memberships costs will continue to be budgeted in the General Fund.
Attachment(s)
June 2026 Commission Applicants and Attendance List
Applications and Statements
Prepared by: Micki Olinger Chavez, Deputy City Clerk
Reviewed by: Phillip Scollick, City Clerk
Approved by: Michelle Bender, City Manager