MEETING DATE:
September 9, 2025
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.
Relevant Council Strategic Theme
Good Governance
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. The City has followed Government Code Section 1302, which 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.
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 July 23, 2025 to August 28, 2025. The City Clerk’s Office received a total of 12 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 September 9, 2025, 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 Chapter 2.16 (Controls on Campaign Contributions) restrict Council Member action on campaign contributors of $100 or more. See 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. Alternatively, if the potential conflict is known in advance, the applicant in question can waive the stipend; a form for such a waiver is available from the City Clerk.
The Mayor is the appointing authority with approval from the City Council, as delineated by the Municipal Code, for the following commission:
- Youth Commission - SMMC Section 9.12.010
Following is a list of vacancies:
|
Commission/Committee/Board |
Term (Years) |
Vacancies |
|
Youth Commission |
3 |
1 Alternate |
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.
Youth Commission: One (1) Alternate scheduled vacancy, new term expires 06/30/2028.
- 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.
- Commissioner whose term expired is Nicholas Damian (Alternate- Expired)
- Stipend per meeting: Chair - $30 per meeting / Commissioner - $15 per meeting
Applicants:
|
Addison Smith |
Allyson Michaela Neward |
|
Armando Antonio Pena |
Gina Lee |
|
Kai Finley |
Kendra Schreckengaust |
|
Madeline Cohen |
Mark Castellanos |
|
Navya Arora |
Oden Kho |
|
Robert Castellanos |
Saanvi Deshpande |
Fiscal Impact
The Fiscal Year 2025-26 stipends and membership costs have been budgeted in the General Fund (100) in the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operations and Maintenance Budget. Future stipends and memberships costs will continue to be budgeted in the General Fund.
Attachment(s)
Applications and Statements
Prepared by: Micki Olinger Chavez, Deputy City Clerk
Reviewed by: Phillip Scollick, City Clerk
Approved by: Michelle Bender, City Manager