MEETING DATE:
JANUARY 14, 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, 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 October 9, 2024 to December 13, 2024, with an extension made to December 19, 2024. The City Clerk’s Office received a total of 30 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 January 14, 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 in the Municipal Code or by City Council Resolution for the following commissions:
• Parks and Recreation Commission - SMMC Section 9.08.040
• Traffic Commission - SMMC Section 12.08.070
• Planning Commission - SMMC Section 20.100.060
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:
• Climate Action Plan Working Group - Resolution No. 2020-8820
Listed are the following vacancies:
|
Commission/Committee/Board |
Term (Years) |
Vacancies |
|
Parks & Recreation Commission |
4 |
2 Regular, 1 Alternate |
|
Planning Commission |
2 |
3 Regular |
|
Community Foundation |
2 |
5 Regular |
|
Traffic Commission |
4 |
2 Regular, 1 Alternate |
|
Climate Action Plan Working Group |
2 |
3 Regular |
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.
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.
Climate Action Plan Working Group: Three (3) regular scheduled vacancies; 2-year term - term expires 12/31/2026.
• Qualifications: Applicant must reside within city limits and be a qualified elector, with a preference of at least 2 members having had experience in the power, electricity, and/or renewable energy fields.
• Commissioners whose terms expired are Kevin Norris (Regular-Expired), Kathryn McLane (Regular-Expired) and Jennifer Kerschbaum (Regular-Expired).
• Stipend per meeting: None
Applicants:
|
Abdullah Tahiri (3rd Choice) |
Bruce Ferguson (2nd Choice) |
|
Hemant Phadnis |
Josh Meza (2nd Choice) |
|
Kathryn McLane (reapplying, 1st Choice) |
Kevin Norris (reapplying) |
|
Shoshana E. Aguilar |
Stephanie Bussen (3rd Choice) |
Parks and Recreation Commission: Two (2) regular scheduled vacancies; 4-year term - new term expires 12/31/2028 and one (1) Alternate unscheduled vacancy; 4-year term - term expires 12/31/2025.
• Qualifications: Applicant must reside within city limits and be a qualified elector
• Commissioners whose terms expired or have an unscheduled vacancy are Joyce Sensmeier (Regular-Expired), Danyte Mokus-Valenzuela (Regular-Expired), and Joe Diaz (Alternate-Resigned-Term End 12/2025).
• Stipend per meeting: $60 Chair / $30 all other members
Applicants:
|
Angelica Garcia (1st Choice)Annie Macias (unqualified) |
|
|
Claudia Gonzalez (2nd Choice) |
Danyte Mokus-Valenzuela (reapplying) |
|
Gary Greving (1st Choice) |
John R. Mosher (2nd Choice) |
|
Josh Meza (3rd Choice) |
Joyce Sensmeier (reapplying) |
|
Kathryn McLane (2nd Choice) |
Marie Marcinko (2nd Choice) |
|
Matthew Sembach (1st Choice) |
Megan McNicholas (2nd Choice) |
|
Stephanie Bussen (2nd Choice) |
Todd Padberg (3rd Choice) |
Planning Commission: Three (3) regular scheduled vacancies; 2-year term - new term expires 12/31/2026.
• Qualifications: Applicant must reside within city limits and be a qualified elector
• Commissioners whose terms expired are Christopher Carroll (Regular-Expired), Diana Cavanaugh (Regular-Expired) and Eric Flodine (Regular-Expired).
• Stipend per meeting: $100 Chair / $50 all other members
Applicants:
|
Abdullah Tahiri (1st Choice)Angelica Garcia (3rd Choice) |
|
|
Bruce Ferguson (1st Choice) |
Christopher Carroll (reapplying) |
|
Christopher Waskiewicz |
Claudia Gonzalez (1st Choice) |
|
Diana Cavanaugh (reapplying) |
Erika Skaar (1st Choice) |
|
Janice Miller (1st Choice) |
John R. Mosher (1st Choice) |
|
Marie Marcinko (1st Choice) |
Megan McNicholas (1st Choice) |
|
Todd Padberg (1st Choice) |
Momcilo Savovic (1st Choice) |
San Marcos Community Foundation: Five (5) regular scheduled vacancies; 2-year term - new term expires 12/31/2026.
• Qualifications: Applicant must reside within city limits or have a business in San Marcos and be a qualified elector.
• Commissioners whose terms expired are Paul Mendoza (Regular-Expired), Momcilo Savovic (Regular-Expired), Gary Greving (Regular-Expired), Jennifer Ho (Regular-Expired) and Mike Hardesty (Regular-Expired).
• Stipend per meeting: None
Applicants:
|
Abdullah Tahiri (2nd Choice)Angelica Garcia (2nd Choice) |
|
|
Erika Skaar (2nd Choice) |
Gail Garcellano |
|
Gary Greving (reapplying, 2nd Choice) |
Janice Miller (2nd Choice) |
|
Jennifer Ho (reapplying) |
Josh Meza (1st Choice) |
|
Megan McNicholas (3rd Choice) |
Mike Hardesty (reapplying) |
|
Stephanie Bussen (1st Choice) |
Momcilo Savovic (3rd Choice) |
Traffic Commission: Two (2) regular scheduled vacancies and one (1) alternate scheduled vacancy; New term expires 12/31/2028.
• Qualifications: Applicant must reside within the city limits and must be qualified elector of the City.
• Commissioners whose terms expired are Neill Kovrig (Regular-Expired), Rosemary Schellenger (Regular-Expired) and Jennifer Freeman (Alternate-Expired).
• Stipend per meeting: $60 Chair/ $30 all other members
Applicants:
|
Bruce Ferguson (3rd Choice)Claudia Gonzalez (3rd Choice) |
|
|
Erika Skaar (3rd Choice) |
Jennifer Freeman (reapplying) |
|
John R. Mosher (3rd Choice) |
Matthew Sembach (2nd Choice) |
|
Neill Kovrig (reapplying) |
Todd Padberg (2nd Choice) |
|
Momcilo Savovic (2nd Choice) |
|
Fiscal Impact
The Fiscal Year 2024-25 stipends and membership costs have been budgeted in the General Fund (100) in the proposed Fiscal Year 2024-25 Operations and Maintenance Budget. Future stipends and memberships costs will continue to be budgeted in the General Fund.
Attachment(s)
2025 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