MEETING DATE:
JUNE 24, 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. 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 23, 2025 to June 13, 2025. The City Clerk’s Office received a total of 14 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 24, 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
• 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:
• Climate Action Plan Working Group - Resolution No. 2020-8820
• Budget Review Committee - Resolution No. 1997-4900
Following is a list of vacancies:
|
Commission/Committee/Board |
Term (Years) |
Vacancies |
|
Budget Review Committee |
3 |
4 Regular, 1 Alternate |
|
Climate Action Plan Working Group |
2 |
1 Regular |
|
Community Foundation |
2 |
1 Alternate (New Position) |
|
Parks & Recreation Commission |
4 |
1 Alternate (New Position) |
|
Youth Commission |
3 |
5 Regular, 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.
Budget Review Committee: One (1) Alternate and Four (4) Regular scheduled vacancies; 3-year term - new term expires 06/30/2028. •
• 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 Chris Freeman (Regular - Expired), Jim Garcia (Alternate - Expired), Marie Marcinko (Regular - Expired), Salvador Roman (Regular - Expired), and Sam Neuhauser (Regular - Expired). •
• Stipend per meeting: None
Applicants:
|
Bruce Ferguson (2nd Choice) |
Chris Freeman (Reapplying) |
|
Edward Badal (1st Choice) |
Jim Garcia (Reapplying) |
|
Mary Kazungu (1st Choice) |
Salvador Roman (Reapplying) |
|
Stephanie Bussen (1st Choice) |
|
Climate Action Plan Working Group: One (1) regular unscheduled vacancy; 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.
• Commissioner whose term had an unscheduled vacancy is Samuel Witt (Regular-Resigned- Term End 12/31/2026).
• Stipend per meeting: None
Applicants:
|
Bruce Ferguson (1st Choice)Phi Nguyen (1st Choice) |
|
|
Stephanie Bussen (2nd Choice) |
|
Parks and Recreation Commission: One (1) Alternate Vacancy; 4-year term - new term expires 12/31/2028.
• Qualifications: Applicant must reside within city limits and be a qualified elector
• Alternate position added - Ordinance No. 2025- 1558.
• Stipend per meeting: $60 Chair / $30 all other members
Applicants:
|
Bruce Ferguson (3rd Choice)Mary F. Kazungu (2nd Choice) |
|
|
Maryna Kiptsevich (1st Choice) |
|
San Marcos Community Foundation: One (1) Alternate Vacancy; 2-year term - new term expires 12/31/2027.
• Qualifications: Applicant must reside within city limits or have a business in San Marcos and be a qualified elector.
• Alternate position added to San Marcos Community Foundation Bylaws on May 20, 2025.
• Stipend per meeting: None
Applicants:
|
Stephanie Bussen (3rd Choice) |
|
Youth Commission: Four (4) Regular scheduled vacancies, new term expires 06/30/2028; One (1) Regular unscheduled vacancy, term expires 6/30/2026; and 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.
• Commissioners whose terms expired are Sophia Scollick (Regular -Expired), Ava Scollick Scollick (Regular - Expired), Natalie Johnson (Regular - Expired), Nethra Gopalakrishnan (Regular - Expired), and Nicholas Damian (Alternate- Expired). Commissioner whose term had an unscheduled vacancy is Tehjas Sobti (Regular - Resigned- Term End 06/30/2026)
• Stipend per meeting: Chair - $30 per meeting / Commissioner - $15 per meeting
Applicants:
|
Ava Scollick (Reapplying)Harshini Subramanian |
|
|
Micaela Wood |
Nethra Gopalakrishnan (Reapplying) |
|
Prisha Balani |
|
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)
June 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