REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
CONTINUED FROM MAY 21, 2024
Appoint Applicants to the Arts Commission, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, Board of Library Trustees, Heritage Preservation Commission, Housing and Human Services Commission, Human Relations Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Personnel Board, Planning Commission and Sustainability Commission
Report
DISCUSSION
Appointments
The City has ten Council-appointed boards and commissions to recommend and advise City Council on specific policy-related issues for possible Council study and action, and to provide a forum and opportunity for broad community participation in the identification and prioritization of those issues. The term length for boards and commissions is four years, with staggered terms expiring June 30 of each year. Council makes appointments annually in May or June to fill seats with expiring terms to serve with an effective date of July 1. In addition, the Council fills vacancies as necessary quarterly throughout the year.
Pursuant to Council Policy 7.2.19, Boards and Commissions appointments of board and commission members are placed on the City Council meeting agenda. The appointment process is conducted by one of the following two methods, at the discretion of the Mayor:
Individual Candidate Votes: The Mayor will announce by board or commission each vacancy including its term, and then will read each applicant’s name. Council will vote on each applicant. The candidate receiving the most affirmative votes and at least four affirmative votes will be appointed. The process is repeated for each board or commission.
Paper Votes: The Mayor will announce each board or commission in an order predetermined by the City Clerk to facilitate a speedy process and to accommodate applicants who specify multiple preferences. The City Clerk will distribute individual voting sheets to be completed by each Councilmember. The candidate receiving the most affirmative votes and at least four affirmative votes will be appointed. The process is repeated for each board or commission.
For each board or commission with both full 4-year terms and shorter-term vacancies that exist due to a resignation, the Mayor will ask Council for a motion to identify which applicant from among those with the most affirmative votes and at least four affirmative votes will be appointed. Council will identify which of the candidates who received the sufficient affirmative votes will be selected to serve the shorter term(s). The Council decision will be made by motion.
Resolving ties: Should a tie between the candidates receiving the most affirmative votes occur, the affected applicants will be voted on again. If a tie still remains, and the affected applicants each have received at least four affirmative votes, the Mayor would ask the City Attorney to draw the name of the person to be appointed.
Should no candidate receive at least four affirmative votes, the vacancy will remain.
Below is the list of current applicants, the applicants’ preferences as indicated on their application (when the applicant has applied for more than one board or commission), and terms of appointments. Applicant information is available as attachments to the May 13 and May 14 Council meeting packets and upon request from the Office of the City Clerk at cityclerk@sunnyvale.ca.gov or 408-730-7483.
Arts Commission (one term to 6/30/2028)
Kathryn Besser (only preference)
Kathryn Filley (only preference) - Incumbent
Charles McMannis (9th preference)
Michelle Wu (only preference)
Atee Zolghadr (1st preference)
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission* (two terms to 6/30/2028 could be Category One or Category Two)
Geeta Gollakota (Category Two - 2nd preference)
Sharlene Liu (Category One - only preference) - Incumbent
Charles McMannis (Category One - 1st preference)
Tamir Ram (Category One - only preference)
Parthiv Rawal (Category One - 2nd preference)
James Van Pernis (Category One - only preference)
Stephen Williams (Category One - 1st preference)
Jonathan Wilson (Category One - only preference)
Board of Library Trustees (two terms to 6/30/2028)
Yael Hod (only preference)
Meena Juttukonda (only preference) - Incumbent
Charles McMannis (2nd preference)
Stephen Williams (2nd preference)
Heritage Preservation Commission (two terms to 6/30/2028)
Charles McMannis (8th preference)
Esther Rosenfeld (2nd preference)
Housing and Human Services Commission (two terms to 6/30/2028)
Scott Duncan (only preference) - Incumbent
Morgan Friedlander (only preference)
Charles McMannis (6th preference)
Ravi Nayarana (1st preference)
Human Relations Commission (one term to 6/30/2026 and one term to 6/30/2028)
Delia Ayala (Category One - only preference)
Nili Helman-Caspi (Category One - only preference)
Charles McMannis (Category One - 5th preference)
Jaqueline Martinez (Category One - only preference)
Venkata Ramisetty (Category One - only preference) - Incumbent
Esther Rosenfeld (Category One - 1st preference)
Marcos Sandoval Barajas (Category One - only preference)
Yuriana Valencia Landa (Category One - only preference)
Applicant Hagit Shekel withdrew their application for the Human Relations Commission.
Parks and Recreation Commission (one term to 6/30/2028)
Daniel Bremond (only preference) - Incumbent
Daryl Danielski (only preference)
Sergio Figueroa (only preference)
Geeta Gollakota (1st preference)
Cortney Jansen (1st preference)
Charles McMannis (7th preference)
Ravi Narayana (2nd preference)
Atee Zolghadr (2nd preference)
Personnel Board (one Employee-nominated** term to 6/30/2027 and one Employee-nominated** term to 6/30/2028)
Carmel Johnson (1st preference)
Charles McMannis (10th preference)
Planning Commission (two terms to 6/30/2028)
Chris Figone (only preference)
David Hohmann (only preference)
Carmel Johnson (2nd preference)
Charles McMannis (3rd preference)
Gopalachary Ramachandran (1st preference)
Parthiv Rawal (1st preference)
Ilan Sigura (only preference)
Sustainability Commission*** (One term to 6/30/2027 and two terms to 6/30/2028)
Maria Dohadwala (Category One - only preference)
Cortney Jansen (Category One - 2nd preference)
Tomek Jasionowski (Category One - only preference)
Charles McMannis (Category One - 4th preference)
Richard Parenteau (Category One - only preference)
Gopalachary Ramachandran (Category One - 2nd preference)
Tonya Veitch (Category One - only preference) - Incumbent
* Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Category One Members represent bicyclists and pedestrians who live in Sunnyvale. Up-to-two Members may be Category Two Members, who live outside Sunnyvale and represent parent groups, school administrators, teachers, commute coordinators for major employers in the city the balance of the current makeup is five Category One members.
** The Personnel Board terms are Employee-Nominated Seats as described in Sunnyvale Charter Section 1007 (Personnel Board). Sunnyvale Classified Employees did not make a nomination for either Seat. Since no employee nomination was made, the City Council may consider appointing an applicant to either term.
*** Sustainability Commission must have a minimum of three Category One members (Sunnyvale resident) and a minimum of one Category Two member(s) (member of the Sunnyvale business community); the balance of the current makeup is three Category One Members and one Category Two Member.
Full 4-year terms will be effective July 1, 2024; shorter vacancies that exist due to a resignation will be effective May 22, 2024. Following appointments, the staff liaison for each board or commission will provide a board/commission-specific orientation and each new member is required to take the Oath of Office, sign the Model of Excellence and attend the board and commission orientation hosted by the Office of the City Clerk. A ceremonial oath will be offered to all incoming members. Continuing vacancies will be scheduled for the recruitment process in August 2024.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.2.19 Boards and Commissions
Administrative Policy, Chapter 1, General Management, Article 15 Boards and Commissions
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(b)(5) in that it is a governmental, organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the NOVA Workforce Services reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Appoint commissioners from the applicants listed in this report.
2. Provide other direction to staff on how to proceed.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff makes no recommendation.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $250 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
A check or “Y” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract
___ Labor or personal employment contract
_Y_ General policy and legislative actions
Staff
Prepared by: David Carnahan, City Clerk
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager