REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Appoint Applicants to Boards and Commissions
Report
DISCUSSION
The City has ten Council-appointed boards and commissions that advise the City Council on a variety of community issues. The term length for boards and commissions is four years, with staggered terms expiring June 30 of each year. Council makes appointments to fill seats with expired terms in May/June to serve terms effective July 1, and fills vacancies as necessary quarterly throughout the year. Below is the list of current vacancies and 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. The term lengths of the current openings vary, as openings are to either fill unexpired terms due to resignations or to fill vacancies that remained following the previous recruitment process. Applicant information is available upon request from the Office of the City Clerk at cityclerk@sunnyvale.ca.gov or (408) 730-7483.
Per Council Policy 7.2.19, appointments of board and commission members are placed on the City Council meeting agenda. The appointment process is conducted per 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 votes and at least four affirmative votes will be appointed.
Should no candidate receive at least four affirmative votes, the vacancy will remain.
Housing and Human Services Commission (1 term to 6/30/2017, 1 term to 6/30/2018)
Melanie Holthaus (1st preference)
Srikanthaiah (Ken) Hiremath (1st preference)
Donald Rode (Only preference)
Avaninder Singh (Only preference)
Heritage Preservation Commission (1 term to 6/30/2020)
Melanie Holthaus (2nd preference)
Planning Commission (1 term to 6/30/2020)
Srikanthaiah Hiremath (2nd preference)
Daniel Howard (Only preference)
Daryoush Nafar (Only preference)
Murali Srinivasan (Only preference)
Personnel Board (Employee-Nominated Seat, 1 term to 6/30/2020)
No applicants.
Sustainability Commission (1 term to 6/30/2017)
No applicants.
Terms of new appointees will be effective March 1, 2017. Following appointments, the staff liaison for each commission will provide a 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 new member orientation hosted by the Office of the City Clerk. A ceremonial oath of office will be offered to all incoming members.
EXISTING POLICY
On April 21, 2015, Council adopted revisions to Council Policy 7.2.19 Boards and Commissions regarding the appointment of board and commission members to allow for paper votes or individual candidate votes, at the discretion of the Mayor.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk 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.
Staff
Prepared by: Lisa Natusch, Deputy City Clerk
Reviewed by: Walter C. Rossmann, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager