REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Appoint Applicants to the Board of Building Code Appeals, the Heritage Preservation Commission and the Housing and Human Services Commission
Report
DISCUSSION
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/June to fill seats with expiring terms to serve effective July 1, and fills vacancies as necessary quarterly throughout the year.
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. The term lengths of the current openings vary, as some openings are to fill unexpired terms due to resignations or 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.
BOARD OF BUILDING CODE APPEALS
(2 vacancies: terms expire 6/30/2023)
Yasaman Hakami (3rd preference)
Rahul Jain (1st preference)
Adam Kroll (only preference)
Linda Sell (2nd preference)
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
(1 vacancy: term expires 6/30/2020)
Yasaman Hakami (2nd preference)
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
(1 vacancy: term expires 6/30/2022)
Hubert (Coy) Byron III (only preference)
Michelle Manassau (only preference)
Rahul Jain (2nd preference)
Linda Sell (1st preference)
Yasaman Hakami (1st preference)
Per 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 according to 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.
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.
Terms will be effective December 11, 2019. 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.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.2.19 Boards and Commissions
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 board members and 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: David Carnahan, City Clerk