City Council
MEETING DATE: 6/6/2015
TITLE:
Title
Board, Commissions and Committees Interviews
End
FROM:
Tracey R. Martinez, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Interview applicants, discuss and provide direction to staff on possible appointments to the various Commissions, Committees and Boards with existing vacancies and terms expiring on June 30, 2015.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The terms of appointments and term limits for Boards and Commissions have been established in the Cathedral City Municipal Code or by the specific organizations. There are no term limits established for committees by the municipal code. All members of the Commissions shall be appointed for a three year term unless otherwise provided by law, Ordinance, Resolution or if not applicable. The Finance Advisory Committee appointments are for two years with no term limits. When an unexpected vacancy occurs on a Commission an appointment may be made to fulfill the remainder of the term. Most, if not all, terms will expire on June 30th of their respective year. Except in cases where the Mayor or City Council are not the appointing authority, no person shall be appointed to and serve substantially more than two full consecutive terms upon any single board or commission, and any person who has served substantially two full consecutive terms shall not be reappointed to the same board or commission until at least the time equal to one full term has elapsed. However, the City Council may, at any time, if in the best interest of the City, upon the affirmative votes of any four members of the City Council, waive the term limit provisions and reappoint any member of a board or commission of the City for one additional term.
Staff has actively solicited applicants to fill the existing vacancies and anticipated vacancies for June 2015. Efforts included publishing a notice in the Desert Sun twice, posting the notice at the Senior Center, Library and City Hall, posting the notice on the City's website and social media. All current board members, commissioners and committee members whose term is expiring in June 2015 were sent a letter letting them know that their terms would be expiring and inquiring whether or not they would be interested in reappointment. Applications were received through May 28, 2015.
DISCUSSION:
The following are the Board, Commissions and Committee that have vacancies or terms that are expiring as of June 30, 2015 and a list of those who have submitted applications and letters of interest:
Palm Springs International Airport Commission - 1 Seat
This Commission meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 8:00 a.m. in the Conference Room, second floor of terminal building at the Palm Springs International Airport. This is a three year term. Barry Freet is the current individual serving on the Palm Springs International Airport Commission. Mr. Freet was appointed to fill an unexpired term in June 2014 and has indicated that he would like to be considered for reappointment. Staff also received applications from the following individuals:
John A. Haag, III
Mitchell S. Spike
Finance Advisory Committee - 2 Seats
This Committee meets at least once each calendar year and all meetings shall be subject to the provisions of the Brown Act. There are two seats that will expire on June 30, 2015. Mr. Bill Gay has indicated that he does not want to be considered for reappointment. Mr. Bill Proctor would like to be considered for reappointment. Both terms are for three years. Staff received one application from Tyrone Pearson.
Parks and Community Events Commission - 5 Seats
The Parks and Community Events Commission was recently amended to add 2 additional seats and modified their responsibilities. They are scheduled to meet bi-monthly, October through May. There is currently one vacant seat that will expire on June 30, 2017 and four seats that will expire on June 30, 2018. Diane Hines has completed two terms on the Commission and has requested to be reconsidered for reappointment. Arianna Menon was appointed to fill an unexpired term in June 2014 and has requested to be considered for reappointment. Staff also received applications from the following individuals:
Eric Davis
Karen Panico-Willis
Valerie K. Schechter
Jerid M. Seeba
Johnny Huynh-Simmonds
Planning Commission - 4 Seats
This Commission meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 3rd floor of Civic Center. There are four seats with terms that will expire on June 30, 2015. Todd Hooks has served on the Commission for three full terms and has termed out, however, he would like to be considered for reappointment. Although Mr. Hooks will be out of town and not available for the interview he would like the Council to consider him for reappointment. John Rivera has served on the Planning Commission since December 2013 and served on ARC from July 2007 to December 2013. He has indicated that he would like to be considered for reappointment to the Planning Commission. Anna Rodriguez was appointed in December 2014 to fill an unexpired term and has indicated that she would like to be considered for reappointment to the Planning Commission. All terms are for three years and will expire on June 30, 2018. Staff received applications from the following individuals:
Denise Rodriguez Bowman
Patricia Coleman
Patrick Flood
Bruce Haulley
Barry Jaquess
Robin Johnson
Tyrone Pearson
Mr. Bruce Haulley submitted an application via email on Friday, May 29, 2015, following the deadline of Thursday, May 28, 2015. Staff has included Mr. Haulley in the process based on past practices of the City Council allowing for special circumstances.
Public Arts Commission - 5 Seats
This Commission meets on the second Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in the Study Session Room, first floor of Civic Center. There are five seats with terms that will expire on June 30, 2015 on the Public Arts Commission. Jim Cox was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the Commission in March of 2012. He was reappointed in December of 2013 for a two year term only. He has indicated that he would like to be reconsidered for reappointment to the Commission. Since the former Council only did a two year term, Mr. Cox is requesting that his appointment be for a four year term. Pam Price was appointed in September of 2010 and reappointed in December 2013 for a two year term only. She has indicated that she would like to be considered for reappointment to the Commission, and like Mr. Cox, she would like to be reappointed for a four year term. All terms for this Commission are for three years, unless Council decides to do four year terms for Jim Cox and Pam Price, and will expire on June 30, 2018. Staff received applications from the following individuals:
Gary Borgstedt
Denise Rodriguez Bowman
Simeon Den
Robin Johnson
Cosgrove Norstadt
Tim A. Parrott
Robert Reeves
Sue Townsley
Board of Appeals - 5 seats
In addition to the above listed Commissions, Committees, the City Council makes appointments to the Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals meets on an as needed basis and is made up of five members all with terms expiring on June 30, 2015. Ralph Hitchcook, Al Jimenez and Donna Lawton have indicated that they would like to be reappointed for a three year term. Gershwin Haltman passed away this past February, Janet Malachowsky has indicated that she does not wish to be reappointed. Staff received no applications for this Board.
Staff also received applications from the following list of individuals, however, they were disqualified for the reason stated:
Patric Dixon - not a registered voter of Cathedral City
Arno Liechti - not a registered voter of Cathedral City
Douglas Morris - not available on date of interviews
Below is a list of seats and term expirations for Council to consider. It is Staff's recommendation that once the City Council has completed all of the interviews they discuss and provide direction on possible appointments to each Board, Commission and Committee.
· Palm Springs International Airport Commission - one seat with a term expiring on June 30, 2018.
· Finance Advisory Committee - two seats with a term expiring on June 30, 2018.
· Parks and Community Events Commission - one seat with a term expiring on June 30, 2017 and four seats with terms expiring on June 30, 2018.
· Planning Commission - four seats with terms expiring on June 30, 2018.
· Public Arts Commission - five seats with terms expiring on June 30, 2018.
· Board of Appeals - five seats with terms expiring on June 30, 2018. It is staff's recommendation that the Council reappoint the two individuals that are currently on this Board and possibly appoint an applicant that does not get appointed to another Commission or Committee that would like to get involved.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the City with this item.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Applications and Emails from all individuals interested in being appointed or reappointed to a Council appointed Board Commission or Committee.
B. Email from Jim Cox, Public Arts Commission Chair.
C. Email from Tami Scott, Administrative Services Director.