HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2301-0838 - RevisedAA2.Review Revised list of Applicants for open Board and Commission Openings on the
Historic Resources Board, Human Relations Commission, Parks and Recreation
Commission, Planning and Transportation Commission, Utilities Advisory Commission
and provide direction for interviews and appointments.
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CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
From: City Clerk
Report Type: ACTION
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: March 13, 2023
Report #: 2301-0838
TITLE
Review Revised list of Applicants for open Board and Commission Openings on the Historic
Resources Board, Human Relations Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning
and Transportation Commission, Utilities Advisory Commission and provide direction for
interviews and appointments.
RECOMMENDATION
Review revised list of applicants, discuss and provide direction for conducting interviews with
selected applicants for scheduled vacancies on the Historic Resources Board, Human Relations
Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning and Transportation Commission,
Utilities Advisory Commission.
BACKGROUND
The 2023 Board and Commission Recruitment closed on February 28th, 2023. A total of 56
applications were submitted during the recruitment period. At the March 6, 2023 meeting the
City Council was presented with the list of applicants submitted for the current openings on the
above Boards and Commissions and deliberated on the process to selected candidates to
interview. The direction provided was to allow each Council Member to submit names of their
select applicants to interview based on the Board or Commission as listed below:
•HRB – 3 openings, 3 applicants, Interview all
•HRC – 2 openings, 5 applicants, Interview all
•PRC – 4 openings, 18 applicants, 6 votes each
•PTC – 3 openings, 11 applicants, 5 votes each
•UAC – 4 openings, 18 applicants, 6 votes each
Council members submitted their selected applicants to the Clerk. The following individuals
were recommended to be interviewed for the following openings. Names listed with an *
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indicate they are an incumbent. All applications are available in the March 6, 2023 City Council
Agenda packet1.
•Three (3) positions on the Historic Resources Board with terms ending 3/31/2026.
o Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz*
o Christian Pease*
o Samantha Rohman
•Two (2) positions on the Human Relations Commission with terms ending 3/31/2026.
o Amy Hsieh
o Daryl Savage*
o Katie Causey
o Mary Kate Stimmler
o Niklas Miles Goodman
•Four (4) positions on the Parks & Recreation Commission with terms ending 3/31/2026.
o Adriana Flores-Ragade
o Amanda Brown*
o Bing Betty Wei
o Jeff LaMere*
o Joy Oche*
o Laura Granka
o Nancy Howe
o Niklas Miles Goodman Withdrew Application
o Shani Kleinhaus*
o Sierra R Peterson
o Star Teachout
o Sunny Paul
o Yudy Deng
•Three (3) positions on the Planning & Transportation Commission with two terms
ending 3/31/2027 and one unexpired term ending 3/31/2025.
o Alex Comsa
o Allen Akin
o Arthur Keller
o Brian Hamachek
o Brigham Wilson
o Cari Templeton*
1 March 6, 2023 City Council Staff Report 2203-1055 Commission Applications
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/Weblink/DocView.aspx?id=82306
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o Forest Olaf Peterson
o George Lu
o James Domine
o Leonard Ely
o Scott O'Neil
•Four (4) positions on the Utilities Advisory Commission with three terms ending
3/31/2026 and one unexpired term ending 3/31/2025.
o Benjamin Piiru
o Bob Wenzlau
o Chris Tucher
o Claude Ezran
o Greg Scharff*
o Jason Titus
o Katie Causey
o Maximillian Rayner
o Meagan Mauter
o Natalie Geise
o Rachel E Croft
o Ramarao V Digumarthi
o Robert Foley
o Robert Phillips
o Siyi Zhang
o Terry Martin
DISCUSSION
This item is up for discussion for how the Council chooses to proceed. Suggested ideas to vet
the candidates as well as manage the Council’s limited time could include, but are not limited
to, the following:
•Review the above list of selected applicants and allow Council Members to again select
candidates; requiring multiple votes to proceed forward to the interview phase
•Appoint an Ad Hoc Committee to conduct interviews with recommendations being
made to the full Council for appointment. Interviews can be recorded and provided to
the full Council prior to voting.
•Allow all applicants to submit their interviews via the City’s HireVue platform or other
video interview platform, and have the Council Members watch the interviews prior to
the decision
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•Hold a series of special meetings over the next two months to interview all selected
applicants prioritizing Boards that may have issues with obtaining a quorum for their
next meetings.
Staff remain ready to implement the Council direction, once provided.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Each Board or Commission has different requirements for appointment such as mandatory
residency, specialized training, or professional service in a specified area. For each of the Board
or Commission with current vacancies, the requirements are listed below. Additionally,
appointed members cannot be council members, officers or employees of the City of Palo Alto.
Historic Resources Board:
•Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of history, architecture or historic
preservation. (PAMC 2.27.010)
•One member shall be an owner/occupant of a category 1 or 2 historic structure, or of a
structure in a historic district. (PAMC 2.27.010)
•Three members shall be architects, landscape architects, building designers or other
design professionals. (PAMC 2.27.010)
•At least one member shall possess academic education or practical experience in history
or a related field. (PAMC 2.27.010)
Human Relations Commission:
•Palo Alto Residency. (PAMC 2.22.010)
Parks and Recreation Commission
•Demonstrated interest in parks, open space and recreation matters. (PAMC 2.25.010)
•Palo Alto Residency. (PAMC 2.25.010)
Planning and Transportation Commission:
•Palo Alto Residency. (PAMC 2.20.010)
Utilities Advisory Commission:
•Each member of the commission shall be a utility customer or the authorized
representative of a utility customer. (PAMC 2.23.010)
•Palo Alto Residency for at least six members of the commission. (PAMC 2.23.010)
APPROVED BY:
Lesley Milton
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