HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2404-2887CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, May 06, 2024
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
2.Appointment of Candidates for Vacancies on the Architectural Review Board, Human
Relations Commission, Planning and Transportation Commission, and Public Art
Commission. CEQA Status - Not a project.
City Council
Staff Report
Report Type: SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: May 6, 2024
Report #:2404-2887
TITLE
Appointment of Candidates for Vacancies on the Architectural Review Board, Human Relations
Commission, Planning and Transportation Commission, and Public Art Commission. CEQA
Status - Not a project.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council vote to appoint candidates for the following positions:
•Two (2) vacancies on the Architectural Review Board with terms ending March 31, 2027
•Two (2) vacancies on the Human Relations Commission with terms ending March 31,
2027
•One (1) vacancy on the Planning and Transportation Commission with term ending
March 31, 2028
•Four (4) vacancies on the Public Art Commission with two terms ending March 31, 2027
and two partial terms ending March 31, 2026
*A majority vote (4 yes’s) is required to appoint a candidate.
BACKGROUND
Boards and Commissions are established as advisory bodies to the City Council, made up of
community volunteers that provide essential feedback on matters of importance to the
community. The City Clerk’s office advertises and recruits for vacancies, the Council considers
the applications, interviews desired candidates, and makes appointments for the open
positions.
INTERVIEWS
At the April 1, 2024 City Council meeting, the Council elected to interview 2 candidates for
Planning and Transportation Commission, 4 candidates for the Stormwater Management
Oversight Committee, 5 candidates for the Architectural Review Board, 5 candidates for the
Human Relations Commission, and 8 candidates for the Public Art Commission. The interviews
were held on April 8, 2024 and April 30, 2024. Video recording of the interviews are available
on our City of Palo Alto YouTube Channel1. All applications for the Planning and Transportation
Commission2, Stormwater Management Oversight Committee3, Architectural Review Board4,
Human Relations Commission5, and Public Art Commissioni can be accessed online.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Each Board or Commission has different requirements for appointment such as mandatory
residency, specialized training, or professional service in a specified area. Additionally,
appointed members cannot be council members, officers, or employees of the City of Palo Alto.
Architectural Review Board
•At least three members shall be architects, landscape architects, building designers or
other design professionals. (PAMC 2.21.010). This requirement is currently fulfilled by all
5 members of the Architectural Review Board.
Human Relation Commission
•Palo Alto residency. (PAMC 2.22.010)
Planning and Transportation Commission
•Palo Alto residency. (PAMC 2.20.010)
Public Art Commission
•Each member of the Commission shall either be members of the Architectural Review
Board or shall be professional visual artists, professional visual arts educators,
professional visual arts scholars, or visual arts collectors whose authorities and skills are
known and respected in the community and, whenever feasible, who have
demonstrated an interest in, and have participated in, the arts program of the city.
(PAMC 2.18.020)
PUBLIC OUTREACH
The 2024 Annual Boards and Commissions recruitment invited applications from January 1,
2024 through March 17, 2024 through the new online application process. Palo Alto Municipal
Code 2.16.060 requires public notification regarding vacancies of the Commissions as follows,
1 City of Palo Alto YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto
2 Planning and Transportation Commission applications:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=0&type=7&uid=47a8c2a7-4a8d-4def-8222-b510fccfc966
3 Stormwater Management Oversight Committee applications:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=0&type=7&uid=d79f6864-7531-4cb6-ab61-662a97bdf957
4 Architectural Review Board applications:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=0&type=7&uid=f8d5a94c-6be9-4174-9aee-dea7f869d225
5 Human Relations Commission applications:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=0&type=7&uid=afbc2869-beaf-4ac2-becd-fb05c613e79c
“The City Clerk shall exercise their discretion in choosing the method of advertisement that will
most effectively reach potential candidates.” Based on the September 14, 2021 Policy &
Services Committee meeting report regarding Board and Commission Member demographics
and community representation, the City Clerk’s office expanded recruitment efforts through
additional means to “most effectively reach potential candidates”.
This recruitment was advertised through various methods including paid print and digital
advisements in The Palo Alto Weekly and the Daily Post; via the City’s website and social media
channels; in physical locations of the Palo Alto Libraries and Community Centers; and
distributed by e-mail through established distribution lists to community based organizations,
individuals and City subscription based notification lists.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
i Public Art Commission:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=0&type=7&uid=c0aa38a6-a2ed-4d01-98f3-a90b0b917833