HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2606-6478CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, September 14, 2026
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
3.Appointment of Candidates to the Historic Resources Board (HRB); CEQA Status – Not a
Project Staff Presentation
City Council
Staff Report
Report Type: SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: September 14, 2026
Report #:2606-6478
TITLE
Appointment of Candidates to the Historic Resources Board (HRB); CEQA Status – Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council make up to three appointments to fill the full-term
vacancies on the HRB, and authorize staff to continue recruitment if any positions are not filled
through this action.
BACKGROUND
Recruitment for the Historic Resources Board opened on January 13, 2026 and was extended
until a sufficient number of applications were received. Details on the vacancies and
membership requirements are summarized in the analysis section. Applications may be
accessed online1. The City Council scheduled interviews to occur on September 9, 2026. These
interviews may be viewed on the City’s YouTube Channel2.
ANALYSIS
A summary of the vacancies and eligibility requirements are included below. In addition to the
requirements below, no commissioners can be Councilmembers, officers, or employees of the
City.
Historic Resources Board (HRB)
Vacancies and Term Dates Seat Numbers Number of Applicants
3 Full Terms
4/1/26 – 3/31/29
1, 2, 3 3
1 August 24, 2026, City Council Staff Report #2605-6350
2 City of Palo Alto YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto
HRB Eligibility Requirements5:
Palo Alto residency is not required
All members shall have a demonstrated interest in and knowledge of history,
architecture or historic preservation.
Two members shall be professionals in the disciplines of architecture, architectural
history, planning, landscape architecture, or related disciplines, or pre-historic and
historic archeology, folklore, cultural anthropology, curation, or conservation.
o This requirement is currently fulfilled by three members of the commission, two
of which do not have expiring terms. Therefore, this requirement will remain
fulfilled regardless of applicant selection in this recruitment.
At least one member shall possess academic education or practical experience in history
or a related field such as American studies, American civilization, or cultural geography.
o This requirement is currently fulfilled by three members of the commission, and
all three have expired terms in this recruitment. At least one new appointment
must meet this requirement.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
ATTACHMENTS
APPROVED BY:
5 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.27.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-
0-0-61523
2026 Extended Spring RecruitmentHistoric Resources Board (HRB)Appointments
Presenter:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
Nicole Bissell, Deputy City Clerk
September 14, 2026 www.PaloAlto.gov
•Included in tonight’s appointments:
o Historic Resources Board (HRB) – 3 full-term vacancies, expiring 03/31/2029
•Voting Process:
o Each Councilmember has 1 vote per vacancy
o 4 votes are needed to appoint a candidate
2026 EXTENDED SPRING RECRUITMENT
2
3 Full-Term Vacancies, expiring 03/31/2029
Aleksandar Patrick Dusan Rakicevic More : Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott -Haims, Reckdahl,
Stone, Veenker (7)
Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone,
Veenker (7)
Nandini Ramamurthi: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (7)
HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD
3