HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2609-6816CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, October 05, 2026
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
1.Appointment of Candidates to the Human Relations Commission (HRC), Parks and
Recreation (PRC), and Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC), CEQA Status - Not
a Project Staff Presentation
City Council
Staff Report
Report Type: BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
APPOINTMENTS
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: October 5, 2026
Report #:2609-6816
TITLE
Appointment of Candidates to the Human Relations Commission (HRC), Parks and Recreation
(PRC), and Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC), CEQA Status - Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council appoint up to three candidates to the HRC, up to four
candidates to the PRC, up to one candidate to the PTC, and authorize staff to continue
recruitment if any positions are not filled through this action.
BACKGROUND
Recruitment for Boards, Commissions, and Committees (BCCs) is split into fall and spring cycles.
The fall recruitment opened on July 28, 2026 and closed on September 2, 2026. This recruitment
includes 12 vacancies across 5 meeting bodies. The fall cycle includes HRC, PRC, PAC, and
SWMOC. Unscheduled vacancies on the HRC and PTC arose during the recruitment, and staff
incorporated this position into the fall recruitment for efficiency and cost savings. More details
on vacancies, eligibility requirements, and terms are included in the analysis section below.
The City Council interviewed candidates for PRC on September 22 and is scheduled to interview
candidates for HRC and PTC on September 30. Interviews for PAC and SWMOC are tentatively
scheduled for October 19, and appointments are tentatively scheduled for October 26.
ANALYSIS
A summary of the openings, eligibility requirements, and term lengths for each vacancy are
included below. In addition to the eligibility requirements below, no commissioners may be
Councilmembers, officers, or employees of the City.
Human Relations Commission (HRC)
Number of Vacancies and Term Dates 2 Full Term Vacancies (11/1/2026 – 10/31/2029)
1 Partial Term Vacancy (11/1/25 – 10/31/28)
Seat Numbers 1, 4, 7
Number of Applicants 13 Total (9 in regular recruitment, 4 additional in
extended)
Number of Votes per Councilmember 3 (2 votes for full term vacancies and 1 vote for
partial term vacancy)
Eligibility Requirements1 Palo Alto residency
Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC)
Number of Vacancies and Term Dates 4 Full Term Vacancies (11/1/2026 – 10/31/2029)
Seat Numbers 1, 5, 6, 7
Number of Applicants 13
Number of Votes per Councilmember 4
Eligibility Requirements2 Each member of the commission shall have a
demonstrated interest in parks, open space and
recreation matters.
Palo Alto residency
Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC)
Number of Vacancies and Term Dates 1 Partial Term Vacancy (4/1/2026 – 3/31/2030)
Seat Number 4
Number of Applicants 9
Number of Votes per Councilmember 1
Eligibility Requirements3 Palo Alto residency
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
None.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
City staff publicized the recruitment through the following methods:
Electronic distribution via the City’s Uplift Local community newsletter, City Clerk’s Office
newsletter, City’s website, and City’s social media channels;
1 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.22.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-
0-0-61320
2 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.25.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-
0-0-61402
3 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.20.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-
0-0-61282
Physical posting and flyer distribution at City facilities, including libraries, community
centers, and City Hall;
Print and online ads in the Palo Alto Daily Post and Palo Alto Weekly; and
Outreach to previous applicants, community-based organizations and groups related to
the commissions’ subject matter jurisdiction.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council action on this item is not a project as defined by CEQA because it is an organizational or
administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the
environment. CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: BCC Applications
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
Meeting Date: October 5, 2026
Human Relations Commission Applications
Parks and Recreation Commission Applications
Planning and Transportation Commission Applications
2026 Fall RecruitmentHRC, PRC, PTC Appointments
Presenter:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
Christine Prior, Assistant City Clerk
October 5, 2026 www.PaloAlto.gov
Human Relations Commission (HRC)
•2 Full Term Vacancies and 1 Partial Term Vacancy
•Interviewed Candidates:
•Aji Oliyide
•Cynthia Wood
•Ellen Bob
•Haylea Hannah
•Katie Causey
•Raizel Rosenberg
•Sunny Dykwel
Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC)
•1 Partial Term Vacancy
•Interviewed Candidates:
•Christopher Kao
•Jeff Watt
•Tom Siegel
VACANCY INFORMATION
2
Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC)
•4 Full Term Vacancies
•Interviewed Candidates:
•Abhijit Solanki
•Aubrey Whitcomb
•Ben Lenail
•Bing Betty Wei
•Leo Hochberg
•Marc Schoenen
•Shani Kleinhaus
•Sterling Watson
•Virginia Ruiz Albacete
•Each Councilmember has 1 vote per vacancy
•4 votes are needed to appoint a candidate
•Additional rounds will be conducted to break ties if needed
VOTING PROCESS
3
2 Full Term Vacancies (11/1/2026 - 10/31/2029)
Aji Oliyide: Burt, Lauing (2)
Cynthia Wood: (0)
Ellen Bob: (0)
Haylea Hannah: (0)
Katie Causey: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (7)
Raizel Rosenberg: Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (5)
Sunny Dykwel: (0)
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION – FULL TERM
4
1 Partial Term Vacancy (11/1/2025 - 10/31/2028)
Aji Oliyide: Lythcott-Haims (1)
Cynthia Wood: (0)
Ellen Bob: Lauing, Reckdahl, Veenker (3)
Haylea Hannah: Burt, Lu, Stone (3)
Katie Causey: (0)
Raizel Rosenberg: (0)
Sunny Dykwel: (0)
Tie breaker vote between Ellen Bob and Haylea Hannah required.
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION – PARTIAL TERM
5
4 Full Term Vacancies (11/1/2026 - 10/31/2029)
Aubrey Whitcomb: Lauing, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl (3)
Virginia Ruiz Albacete: Lauing, Lu, Stone (3)
Abhijit Solanki: Burt (1)
Sterling Watson: (0)
Shani Kleinhaus: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (7)
Ben Lenail: Burt, Reckdahl, Veenker (3)
Marc Schoenen: Lauing, Lu, Stone, Veenker (4)
Leo Hochberg: Burt, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl (3)
Bing Betty Wei: Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Stone, Veenker (4)
Tie breaker vote between Virginia Ruiz Albacete, Ben Lenail, Leo Hochberg, Aubrey
Whitcomb required.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
6
1 Partial Term Vacancy (4/1/2026 - 3/31/2030)
Christopher Kao: Lythcott-Haims (1)
Jeff Watt: (0)
Tom Siegel: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (6)
PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
7
1 Partial Term Vacancy (11/1/2025 - 10/31/2028)
Ellen Bob: Lauing, Reckdahl, Veenker (3)
Haylea Hannah: Burt, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Stone (4)
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION – PARTIAL TERM – ROUND 2
8
1 Full Term Vacancy (11/1/2026 - 10/31/2029)
Aubrey Whitcomb: Burt, Lythcott-Haims (2)
Ben Lenail: Reckdahl, Veenker (2)
Leo Hochberg: (0)
Virginia Ruiz Albacete: Lauing, Lu, Stone (3)
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION – ROUND 2
9
1 Full Term Vacancy (11/1/2026 - 10/31/2029)
Aubrey Whitcomb: Lythcott-Haims, Burt (2)
Ben Lenail: Reckdahl (1)
Virginia Ruiz Albacete: Lauing, Stone, Lu, Veenker (4)
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION – ROUND 3
10