TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Liza Tamura, City Clerk
Martha Alvarez, Assistant City Clerk
Breana Contreras, Deputy City Clerk
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Acceptance of the Resignation from Parking and Public Improvements Commissioner Rosemarie Balla, Declaring Vacant the Parking and Public Improvements Commission Seat No. 4 (Member-At-Large Seat), and Directing the City Clerk to Contact Former January 2025 Applicants who Have Expressed an Interest in Being Appointed to the Parking and Public Improvements Commission (No Budget Impact) (City Clerk Tamura).
A) ACCEPT RESIGNATION
B) DECLARE VACANCY
C) DIRECT THE CITY CLERK TO CONTACT FORMER APPLICANTS INTERESTED IN BEING APPOINTED TO THE PARKING AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS COMMISSION
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
a) Accept the resignation from Parking and Public Improvements Commissioner Rosemarie Balla;
b) Declare vacant the Parking and Public Improvements Commission Seat No. 4 (Member At-Large Seat); and
c) Direct the City Clerk to contact the January 2025 applicants for the Parking and Public Improvements Commission regarding the current vacancy.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
The Parking and Public Improvements Commission (PPIC), established by resolution, consists of five members and serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council regarding public parking issues, Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), traffic management, activities within the public right-of-way including encroachment permits, underground utilities, and environmental enhancements.
On August 7, 2025, the City Clerk’s Office received an email from Commissioner Rosemarie Balla regarding her resignation; thereby vacating Seat No. 4 of the PPIC. Her official letter of resignation is pending as of the date of this report.
DISCUSSION:
The term for PPIC Seat No. 4 is set to expire on May 31, 2028. Pursuant to the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (MBMC) Section 2.44.070, if a vacant seat has more than 18 months remaining in its term, the new member would complete the original term and then seek reappointment via the regular procedures for the next three-year term. The new member appointed to this seat will complete the original term of office, expiring May 31, 2028, and then be eligible to seek reappointment for a three-year term.
On January 14, 2025, the City Council interviewed 25 individuals for a Member-At-Large seat at the PPIC. An additional five applicants, unable to attend the interviews, requested consideration. On January 21, 2025, City Council meeting, Gita O’Neill was appointed to Seat No. 2 vacancy, and Jackquelyn Chou, also a PPIC and Library Commission applicant, was appointed to the Library Commission Seat No. 3.
Staff will contact the remaining 28 applicants from the January 2025 pool to confirm their interest.in the current vacancy. A list of interested applicants will be presented to the City Council at the September 2, 2025, Regular Meeting for consideration and appointment.
Should the City Council choose not to appoint from the January 2025 list, they may direct the City Clerk’s Office to initiate public outreach, conduct interviews in September, and return with a new applicant list at the City Council’s October 7, 2025, regular meeting.
It is important to note that the PPIC has a list of pending items for discussion and consideration, therefore, efficiency in selection of a new Commissioner would guarantee continuity of the Commission work program.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Upon declaring the seat vacant, the City Council may direct the City Clerk’s Office to:
• Contact remaining applicants from January 2025 PPIC recruitment; or
• Conduct public outreach, including:
o Publishing a notice in the Beach Reporter
o Posting notices at City Hall, Manhattan Heights, and Joslyn Community Center
o Notifying the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business and Professional Association, and North Manhattan Beach Business & Professional Association
o Posting the application process on the City’s website and social media channels
o Sending GovDelivery notifications subscribers
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENT
1. Resignation Letter - Commissioner Balla (to be provided on a separate cover)