TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Liza Tamura, City Clerk
George Gabriel, Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Accept Resignation from Cultural Arts Commissioner Prigozhin, Declare Vacant Cultural Arts Commission Seat No. 4 (Prigozhin), and Direct the City Clerk to Return with a List of Interested Applicants (City Clerk Tamura).
ACCEPT RESIGNATION AND DECLARE VACANCY
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Accept the resignation from Cultural Arts Commissioner Leon Prigozhin;
2. Declare Vacant Cultural Arts Commission Seat No. 4 (Prigozhin);
3. Direct the City Clerk to return to the July 3, 2018 City Council meeting with a list of interested applicants that participated in the 2018 annual boards and commissions interview and appointment process.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
The Cultural Arts Commission consists of six members (one representative with art experience, four at-large members and one student representative) and meets on the third Monday of each month. The Commission is responsible for developing a Cultural Arts Master Plan for the City, encouraging and supporting art education programs in the community and schools, participating in the Arts in Public Places selection process and assisting in the Art in Civic Spaces Program.
On May 25, 2018, Commissioner Prigozhin tendered his letter of resignation to the City; effectively leaving Cultural Arts Commission, Seat No. 4, Member-at-Large seat, vacant.
DISCUSSION:
Per Ordinance No. 1975, if a vacant seat has 18 months or less remaining in its term, the new member would complete the original term and automatically be re-appointed to a three-year term.
Commissioner Prigozhin’s term was scheduled to expire on May 31, 2019. As such, the new member appointed to this seat will complete the original term of office (expiring May 31, 2019) and then be automatically re-appointed to the succeeding three-year term from June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2022.
The City Clerk’s office historically declares vacancies and conducts public outreach for interested candidates to immediately fill unscheduled vacancies. Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (MBMC) Section 2.44.040 states, “Whenever an unscheduled vacancy occurs on a Commission, Board or Committee, a special notice is to be posted in the City Clerk's Office, and in other places as directed by the City Council within twenty (20) days after the City receives notice of the vacancy.”
As part of the 2018 annual interview and appointment process, staff advertised for several Boards and Commissions vacancies (including two for the Cultural Arts Commission) in the Beach Reporter, the Easy Reader, City Hall posting boards, Manhattan Heights Community Center and Joslyn Community Center bulletin boards, the City’s website, the City’s social media channels, and sent multiple e-notifications to website subscribers. Given the significant advertising efforts made from February 2018 - April 2018, staff is recommending that the City Council appoint from the list of candidates that participated in the 2018 annual interview and appointment process.
On April 24, 2018, six individuals interviewed for the Cultural Arts Commission Member-at-Large seat. One individual was appointed, Shannon Ryan, leaving five individuals for the City Clerk to contact and determine if interest still exists. Below are applicants that indicated an interest in the seat:
- Russel Allen
- Denise Anderman
- George Apostol
- Wendy Stillman
- Adam Taner
Staff recommends the City Council accept the resignation from Cultural Arts Commissioner Leon Prigozhin, declare Vacant Cultural Arts Commission Seat No. 4, and direct the City Clerk to return to the July 3, 2018 City Council meeting with a list of interested applicants from the 2018 annual boards and commissions interview and appointment process. However, should the City Council prefer an alternative to the staff recommendation, staff has prepared a policy alternative for consideration in the next section below.
POLICY ALTERNATIVE:
ALTERNATIVE #1:
Upon City Council’s approval to declare this seat vacant, the City Council can direct the City Clerk to conduct public outreach and advertise the vacant seat in the Beach Reporter, Easy Reader, City Hall, Manhattan Heights Community Center, & Joslyn Community Center bulletin boards, the City’s website, the City’s social media channels and e-notification to website subscribers. Staff will then schedule interviews and agendize the appointment to this seat at a future City Council meeting.
PROS:
- Provide additional opportunity for the community to apply for this open seat.
CONS:
-Staff resources dedicated towards advertising vacancy and gathering applications.
-Duplicative efforts to advertise and appoint applicants from most recent list established through the interview and appointment process on April 24, 2018.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
If the City Council directs staff to conduct public outreach, a notice will be published in the Beach Reporter, the Easy Reader, City Hall bulletin boards, the City website Boards and Commissions page, the City social media channels and an e-notification to website subscribers.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
Attachment:
1. Commissioner Prigozhin Resignation Letter