TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Liza Tamura, City Clerk
Martha Alvarez, Senior Deputy City Clerk
Patricia Matson, Deputy City Clerk
SUBJECT:Title
Annual Appointments to City Boards and Commissions (City Clerk Tamura).
APPOINT
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_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council appoint or reappoint to the following City Boards and Commissions vacancies:
• Board of Building Appeals
Five seats: Five Members-at-Large
• Cultural Arts Commission
Four seats: Two Members-at-Large, one Art Experience, and one Student Representative
• Library Commission
Two seats: One Member-at-Large and one Student Representative
• Parks and Recreation Commission
Three seats: One Member-at-Large, one Manhattan Beach Unified School District Nominee, and one Student Representative
• Parking and Public Improvements Commission
Three seats: Two Members-at-Large and one Business Community Representative
• Planning Commission
Two seats: Two Members-at-Large
Included in the staff report is the list of interested applicants.
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
In preparation the Annual Boards and Commissions Interview and Appointment Process, the City Clerk’s Office and staff liaisons have been in contact with current commissioners and applicants regarding upcoming scheduled vacancies.
To solicit interest in serving on the City’s Boards and Commissions, the City Clerk’s office placed advertisements in the January 2, February 6, March 5, April 2, April 23, and May 21 2020, editions of the Beach Reporter and the February 6, March 5, and April 23, 2020, editions of the Easy Reader newspapers. Staff posted notices on the City’s website, Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. Staff also sent out numerous e-notifications, published the vacancies in the Spring 2020 Manhappenings, and included information in the City’s COVID-19 Daily Situation Reports.
The application deadline was initially set for April, 15, 2020, with interviews to be held on April 28,2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and City Hall being closed to the public, the application deadline was extended until May 25, 2020, at 5:30 PM.
Interviews of applicants interested in serving on the City’s Boards and Commissions will be conducted on May 28, 2020, held virtually via Zoom.
DISCUSSION:
Staff has compiled a list of applicants from the community indicating interest in serving on the City’s Boards and Commissions. Below is a breakdown of each commission vacancy, along with the applicant’s expressed interest.
1. Board of Building Appeals:
The Board of Building Appeals hears requests for interpretation of California Code provisions, alternative materials and methods of construction. The Board’s interpretations and recommendations to the City Council are advisory. The Board consists of five boardmembers and meets on an as-needed basis. Boardmembers are appointed to three year terms but may serve indefinitely.
Resolution No. 5702 states, “Members shall be qualified by experience and training to review matters regarding Manhattan Beach construction codes, such as sub-standard buildings, housing conditions, dangerous structures, disabled access, and matters related there to.”
Seat Nos. 1-5 - Members-at-Large
Seat Nos. 1-5 are Member-at-Large seats with terms expiring on May 31, 2020. Staff has reached out to all incumbents and three have expressed interest in continuing to serve on the Board of Building Appeals. Below are the applicants that have indicated an interest in these seats.
Interested Applicants:
Richard Ackerman
Tom Freitag (Incumbent Seat No. 4)
Michael Kling (Incumbent Seat No. 1)
Matthew Luce
Margaret Napier (Incumbent Seat No. 3)
Bill Simone
Jim Yang
2. Cultural Arts Commission:
The Cultural Arts Commission is responsible for the continued development and implementation of the master plan for cultural arts in the City, encouraging and supporting art education programs in the community and schools, visual and performing arts in the Art in Public Places. The Cultural Arts Commission consists of six members: four members selected at-large, one member selected as a representative with art experience, and one student representative. The Commission meets the third Monday of every month at 6:00 PM.
Seat No. 1 - Art Experience
Seat No. 1 is an Art Experience seat currently occupied by Jacquelyne May. Commissioner May’s term will expire on May 31, 2020, and she is not eligible for reappointment. Below are the applicants that have indicated an interest in the seat.
Interested Applicants:
Joe Marcy
Gregory Moran
Elizabeth Rubino (Incumbent Seat No.5)
Seat No. 4 and Seat No. 5 - Member-at-Large
Seat No. 4 is a Member-at-Large seat that is currently vacant and previously held by Orhan Taner.
Seat No. 5 is a Member-at-Large seat currently occupied by Elizabeth Rubino. Commissioner Rubino’s term will expire on May, 31, 2020. She has applied and is eligible for reappointment. Should the City Council appoint Ms. Rubino to Seat No. 1, she will serve the three years assigned and will then not be eligible for reappointment.
Below are the applicants that have indicated an interest in these two seats.
Interested Applicants:
Andrew Bronstein
Chris Davis
Steven Fazzio
Lee Johnson
Margaret Napier
Elizabeth Rubino (Incumbent Seat No. 5)
Sue Vogl
Seat No. 6 - Student Representative
Seat No. 6 is a Student Representative seat currently occupied by Georgia Bennett. Commissioner Bennett’s term is for one year and will expire on May 31, 2020. Below are the applicants that have indicated an interest in the seat.
Interested Applicants:
Riya Attam
Juliana Ibaraki
Kerryn Kelly
Lucas Meyer
Alina Skolarus
3. Library Commission:
The Library Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council regarding library services provided by the Los Angeles County Library System to the citizens of Manhattan Beach. This Commission also serves as a liaison between the County, City, and public and private community groups supportive of library services. The Commission consists of six members: five members selected at-large and one student representative. The Commissions meets the second Monday of every month at 6:00 PM.
Seat No. 4 - Member-at-Large
Seat No. 4 is a Member-at-Large seat currently occupied by Roberta Schreiner. Commissioner Schreiner’s term will expire on May 31, 2020. She has applied and is eligible for reappointment. Below are the applicants that have indicated an interest in the seat.
Interested Applicants:
Jake Beniflah
Sherrie Brand
Seth Fishman
Zoe Frank
Joseph Frusco
Komal Kapoor
Allen Kirschenbaum
Jennifer Pooley
Elizabeth Rubino
Roberta Schreiner (Incumbent Seat No. 4)
Ellen Seiden
Seat No. 6 - Student Representative
Seat No. 6 is a Student Representative seat currently occupied by Karina Parikh. Commissioner Parikh’s term is for one year and will expire on May 31, 2020. Below are the applicants that have indicated an interest in the seat.
Interested Applicants:
Jordan Bailey
Carter Buckley
Blaise Glavan
Elizabeth Goldman
Julie Hohauser
Kerryn Kelly
Evelyn Wang
Sydney Weisberg
4. Parks and Recreation Commission:
The Parks and Recreation Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council regarding the recreational needs of all citizens, and promotes supervised public recreation within the City. The Commission consists of seven members: four at large members, one representative from the Older Adult community (55+ years of age), one representative appointed by the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board of Trustees, and one student representative. The Commission meets the fourth Monday of every month at 6:00 PM.
Seat No. 2 - Manhattan Beach Unified School District Nominee
Seat No. 2 is a seat nominated by the Manhattan Beach Unified School District currently held by Bruce Greenberg. Commissioner Greenberg’s term will expire on May 31, 2020. At the February 5, 2020, Board Meeting of the MBUSD Board of Trustees, the boardmembers unanimously voted in favor of re-appointing Bruce Greenberg to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Staff recommends that the City Council ratify the appointment made by the boardmembers of the Manhattan Beach Unified School District.
Seat No. 3 - Member-at-Large
Seat No. 3 is a Member-at-Large seat currently occupied by Ken Weiner. Commissioner Weiner’s term will expire on May 31, 2020. He has applied and is eligible for reappointment. Below are the applicants that have indicated an interest in the seat.
Interested Applicants:
Henry Alfano
Sherrie Brand
Andrew Bronstein
Wayne Bush
Robert DaGiau
Chris Davis
Steven Delk
Stephen Doran
Colleen Dougherty Euteneuer
Steven Fazzio
Joseph Frusco
Frederick Krull
Matthew Luce
Ali Steward
Sue Vogl
Ken Weiner (Incumbent Seat No. 3)
Seat No. 7 - Student Representative
Seat No. 7 is a Student Representative seat currently occupied by Genevieve Jackson. Commissioner Jackson’s term is for one year and will expire on May 31, 2020. Below are the applicants that have indicated an interest in the seat.
Interested Applicants:
Jordan Bailey
Owen Buckley
Catherine Cormack
Matthew Cullen
Blaise Glavan
Lucas Meyer
5. Parking and Public Improvements Commission:
The Parking and Public Improvements Commission (PPIC) makes recommendations to the City Council on public parking issues, capital improvement projects, traffic management and activities within the public right-of-way including encroachment permits. The Commission consists of five members: three Member-at-Large seats and two seats representing the Business Community. The Member-at-Large seats are available to any member of the community, while the Business Community representatives must be owners, employees or officers of businesses located and operating within the City. The Commission meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at 6:00 PM.
Seat No. 1 and Seat No. 3 - Members-at-Large
Seat No. 1 is a Member-at-Large seat currently occupied by Scott Longhurst. Commissioner Longhurst’s term will expire on May 31, 2020, and he has not applied for reappointment.
Seat No. 3 is a Member-at-Large seat currently occupied by Kathleen Paralusz. Commissioner Paralusz’s term will expire on Mary 31, 2020. She has applied and is eligible for reappointment.
Below are the applicants that have indicated an interest in these two seats.
Interested Applicants:
George Apostol
Stephen Doran
Joseph Frusco
Allen Kirschenbaum
Frederick Krull
Joe Marcy
Kathleen Paralusz (Incumbent Seat No. 3)
Jim Yang
Seat No. 2 - Business Community Representative
Seat No. 2 is a Business Community Representative seat currently occupied by Steven Delk. Commissioner Delk’s term will expire on May 31, 2020, and while he is not eligible for reappointment due to term limitations, Commissioner Delk has applied for another commission.
A candidate for this seat must own or operate a business in Manhattan Beach in order to be eligible for the Business Community Representative seat. Staff has verified that the following applicant, that has indicated an interest in the subject seat, has been issued a business license:
Interested Applicants:
George Apostol
6. Planning Commission:
Pursuant to California Planning and Zoning Law and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Planning Commission implements the City’s zoning ordinance and considers land use applications such as use permits, variances, planned development permits, historic landmark requests, CEQA, and appeals of certain decisions made by the Directors of Community Development, and recommends to the City Council zone changes, code amendments, and modifications to long-range planning documents, including but not limited to the City’s General Plan and Local Coastal Plan. It is the only existing Commission that makes official determinations. Planning Commission decisions may be appealed to the City Council. The Commission consists of five (5) Member-at-Large seats and meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers.
Seat No. 4 and Seat No. 5 - Members-at-Large
Seat No. 4 is a Member-at-Larger seat currently occupied by Benjamin Burkhalter. Commissioner Burkhalter’s term will expire on May 31, 2020. He has applied and is eligible for reappointment.
Seat No. 5 is a Member-at-Large seat currently occupied by Gerry Morton. Commissioner Morton’s term will expire on May 31, 2020. He has applied and is eligible for reappointment.
Below are the applicants that have indicated an interest in these two seats.
Interested Applicants:
Richard Ackerman
George Apostol
Paul Beswick
Andrew Bronstein
Benjamin Burkhalter (Incumbent Seat No. 4)
Ilia Terrazas Dickey
Jim Dillavou
Dina Doll
Stephen Doran
Steven Fazzio
Joseph Frusco
Tom Freitag
Allen Kirschenbaum
Anne Marie Knott
Jake Larson
Matthew Luce
Joe Marcy
Gerry Morton (Incumbent Seat No. 5)
Kathleen Paralusz
Tarek Shaer
Robert Tokashiki
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The City Clerk’s office conducted extensive outreach regarding the vacant Board and Commissions seats by placing advertisements in the January 2, February 6, March 5, April 2, April 23, and May 21 2020, editions of the Beach Reporter and the February 6, March 5, and April 23, 2020, editions of the Easy Reader newspapers. Staff posted notices on the City’s website, Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. Staff also sent out numerous e-notifications, published the vacancies in the Spring 2020 Manhappenings, and included information in the City’s COVID-19 Daily Situation Reports.
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. Boards and Commissions Advertisement