TITLE:
title
APPOINTMENTS TO THE ARTS, PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND PLANNING COMMISSIONS
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DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE/CITY CLERK DIVISION
PRESENTED BY: BRENDA GREEN, CITY CLERK
CONTACT INFORMATION: BRENDA GREEN, CITY CLERK, (714) 754-5221
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council make appointments as follows:
1. Arts Commission - Make four (4) member appointments with a term expiration of January 2029 (Appointments by Mayor Stephens, Council Member Buley, Council Member Gameros, and Council Member Pettis).
2. Parks and Community Services Commission - Make four (4) member appointments with a term expiration of January 2029 (Appointments by Mayor Stephens, Council Member Buley, Council Member Gameros, and Council Member Pettis) and one (1) member appointment with a term expiration of January 2027 (Appointment by Council Member Marr).
3. Planning Commission - Make four (4) member appointments with a term expiration of January 2029 (Appointments by Mayor Stephens, Council Member Buley, Council Member Gameros, and Council Member Pettis).
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BACKGROUND:
Arts Commission 4 Appointments)
4 Commissioners/Term Expiration of January 2029
The Arts Commission meets on the first Thursday of each month. As the “City of the Arts” Costa Mesa holds in highest regard the vital role of the arts in the community. The general objectives of the Arts Commission shall be to ensure that the City of Costa Mesa is a place where creativity and creative people can flourish; imagination, inspiration and innovation are promoted; arts education is accessible to all; and, arts and culture promote civic pride and enrich the lives of residents. Four (4) members must be residents of Costa Mesa and there may be up to three (3) non-residents that are affiliated with the Arts.
Staff received twelve (12) applications for the vacancies to be filled (applications attached). Council may appoint any applicant; there is no requirement to appoint within a Council Member’s district.
1. Syed Zia Hussian - District 2
2. Brendan Ford - District 2
3. Katherine ‘Kate’ Ryan - District 3
4. Fisher Derderian - District 4 (Incumbent)
5. Joy Ferguson - District 5
6. Allison Mann - District 5 (Incumbent)
7. Lauren Hillary - District 6
8. Seana Brief - District 6
9. Kathryn Boren - District 6
10. Brian Ross - District 6
11. Neo Moreno - Non-Resident
12. Debora Wondercheck - Non-Resident (Incumbent)
Parks and Community Services Commission (5 Appointments)
4 Commissioners /Term Expiration of January 2029
1 Commissioner /Term Expiration of January 2027
The Parks and Community Services Commission meets on the second Thursday of each month. The Commission serves as an advisory body to the City Council and works with various City departments on issues pertaining to parks, parkways, recreation, and community services. Staff received sixteen (16) applications for the vacancies to be filled (applications attached). Council may appoint any applicant; there is no requirement to appoint within a Council Member’s district.
1. Jason Komala - District 1
2. James Peters - District 1
3. Daniel Baume - District 2
4. Syed Zia Hussain - District 2
5. Brandice Lea Leger - District 3 (Incumbent)
6. Jose Luis Toscano - District 3
7. Cara Roseanne Stewart - District 3
8. Lauren Weiss - District 4
9. Stephen Smith - District 5
10. Elizabeth (Betsy) C. Densmore - District 5
11. Jake Husen - District 5
12. Elizabeth Dorn Parker - District 6 (Incumbent)
13. Kathryn Boren - District 6
14. Shayanne Wright - District 6 (Incumbent)
15. Jordan Annis - District 6
16. Jennifer Leigh Tanaka - District 6
Planning Commission (4 Appointments)
4 Commissioners /Term Expiration of January 2029
The Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month. The Commission functions as an advisory body to the City Council on issues related to the long-term growth and development of the community, on requests for general plan amendments, rezones, specific plans, environmental impact reports and amendments to the City’s Zoning Ordinance. The Planning Commission has authority to take final action on a variety of planning applications, including conditional use permits, variances, planned development projects, and tentative tract and parcel maps. Appeals of the Planning Commission’s decisions are considered by the City Council.
Staff received seventeen (17) applications for the vacancies to be filled (applications attached). Council may appoint any applicant; there is no requirement to appoint within a Council Member’s district.
1. Jonathan H. Zich - District 1 (Incumbent)
2. Jeffrey M. Chon - District 1
3. Daniel Baume - District 2
4. Johnny Rojas - District 2 (Incumbent)
5. Syed Zia Hussain - District 2
6. Dillon Knight - District 2
7. Scott Cobett - District 3
8. John Terrence Witkowski - District 5
9. Elizabeth (Betsy) C. Densmore - District 5
10. Jake Husen - District 5
11. Robert L. Dickson Jr. - District 5
12. Christopher Karjala - District 6
13. Kathryn Boren - District 6
14. Russell Toler - District 6 (Incumbent)
15. Jeffrey Harlan - District 6
16. Garrett Whitfield - District 6
17. Jennifer Leigh Tanaka - District 6
ANALYSIS:
The City opened the Commission recruitment on December 10, 2024, and press releases/solicitations were sent on December 10, 2024, December 18, 2024, December 26, 2024, January 2, 2025, January 6, 2025 and January 10, 2025. The recruitment was also featured on the City Hall Snapshot on December 13, 2024, and December 20, 2024. In response to the City’s outreach efforts, a total of 37 applications were received.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council may choose not to make appointments to the Commissions or to extend the recruitment period.
FISCAL REVIEW:
Parks and Arts Commissioners receive a stipend of $100.00 per month and Planning Commissioners receive a stipend of $400.00 per month. The stipends are included in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Adopted Budget in the General Fund (Fund 101) and Arts and Cultural Master Plan Fund (Fund 103).
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and has approved it as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item is administrative in nature.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council make appointments to the Arts, Parks and Community Services, and Planning Commissions.