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APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS CITY COMMITTEES
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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. Active Transportation Committee - Make six (6) member appointments with a term expiration of April 2028 (Appointments by Mayor Stephens, Council Member Gameros, Council Member Buley, Council Member Pettis), and two (2) appointments by the Council Liaison (Council Member Reynolds).
2. Animal Services Committee - Make four (4) member appointments with a term expiration of April 2028 (Appointments by Mayor Stephens, Council Member Gameros, Council Member Buley, Council Member Pettis), and one (1) member appointment with a term expiration of April 2027 (Appointment by Council Member Marr).
3. Finance and Pension Advisory Committee - Make one (1) member appointment with a term expiration of April 2028 (Appointment by Council Member Pettis).
4. Housing and Public Service Grants Committee - Make four (4) member appointments with a term expiration of April 2028 (Appointments by Mayor Stephens, Council Member Gameros, Council Member Buley, Council Member Pettis).
5. Reduce the number of Mobile Home Park Advisory Committee members to seven (7) to align with the other City Committees.
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BACKGROUND:
Active Transportation Committee (6 Appointments)
6 Committee Members /Term Expiration of April 2028
The Active Transportation Committee meets on the first Wednesday of the month and helps plan and implement an Active Transportation network for the City by improving bicycle and pedestrian connectivity throughout the City, and also assists with the review, update, and implementation of the city’s Active Transportation Plan. Staff received nine (9) 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. Erik Rundlett - District 2
2. Syed Zia Hussain - District 2
3. Flo Martin - District 3 (Incumbent)
4. Michael Moses Nolf - District 4 (Incumbent)
5. Mo (Kevin) El-Ajouz - District 4
6. Andrew Barnes - District 5 (Incumbent)
7. Alyson Rutledge - District 5
8. Greg Pinney - District 5
9. Farhad Edward Khrosravi - District 6 (Incumbent)
Animal Services Committee (5 Appointments)
4 Committee Members/Term Expiration of April 2028
1 Committee Member/Term Expiration of April 2027
The Animal Services Committee meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, except for August and December, and provides advice and recommendations to the City Council on animal services issues and promotes pet licensing, assists with planning and execution of animal-related events. Staff received ten (10) 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. Jody Pedri - District 1
2. Syed Zia Hussain - District 2
3. Beatriz Leon - District 3
4. Anna Marie Rodriguez - District 3
5. Barbara Bellina - District 3
6. Cara Stewart - District 3 (Incumbent)
7. Alyson Rutledge - District 5
8. Greg Pinney - District 5
9. Nicole Wiltshire - District 6
10. Randi Miller - Non-Resident; Small Business based in Costa Mesa
Finance and Pension Advisory Committee (1 Appointment)
1 Committee Member/ Term Expiration of April 2028
The Finance and Pension Advisory Committee meets on the second Wednesday of the month and provides advice to the City Council on issues related to significant financial matters and advises annually on the adoption of the City’s budget, the allocation of any budget surpluses, and the City’s investment performance and policies. Applicants shall have pension knowledge or shall be residents or individuals who conduct business within the City and have a background that includes experience in securities trading, financial planning, banking, auditing, accounting, or a closely related and relevant field. Staff received six (6) applications for the vacancy to be filled (applications attached). Council may appoint any applicant; there is no requirement to appoint within a Council Member’s district.
1. Jesse Todd Hiser- District 2
2. Syed Zia Hussain - District 2
3. Jordan Johnson - District 3
4. Mo (Kevin) El-Ajouz - District 4
5. Luke Ziegenmeyer - District 5
6. Eric Vu - District 6
Housing and Public Service Grants Committee (4 Appointments)
4 Committee Members/Term Expiration of April 2028
The Housing and Public Service Grants Committee meets twice a year and helps to promote understanding of the community development process and activities funded by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). Additionally, the committee rates and ranks applications for CDBG public service grants, ultimately developing funding recommendations for City Council consideration. Staff received six (6) 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. Maria Castellon - District 1
2. Syed Zia Hussain - District 2
3. Andrew Kenny - District 2
4. Michael Tou - District 4 (Incumbent)
5. Katherine Stewart - District 5
6. Greg Pinney - District 5
Mobile Home Park Advisory Committee (2 Appointments)
2 Committee Members/Term Expiration of April 2028
The Mobile Home Park Advisory Committee meets quarterly to address issues that will help improve the quality of life in mobile home parks and reviews matters concerning mobile home parks in the City. Staff received one (1) application for the vacancies to be filled.
1. James Fitzpatrick - District 6 (Independent Citizen At-large)
Staff recommends that the City Council reduce the number of committee members to seven (7). This aligns the committee’s size with that of other City committees. The composition would be as follows: three (3) Park Owners or Representatives, three (3) Mobile Home Park Residents, and one (1) Independent Citizen At-Large.
ANALYSIS:
The City opened the Committee recruitment on March 3, 2026, and press releases/solicitations were sent on March 3, 2026, March 10, 2026, March 18, 2026, March 23, 2026, and March 26, 2026. The recruitment was also featured across the City’s social media platforms in form of Instagram reels, Let’s Talk Costa Mesa Q & A, and the City Snapshot. In response to the City’s outreach efforts, a total of 25 applications were received.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council may choose not to make appointments to the Committees or to extend the recruitment period.
FISCAL REVIEW:
There is no fiscal impact to the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget since City Committee Members do not receive a stipend for serving on the various committees.
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 the City Council make appointments to various City Committees.