Item 14
1 VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY ALLIANCE
Staff Report – Item 14
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Mitch Sears, Chief Executive Officer
Gordon Samuel, Chief Operating Officer
Alisa Lembke, VCE Board Clerk/Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: Consider Reappointment and Appointment to Jurisdiction seats on Community Advisory Committee
DATE: June 12, 2025
RECOMMENDATION
1. Consider appointment/reappointments to each jurisdiction seat for a three (3) year term to expire 2028 (Class 1); and,
2. Continue to solicit candidates for vacant unincorporated Yolo County jurisdiction seat.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
The Board at their September 9, 2021 meeting, adopted a revised Community Advisory Committee (CAC) structure with eleven total members: eight jurisdictional members (two per jurisdiction) and three additional seats for At-large members intended to fill specific subject matter expertise/experience areas.
Class 1 appointments expire in June 2025 representing the jurisdiction seats: Davis, Woodland, Winters and unincorporated Yolo County. All four (4) incumbent CAC Members are seeking reappointment.
Staff advertised on VCE’s website, through local newspapers and social media seeking applicants for all jurisdiction seats. No new applications were received.
Several applications were on file from residents of the cities of Davis and Woodland, who had previously applied for consideration for appointment to CAC seats. Staff contacted those applicants with one resident interested in being considered for appointment to the City of Davis seat: Mark Murray. Mr. Murray’s application is summarized below:
• Mark Murray is interested in expanding and promoting the community’s efforts to be the model for clean energy; he is a proponent and participant of solar energy, electric vehicles, electric heat pump, and the promotion of the economic benefits for homeowners to go electric; and, he has over 35 years of experience in researching, developing, advocating and monitoring public policy in the environmental, waste reduction and recycling realms and has served on numerous advisory bodies.
Item 14
2 Consistent with past practice, staff provided Mr. Murray’s application to the jurisdiction Board Members (City of Davis), for their review and consideration for recommendation.
CAC Member Rahul Athalye is currently seeking for reappointment to the City of Davis seat. In addition, the following CAC Members are seeking reappointment:
• David Springer (Winters)
• Mark Aulman (Woodland)
• Cynthia Rodriguez (unincorporated Yolo County)
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends the Board consider:
1. Reappointment of the following for a three (3) year term to expire 2028 (Class 1); • Winters Rep. – David Springer
• Woodland Rep. – Mark Aulman
• Davis Rep. – Rahul Athalye
• Yolo County Rep. – Cynthia Rodriguez;
2. Consider appointment of either Rahul Athalye or Mark Murray to the City of Davis seat for a three (3) year term to expire 2028 (Class 1); and,
3. Have Staff continue to solicit candidates for vacant unincorporated Yolo County jurisdiction seat until filled.
Below is a listing of the other “classes” and expiration terms:
CLASS 2 - term expires in June 2026:
Winters Rep. – Jennifer Rindahl
Woodland Rep. – Diccon Westworth
Davis Rep. – Ari Halberstadt
Yolo County Rep. – Vacant
CLASS 3 - term expires in June 2027:
At-Large - Lorenzo Kristov
At-Large - Keith Taylor
At-Large – Danielle Ballard
Attachment
1. CAC City of Davis Application (Mark Murray Redacted) Return to:
VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY
Valley Clean Energy COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
604 Second Street APPLICATION
Davis, CA 95616
PERSONAL DATA SHEET
Received on:
Name: Are you at least 18 years old?
First Middle
Home Address:
Number/Street City/State/Zip
Email Address:
Daytime Phone Evening/Weekend Phone
Business Title or Occupation:
Company/Organization:
Address:
Street Address City, State and Zip
Which Valley Clean Energy jurisdiction do you reside in? City of Davis City of Woodland County of Yolo (Unincorporated) If you do not reside in Valley Clean Energy's jurisdictions, please include a separate statement to address why you are applying for this committee.
Are you seeking to fill an At-Large Seat? Yes No
Background Information:
Why do you wish to serve as a member of the VCE Community Advisory Committee? Last
City of Winters
5/16/24 AMLembke
Murray, Mark yes Davis, CA 95616 Executive Director Californians Against Waste As a long-time Environmental Advocate and resident of Davis/Yolo County I am interested in expanding and promoting our community’s efforts to model ’Clean Energy’ for other communities in California and across the country. At home we have invested in the transition to Clean Energy with Solar, EV and most recently Electric Heat pump. While we made these changes on their environmental merits, I am increasingly enthusiastic about promoting the very real economic benefits for homeowners, as well as the opportunity to grow our community’s ’resiliance’ from PG&E.
✔
What experience/perspective would you bring to the committee? Please reference the professional sector and related professional experience below for At-Large member applications in this section.
Please list your previous and present governmental and civic experience. Indicate when, position and duties:
List any special training or experience you have that you feel would benefit your committee service:
For 35 years I have worked professionally in the non-profit environmental sector, and for the last 25+ years as the Executive Director of Californians Against Waste. In this capacity I have researched, developed, advocated, and monitored public policy in the environmental, waste reduction and recycling realm.
I have helped craft one hundred plus state laws, dozens of local ordinances as well as a couple of Statewide ballot measures.
In 1988-89, I worked on the successful campaign to close the Rancho Seco nuclear power plant.
I have served on multiple, local, state and Federal advisory bodies.
Global Electronics Council, Sustainability Technical Committee, 2023 to present.
Campaign Committee, Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, 2022 Ballot (withdrawn) Campaign Chair, Yes on Prop 67, 2016 Ballot, Plastic Bag Ban Advisory Board, California Environmental Voters, 1996-2014 Board Member, Planning & Conservation League, 1995-2000.
Member, National Recycling Congress, 1988-Present.
Member, California Resource Recovery Association, 1988-Present.
Member, Northern California Recyclers Association, 1997-Present.
Member, Sacramento County Keifer Landfill Citizens Advisory Committee, 1995-97.
Member, U.S. EPA Recycling Advisory Committee, 1994-1996.
Member, Sacramento City Recycling Advisory Committee, 1988-1994.
Board Member, Sacramento Local Conservation Corp, 1990-1994.
Board Member, Environmental Council of Sacramento, 1988-1992.
Member, California Beverage Container Recycling Advisory Committee (Appointed by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown), 1989-1994.
Candidate, Sacramento City Council, 1989.
Campaign Chairman, No on Measure F, 1988 (Successful campaign to defeat ballot measure aimed at ending green waste composting program).
For nearly 35 years, Mark has been the primary advocate behind much of California’s nation-leading waste reduction and recycling policy. Beginning in 1987, Mark helped guide the implementation of California’s unique ‘market-based’ beverage container recycling law. Due in large part to Mark’s creativity, political expertise and persistence, the program has evolved into the largest, most successful and cost effective recycling incentive program in the country.
Mark has helped develop and enact dozens of innovative and successful waste reduction and recycling policies that have helped cut California’s waste in half, while creating green jobs and economic development in the process.
Do you have any interests or associations which might present a conflict of interest? If yes, please explain:
What do you feel are your most important qualifications? What do you see as some of the significant issues facing the community in the next few years that might pertain to Valley Clean Energy's Community Advisory Committee? Not that I'm aware of Experienced environmental policy understanding and advocacy. A proven consensus builder with many, many years of experience on multi-stakeholder advisory and governing bodies.
Helping community members to stay committed to renewables/transition to solar as state financial incentives are phased down/out, and PG&E continues to pursue higher electric rates.
What do you hope to accomplish as a committee member?
I am aware of the obligations and responsibilities of this committee and am willing and able to fulfill this commitment should I be appointed: (Initial here: ) Please attach your resume or any additional information or statements which you feel would be helpful to the Valley Clean Energy Board of Directors in reviewing your qualifications.
AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASE
I understand that in connection with this application for appointment, the information contained herein will be made available to the general public upon request. I further understand that if appointed, I may be required to take the oath of office and may be subject to requirements for filing financial disclosure statements.
Please Sign Here Date
NOTE: This document is a public record and may be disclosed/released pursuant to the California Public Records Act.
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Applications will be kept on file for two years. This application will expire on:
Date of appointment by the Valley Clean Energy Board: ____________ Length of term: ____________
Is this a re-appointment?
5/16/2026 I’m a satisfied and enthusiatic advocate for pragmatic transition to renewables/Clean energy.
And I have a track record of successfully working with conservatives & business community on conservation policy. I would like the opportunity to apply those skills and experience extending the mission of Valley Clean Energy!
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