Agenda Item A.2
CONSENT CALENDAR
Meeting Date: April 16, 2024
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
SUBMITTED BY: Deborah S. Lopez, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Ratification of Mayoral Appointments to the Public Engagement Commission and Design Review Board
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Ratify the mayoral re -appointments of Beth Schneider and Peter Omoregie to the Public Engagement Commission with terms ending November 2027; and B. Ratify the mayoral appointment of Scott Branch (Architect) and James Van Order (At- Large ) to the Design Review Board for term ending June 30, 2026.
BACKGROUND:
Public Engagement Commission
The Public Engagement Commission is authorized by Goleta Municipal Code Section
2.19.20. The purpose of the Public Engagement Commission shall be to advise the City Council and staff on matters related to public engagement in City government and governance. The Public Engagement Commission shall be composed of seven (7) members. One (1) member shall be a youth member.
In November 2023 the terms of Beth Schneider and Peter Omoregie expired. Beth Schneider and Peter Omoregie resubmitted their applications for reconsideration for the Public Engagement Commission.
For the record, the previous staff report on March 28 incorrectly stated the term ending dates of February 2028 and should have stated term ending dates of November 2027.
Design Review Board
The Design Review Board is authorized by Goleta Municipal Code Section 2.08.020. The Design Review Board is composed of seven regular member s. Of the seven members, four must be professionals and the three remaining at -large members must all reside within the City. Of the four professional members, at least two must be licensed architects, at least one member must be a licensed landscape profe ssional (landscape architect), and at least one member shall be a design professional who demonstrates an interest in Goleta and possess significant professional experience and/or professional licensure in design-related fields, including, but not limited to, architecture, landscape design, building 1 design, urban and industrial design. At least one professional member shall be a City resident.
In February 2024, the terms of Scott Branch (Licensed Architect) and Jonathan Eymann (At Large Member) expired. Scott Branch (Licensed Architect) and Jonathan Eymann (At Large Member) resubmitted their applications for the Design Review Board.
On March 28, 2024, the City Council held a special meeting to conduct interviews of all the applicants for the Public Engagement Commission and the Design Review Board. At this meeting the City Council nominated Beth Schneider and Peter Omoregie to the Public Engagement Commission and nominated Scott Branch (Architect) and James Van Order (At-Large ), who is also a Licensed Architect and city resident to the to the Design Review Board.
At the conclusion of the Special City Council Meeting held March 28, 2024, the Mayor reappointed Beth Schneider and Peter Omoregie to the Public Engagement Commission for a term s ending November 2027. The Mayor also reappointed Scott Branch to the (Architect) and appointed James Van Order (At-Large and also an Architect) with terms ending February 1, 2027, to the Design Review Board.
At th is meeting, Council also approved the staff recommend ation to a change in the Design Review Board membership current composition, moving Elizabeth White, currently an Alternate, to the Design Professional full -time position, and moving Karis Clinton, Landscape Professional, to an Alternate posi tion. By providing this shift in positions, Ms. White, who is also a resident would be able to fulfill the quorum need of a third resident on board. Staff had previously reached out to both Board Members and they had agreed to the position change and both positions would retain their existing position expiration term dates.
DISCUSSION:
Government Code Section 40605 provides that an elected mayor shall make all appointments to a City’s boards, commissions and committees, subject to the City Council’s appr oval. This item provides the Mayor the opportunity to seek Council ratification of appointments of Scott Branch (Architect) to the Design Review Board for a term ending February 1, 2027; the appointment of James Van Order (At-Large) for a term ending February 1, 2027, to the Design Review Board ; the re -appointment of Beth Schneider and Peter Omoregie to the Public Engagement Commission with terms ending November 2027.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with ratifying the Mayor’s appointees to the Public Engagement Commission and the Design Review Board other than the staff time needed to prepare this report.
ALTERNATIVES:
Council may desire to see further advertising done in order to ensure a greater applicant pool prior to a selection process.
2 LEGAL REVIEW BY: Megan Garibaldi, City Attorney
APPROVED BY: Robert Nisbet, City Manager
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