CITY OF GROVER BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 7
Placement: Business
Meeting Date: May 11, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
Wendi Sims, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Appointments to the Planning Commission
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct interviews of applicants and make appointments to fill three seats on the Planning Commission with two terms ending in 2030 and one term ending in 2028 to fill the remaining term of former Commissioner Hoffman’s seat.
BACKGROUND
There are three vacancies on the Planning Commission due to the expiration of the four-year term of office held by Commissioners David Halverson and Anne Holden whose terms expire on May 31, 2026, and the resignation of former Commissioner Maia Hoffman whose term expires on May 31, 2028. Staff advertised the Planning Commission vacancies with press releases in the local newspapers and notices on the City website, social media platforms, government cable access Channel 20, and bulletin board located at City Hall.
The City received 11 qualified applications before the deadline on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Staff would note that one applicant (Anne Holden) subsequently withdrew her application as she was unable to attend the meeting for the interview. Attachment 1 shows the names of the applicants along with their respective applications with personal information redacted. Applicants received a letter (shown in Attachment 2) about the interview and selection process. Below is the suggested interview and appointment process for the Council’s consideration similar to the recent process used for the Citizen Oversight Committees:
Interview Process
• In the interest of fairness to all applicants, only the applicant being interviewed will be present in the Council Chamber while all other applicants remain in the Conference Room until called by the Council for their respective interview. The order of interviews will be selected at random prior to the meeting.
• Once the applicant’s interview is concluded, they may remain in the Council Chamber to hear any remaining interviews and the Council’s deliberations. • The interview questions will be the same for all candidates. Candidates will be asked to provide a two-minute overview about themselves and why they are interested in serving Staff Report: Planning Commission Appointments Page 2
May 11, 2026
on the Planning Commission for the opening question followed by additional questions from the Council.
• Following the interviews, there will be an opportunity for public comment on this agenda item consistent with other Council agenda items. This will provide an opportunity for members of the public to speak about one or more candidates.
Appointment Process
• The Council has flexibility in the process used in deciding on the appointment. As an example of a process, each Council Member may identify their top applicants for each committee and invite finalists to be asked an additional interview question before appointments are made.
• Conversely, the Council could choose to use a different process in deciding on the appointments, including making selections immediately following the 10 interviews. A selection must be made by a motion that is seconded and approved by a majority vote of the Council.
• The Oath of Office will be administered to the appointees at the next Planning Commission Meeting on June 2.
• Lastly, pursuant to State law, the appointees to the committees will be required to file a Statement of Economic Interests (Fair Political Practices Commission - Form 700) reporting sources of income or financial interests for the appointed member, their spouse or registered domestic partner, or dependent children that are located in, doing business in, planning to do business in, or having done business within the City’s jurisdiction during the past two years.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no funding impacts to this staff report.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council has the following alternatives to consider:
1. Conduct interviews of applicants and make appointments to fill three seats on the Planning Commission with one terms ending in 2028 and two terms ending in 2030; or
2. Provide alternative direction to staff
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
Staff Report: Planning Commission Appointments Page 3
May 11, 2026
Multi-Year Goals
☐ Public Safety and Community Services ☐ Economic Development and Housing ☐ Community Infrastructure ☐ Financial and Organization Sustainability Council Priorities
☐ Water & Wastewater Infrastructure ☐ Community Engagement
ATTACHMENTS
1. List of qualified applicants and associated applications (redacted)
2. Sample letter to applicants
City of Grover Beach
CITY CLERK’S OFFICE
LIST OF APPLICANTS SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION
OF BEING APPOINTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
(Listed in Alphabetic Order by Last Name)
1. Dominic Dal Porto
2. David Halverson
3. Brittany Hardesty
4. Robert Hobson
5. Brian Jeffries
6. Charles McClure
7. Robert Perrault
8. Shilo Terek
9. Greg Vine
10. Loren Westphal
Attachment 1
Shilo Terek Application
Please describe any background, training, education or interests that qualify you as an appointee
I bring a combination of professional experience, public service, and community-minded leadership that I believe would serve the Grover Beach Planning Commission well. For more than 15 years at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, I have worked in roles focused on safety, regulatory compliance, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and long-term infrastructure planning. In my current role in Electric Operations Quality Management, I support programs related to system safety, reliability, and implementation of complex regulatory commitments—work that requires balancing technical requirements, public interest, environmental considerations, and thoughtful decision-making.
My prior experience as a Principal Investigator in the Employee Concerns Program at Diablo Canyon Power Plant strengthened my skills in independent analysis, policy interpretation, and evaluating concerns through a lens of public safety and accountability. Additionally, my years in corporate affairs gave me experience engaging with communities, government stakeholders, and public policy issues.
I also have a longstanding interest in civic engagement, ethical governance, and thoughtful community development. As a member of PG&E’s Ethics Council and past chair of the National Communications Committee for Women in Nuclear, I have contributed to collaborative leadership, transparent communication, and sound decision-making.
I am particularly interested in supporting responsible growth in Grover Beach that balances housing, economic vitality, environmental stewardship, and preservation of community character. My professional background in oversight, public accountability, and strategic planning, along with my personal commitment to service would help me contribute thoughtfully as a Planning Commissioner.
City of Grover Beach
Mayor Kassi Dee Mayor Pro Tem Robert Robert
Council Member Kathy McCorry-Driscoll, Council Member Jules Tuggle, Council Member Clint Weirick Matthew Bronson
City Manager
154 South Eighth Street Grover Beach, California 93433 www.groverbeach.org (805) 473-4550
SENT VIA EMAIL
SUBJECT: APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION Dear :
This letter is to confirm receipt of your application of interest to serve our community as an appointed commission member of the Grover Beach Planning Commission. The City Council will be conducting interviews of qualified applicants at a public meeting to be held in the Council Chamber at City Hall on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (City Council meetings are televised on Government Cable Access Channel 20 and may be viewed over the Internet at www.groverbeach.org.) A copy of the agenda and staff report will be emailed to you prior to the meeting. If you are not available to attend the meeting and participate in the interviews, please contact the City Clerk’s Office by calling (805) 473-4567 or sending an email to [email protected].
Interview Process:
• In the interest of fairness to all applicants, the order of the interviewees will be randomly selected prior to the meeting. We respectfully request that only the applicant being interviewed be present in Council Chamber, while all other applicants will be in the adjoining Conference Room until called by the Council.
• The interview questions will be the same for all applicants. Applicants will be asked to provide a two-minute overview of themselves and why they are interested in serving on the Planning Commission for the opening question followed by additional questions from the Council.
• Once your interview is concluded, you may remain in the Council Chamber to hear any remaining interviews and the City Council’s deliberations.
Once the City Council reaches a decision regarding the appointments, the Oath of Office will be administered to the appointees at the next meeting for the Planning Commission that will be on Tuesday, June 2nd at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
Lastly, pursuant to State law, the applicant appointed to the City Council will be required to file a Statement of Economic Interests (Fair Political Practices Commission - Form 700). The statement requires reporting sources of income or financial interests (for you, your spouse or registered domestic partner, or dependent children) that are located in, doing business in, planning to do business in, or having done business within the City’s jurisdiction during the past Attachment 2
two years. Statements of Economic Interests are public documents. For reference, Planning Commissioners are Section 87200 Filers according to the FPPC. This requirement is for highlevel California public officials to disclose financial interest and must be e-filed via the FPPC EFiling Portal. A link will be sent to you once your appointment has been approved by the City Council and must be completed within 30 days of your appointment.
Please let me know if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully,
WENDI B. SIMS
City Clerk/Executive Assistant
c: Mayor and Council Members
City Manager Matthew Bronson
City Attorney Jennifer Thompson