DATE:
January 30, 2023
CATEGORY:
New Business
DEPT.:
City Attorney’s Office,
City Clerk’s Office,
City Manager’s Office
TITLE: Council Vacancy Applicant Interviews
and Appointment
RECOMMENDATION
1. Interview the four applicants for the vacancy on the City Council.
2. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Appointing One of the Four Applicants to Serve as a Member of the City Council Until a Successor Qualifies Following the November 5, 2024 General Municipal Election, to be read in title only, further reading waived (Attachment 5 to the Council report).
BACKGROUND
The City Council seat occupied by Sally Lieber became vacant on December 30, 202 2 due to her election to the State of California Board of Equalization, as indicated in the letter she submitted to the City on December 13, 2022. Former Councilmember Lieber’s term would have ended in January 2025.
On January 5, 2023, the City Council selected the appointment process for filling the seat held by former Councilmember Lieber. The City Clerk’s Office advertised the vacant seat from January 9 to January 13, 2023 and accepted applications up until January 18, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Ten (10) applications meeting the minimum requirements to move forward in the process were received.
On January 24, 2023, the City Council selected five applicants to be interviewed, determined interview questions to be asked and the time allocated to each applicant, and determined its voting and selection method.
Council Vacancy Applicant Interviews and Appointment
January 30, 2023
Applicants and Interview Order
The City Council selected the following applicants for interview:
Applicants Selected for Interview
Ronit Bryant
Chris Clark
Michael Kasperzak
John McAlister
Emily Ann Ramos
On the morning of January 27, 2023, Michael Kasperzak withdrew his application from consideration. Therefore, the interview order for the remaining four applicants, as selected by City Clerk random draw, will be:
Applicant Interview Order
Emily Ann Ramos
Ronit Bryant
John McAlister
Chris Clark
Interview Questions and Time Allocation
The City Council determined the following interview questions and allocated 30 minutes per applicant, or approximately four minutes per question:
Applicant Interview Questions for January 30
1. What are your top priorities on the Council Strategic Work Plan and why?
2. Are there any issues where you disagree with Council direction, and what would you change?
3. How can we enhance the City’s livability and quality of life for our residents?
4. How would you consider public comments from residents?
5. What criteria would you use for land use decisions?
6. What efforts that we have not already made would you take to help our existing businesses stay in Mountain View, make it easier for new businesses to enter, and reduce the number of longstanding empty storefronts?
7. Closing Statements.
Council Vacancy Applicant Interviews and Appointment
January 30, 2023
Selection Process
At the conclusion of the interviews, the City Council may discuss the applicants generally, and each Councilmember may share their top three candidates. At the conclusion of the discussion, the City Council will move to the voting stage:
• At the same time, each Councilmember will write down their choice of two applicants.
• Those votes will be collected, and the City Clerk will publicly announce each Councilmember’s vote.
• The votes by each Councilmember will be tallied by applicant, and the applicant receiving the highest number of votes will be appointed to the vacant seat by resolution.
• In the event of a tie vote, the Councilmembers will vote again until one applicant receives majority vote.
NEXT STEPS
Once an applicant has received a majority vote from the City Council, a motion should be made to adopt the resolution appointing that applicant to serve as a member of the City Council until a successor qualifies following the November 5, 2024 General Muni cipal Election. The newly appointed Councilmember will take their oath of office at the beginning of the February 14, 2023, City Council meeting.
Council Vacancy Applicant Interviews and Appointment
January 30, 2023
PUBLIC NOTICING—Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Jennifer Logue
City Attorney
Heather Glaser
City Clerk
Kimbra McCarthy
City Manager
JL-HG-KMC/6/CAM
011-01-30-23CR
202819
Attachments: 1. Ramos Redacted Application
2. Bryant Redacted Application
3. McAlister Redacted Application
4. Clark Redacted Application
5. Resolution of Appointment