COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
REVIEW COMMITTEE
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING – TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2025
PLAZA CONFERENCE ROOM
6:00 P.M.
This meeting was conducted with a virtual component. All members of the Council Appointments Review Committee and all speakers participated in-person unless otherwise noted.
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Special Meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. with Chair Kamei presiding.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Committee members Ramos, Showalter, and Chair Kamei.
Absent: None.
3. MINUTES APPROVAL
Motion—M/S Showalter/Ramos—Carried 3-0—To approve the meeting minutes of November 22, 2024.
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC—None.
5. NEW BUSINESS
5.1 BOARD, COMMISSION, AND COMMITTEE OPENINGS
Deputy City Clerk Wanda Wong announced that John Basalla and Li Zhang withdrew from being interview ed for the opening on the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Council Appointments Review Committee Minutes
April 15, 2025
The Committee selected the following time allocation and questions to ask each applicant:
Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee:
The Committee interviewed Jesse Cupp, Peggy Huang, Stephane Maes, Peter Saathoff-Harshfield, and Michael Starr and asked the following questions:
1. 30 seconds : Why do you want to serve on the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee?
2. Two minutes: What are the most important issues facing the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and how would you resolve them?
3. One minute : What are the most realistic things we can do to improve the pedestrian experience?
Downtown Committee:
Sean Forman and Marisol Melara (virtual) were asked the following questions:
1. 30 seconds: Why do you want to serve on the Downtown Committee?
2. Two minutes: What do you think of downtown Mountain View? How would you improve it? How would you balance the interests of businesses with those of the community?
3. One minute: The City has an Economic Vitality Strategy. How can the City assist downtown businesses?
Performing Arts Committee:
The Committee interviewed Antara Bhardwaj, Irina Crone, and Valerie Fenwick and asked the following questions:
1. 30 seconds: Why do you want to serve on the Performing Arts Committee?
2. Two minutes: Describe your vision of the cultural scene and artistic desires of Mountain View and the surrounding communities.
3. One minute: What do you think should be the priorities of the Committee in the coming few years?
Council Appointments Review Committee Minutes
April 15, 2025
Senior Advisory Committee:
The Committee interviewed Donna Castillo, Cassandra Magana, Michelle Maguire, and Elna Tymes and asked the following questions:
1. 30 seconds: Why do you want to serve on the Senior Advisory Committee?
2. One minute: What do you think would be likely areas of particular focus for you on the Committee?
3. Two minutes: What would you like to see the Senior Advisory Committee do?
Motion—M/S Ramos/Showalter—Carried 3-0—To appoint Peggy Huang to the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee for an unexpired term ending December 31, 2027.
Motion—M/S Ramos/Showalter—Carried 3-0—To appoint Sean Forman to the Downtown Committee ( Downtown Property Owner and/or Representative of a Business) for the unexpired term ending December 31, 2027, and to appoint Marisol Melara to the Downtown Committee ( Downtown Property Owner and/or Representative of a Business) for an unexpired term ending December 31, 2025.
Motion—M/S Ramos/Showalter—Carried 3 -0—To appoint Antara Bhardwaj and Valerie Fenwick to the Performing Arts Committee for unexpired terms ending December 31, 2028.
Committee member Showalter mo ved to appoint Donna Castillo and Elna Tymes to the Senior Advisory Committee. The motion died for lack of a second.
Motion—M/S Ramos/Showalter—Carried 3 -0—To appoint Donna Castillo to the Senior Advisory Committee for an unexpired term ending December 31, 2027 and to appoint Cassandra Magana to the Senior Advisory Committee for an unexpired term ending December 31, 2025.
6. COMMITTEE/STAFF COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee member Showalter discussed increasing the membership from five seats to seven for the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Council Appointments Review Committee Minutes
April 15, 2025
7. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Kamei adjourned the meeting at 7:43 p.m.