September 9, 2025
Agenda Item No. 24
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Tara Finnigan, Assistant City Manager – 949-644-3035, [email protected] PREPARED BY: Molly Perry, Interim City Clerk – 949-644-3005, [email protected] TITLE:
Five Citizen-Member Appointments to the Aviation Committee ABSTRACT:
At its June 10, 2025 meeting, the Newport Beach City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-31, amending the structure, membership, roles and responsibilities of the Aviation Committee (Attachment A). The amended resolution stated that all previously appointed citizen members of the committee would continue to serve until June 30, 2025.
After the posting of a vacancy notice and application deadline, the City Clerk’s Office received 23 applications for the five citizen-member appointments. The City Council’s Ad Hoc Appointments Committee (Ad Hoc Committee), comprised of Mayor Joe Stapleton, Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Kleiman and Councilmember Michelle Barto, reviewed all applications and conducted interviews based on the qualifications and expertise of the applicants. Per City Council Policy A-2, 10 nominees have been selected for the five citizen-member appointments with their applications included as Attachment B.
At the August 26, 2025, City Council meeting, the City Council approved 10 nominees proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee and directed the City Clerk to agendize the formal vote, final selection and appointment of five citizen-members for the September 9, 2025, City Council meeting.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; b) Formally vote and appoint five citizen-members from the nominees listed below:
Kurt Belcher
Cassie Bretschger
Jeffrey Cole
Ryan Dougherty
Barbara Lichman
Nicholas Prytherch
Michael Radigan
Timothy Strader, Jr.
John “Jack” Stranberg
Mary-Christine (MC) Sungaila; and
c) Determine the terms, beginning July 1, 2025, of the five appointed Aviation Committee members as follows:
d) Two citizen appointed members shall have an initial term of two years and shall be eligible for reappointment for two additional four-year terms; and, e) Up to three citizen appointed members shall have an initial term of four years and shall be eligible for appointments to one additional four-year term.
DISCUSSION
At the February 25, 2025, meeting, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-10, establishing an Aviation Ad Hoc Committee (Committee) to review and make recommendations regarding the structure of the Aviation Committee. The Committee consisted of Mayor Pro Tem Kleiman and Councilmembers Michelle Barto and Noah Blom.
At its June 10, 2025 meeting, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-31, amending the structure, membership, roles and responsibilities of the Aviation Committee. The amended resolution stated that all previously appointed citizen members of the committee would continue to serve until June 30, 2025.
After the posting of a vacancy notice and application deadline, the City Clerk’s Office received 23 applications for the five citizen-member appointments. The Ad Hoc Committee reviewed all applications and conducted interviews based on the qualifications and expertise of the applicants. Per City Council Policy A-2, 10 nominees have been selected for the five citizen-member appointments.
At the August 26, 2025, City Council meeting, the City Council approved the 10 nominees proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee and directed the City Clerk to agendize the formal vote, final selection, and appointment of five citizen-members for the September 9, 2025, City Council meeting.
Terms of the five citizen-member appointees, beginning July 1, 2025, will be as follows:
Two citizen appointed members shall have an initial term of two years and shall be eligible for reappointment for two additional four-year terms.* Up to three citizen appointee members shall have an initial term of four years and shall be eligible for appointment to one additional four-year term. *The individuals selected to fill the two-year terms will be eligible to reapply to serve for a full four-year term.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – Resolution No. 2025-31
Attachment B – Nominated Applicant Applications
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Five Citizen-Member Appointments to the Aviation Committee September 9, 2025
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