November 18, 2025
Agenda Item No. 15
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
Lena Shumway, City Clerk - 949-644-3005, [email protected] PREPARED BY:
Lena Shumway, City Clerk
TITLE:
Appointment to Fill an Unscheduled Vacancy on the City Arts Commission ABSTRACT:
On October 1, 2025, Commissioner Melissa Kandal resigned from the City Arts Commission prior to the expiration of her term, creating an unscheduled vacancy. The City Clerk’s Office received ten applications to fill the vacancy. In accordance with City Council Policy A-2 (Boards, Commissions and Committees), City Charter Sections 702 and 705, and the Maddy Act, the Mayor formed a Council Ad Hoc Appointments Committee to review the applications, conduct interviews and recommend candidates for nomination to fill the unscheduled vacancy. The City Council has the opportunity to appoint one individual to serve on the City arts commission for the term ending June 30, 2029.
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; and b) Appoint (1) one of the nominated applicants - Bobby Barzi and Cory Glass to fill the unscheduled vacancy on the City Arts Commission for the term ending June 30, 2029.
DISCUSSION:
On October 1, 2025, Melissa Kandal resigned from her seat on the City Arts Commission prior to the expiration of her term on June 30, 2029, creating an unscheduled vacancy.
In accordance with the City Charter Section 702 and 705, City Council Policy A-2 (Boards, Commissions and Committees) and the Maddy Act, the City Clerk’s Office initiated the recruitment process to fill the vacancy.
The Notice of Unscheduled Vacancy was posted on October 9, 2025, in the City Clerk’s Office, at the Central Library and on the City Hall bulletin board. The notice was also posted on the City’s website and published in the Daily Pilot on October 11, 2025.
The application period closed on October 27, 2025, with a total of ten (10) applications received.
Pursuant to City Council Policy A-2, Mayor Joe Stapleton appointed to the Council Ad Hoc Appointments Committee himself, Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Kleiman and Councilmember Michelle Barto. The Committee reviewed all applications and conducted candidate interviews on November 4, 2025. Following their review, the Committee recommended the nomination of Bobby Barzi and Cory Glass to the City Arts Commission.
The City Arts Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council on all matters related to the artistic, aesthetic and cultural enrichment of the community. The seven-member body is appointed by the City Council, with each member serving a four-year term and limited to two consecutive terms. The Commission operates under the provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act and plays a key role in recommending policies, programs, and regulations that promote and preserve the fine, performing, and visual arts within the City.
Copies of the applications are attached hereto as Attachment A.
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).
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A – City Arts Commission Applications
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Confirmation of Nominations to Fill an Unscheduled Vacancy on the City Arts Commission November 18, 2025
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