June 9, 2026
Agenda Item No. 22
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:
Annual Appointments to Boards and Commissions
ABSTRACT:
The annual vacancies on the City of Newport Beach boards and commissions will occur on June 30, 2026. The process to fill these vacancies is governed by City Council Policy A-2 (Boards, Commissions and Committees) and the Maddy Act. As part of this process, the Mayor’s Subcommittee, consisting of Mayor Lauren Kleiman, Councilmember Sara J. Weber and Mayor Pro Tem Noah Blom, conducted a thorough review of all applications on file in the City Clerk's Office and selected nominees for appointment to seven boards and commissions.
Separately, pursuant to Resolution 2026-18, which was adopted by the City Council on March 10, 2026, and amended the selection process and various responsibilities of the Finance Committee, the Mayor's Subcommittee also recommends four citizen member appointments to the Finance Committee, and Mayor Kleiman appoints the three Councilmember seats as well as the Chair and Vice Chair of the Finance Committee. All vacancies were noticed in accordance with the Maddy Act and City Council Policy A-2. New board and commission terms will be effective July 1, 2026, with an expiration date of June 30, 2030, while Finance Committee citizen member terms will expire June 30, 2028.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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; Make appointments to the following Boards and Commissions - Board of Library Trustees, Building and Fire Board of Appeals, City Arts Commission, Civil Service Board, Harbor Commission, Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission, and the Planning Commission; Make appointments to the Finance Committee of four citizen members, and reappoint Councilmember Sara J. Weber, Councilmember Joe Stapleton, and appoint Mayor Pro Tem Noah Blom as the three members of the Newport Beach City Council; and Appoint Councilmember Sara J. Weber as Chair of the Finance Committee and Councilmember Joe Stapleton as Vice Chair.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Newport Beach conducts an annual appointment process for its boards and commissions, with scheduled vacancies occurring on June 30 of each year. The process is governed by City Council Policy A-2 (Boards, Commissions and Committees), City Charter Section 702, and the Maddy Act. Pursuant to City Council Policy A-2, the Mayor establishes a Council Ad Hoc Appointments Committee (or Mayor's Subcommittee) to review applications and make recommendations to the full City Council.
The Mayor's Subcommittee, comprised of Mayor Lauren Kleiman, Councilmember Sara J. Weber and Mayor Pro Tem Noah Blom, conducted a thorough review of all applications received and on file in the City Clerk's Office and selected the nominees listed below for the scheduled vacancies occurring June 30, 2026. All vacancies were noticed in accordance with the Maddy Act and City Council Policy A-2. Copies of all applications are on file in the City Clerk's Office and nominees’ applications are attached to this staff report.
The following nominees are recommended for appointment to fill vacancies on City boards and commissions, with all terms effective July 1, 2026, and expiring June 30, 2030:
Board / Commission
Vacancies
Nominee(s)
Status
Board of Library Trustees
1 Antonella Castro
Incumbent
Building and Fire Board of Appeals
2 Andy Boyum
—
Building and Fire Board of Appeals
2 Philip Stemler
—
City Arts Commission
1 Tiare Meegan
Incumbent
Civil Service Board
1 Jeremy Evans
—
Harbor Commission
3 Rudy Svrcek
Incumbent
Harbor Commission
3 Sabrina Kerr
—
Harbor Commission
3 Thom McElroy
—
Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission
2 Kelly Galligan
—
Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission
2 Brett Eckles
—
Planning Commission
1 Tristan Harris
Incumbent
Finance Committee Appointments:
On March 10, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution 2026-18, amending the selection process and various responsibilities of the Finance Committee. Under the current structure, the Finance Committee consists of seven members: three Councilmembers appointed by the Mayor and four citizen members. All current Finance Committee appointees will serve until June 30, 2026. Members of the Finance Committee are required to demonstrate experience and qualifications in the financial area.
A total of 17 new applications were received, and four incumbents expressed interest in reappointment; the Mayor's Subcommittee selected four citizen members whose terms will expire June 30, 2028.
Citizen Member
Status
Term Expiration
William Kenney, Jr.
Incumbent
June 30, 2028
Grayson Largman
New
June 30, 2028
Travis Boyd
New
June 30, 2028
Thomas McKissick
New
June 30, 2028
Mayor Kleiman is also appointing the following three Councilmembers to serve on the Finance Committee: Councilmember Joe Stapleton (reappointment), Councilmember Sara J. Weber (reappointment) and Mayor Pro Tem Noah Blom.
Additionally, pursuant to Resolution 2026-18, Mayor Kleiman appoints Councilmember Sara J. Weber as Chair of the Finance Committee and Councilmember Joe Stapleton as Vice Chair subject to confirmation by the City Council.
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)(1) (the activity does not involve the exercise of discretionary powers; (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, Division 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 – Applications for Boards and Commissions
Attachment B – Finance Committee applications
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Annual Appointments to Boards and Commissions
June 9, 2026
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