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City Council
Staff Report
From: City Clerk
Report Type: SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: January 21, 2025
Report #:2411-3832
TITLE
Review List of Applicants and Select Candidates to Interview for the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) Vacancies; CEQA Status: Not a project
RECOMMENDATION
Review a list of applicants and select candidates to interview for three (3) positions on the Planning and Transportation Commission; one (1) partial term, expiring March 31, 2026 and two (2) full terms, expiring March 31, 2029. The list of applicants will be available in a late packet report on January 16, 2025.
BACKGROUND
The City Clerk’s Office initiated a Special Recruitment on December 2, 2024 in anticipation of two PTC vacancies as a result of the November 5, 2024 election. The City Council certified the November 5, 2024 election results at its December 9, 2024 meeting, confirming then-PTC Commissioners George Lu and Keith Reckdahl as elected members of the City Council.
To consolidate recruitment efforts for the current vacancies and a position expiring on March 31, 2025, staff opened the recruitment to fill three (3) positions. The City Council is scheduled to interview candidates at the February 3, 2025 meeting and appoint new commissioners at the February 10, 2025 meeting.
PTC Commissioners must be residents of Palo Alto and must not be councilmembers, officers or employees of the City (PAMC 2.20.010)1. There are no other membership requirements.
During the last several recruitments, the City Council as elected to interview all qualified applicants for respective Boards and Commissions or have identified and provided direction on 1PAMC 2.20.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-0-0-61282
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a select cohort of applicants to continue to the interview processes. It is at the discretion of the Council to determine if they wish to interview all candidates or identify and provide direction on select qualified candidates to interview.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
There is no Fiscal/Resource Impact.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
City staff publicized the recruitment through the City’s community e-newsletter Uplift, City Clerk’s Office e-newsletters, via the City’s website and the City’s social media channels; in physical locations of the Palo Alto Libraries; and distributed by e-mail through established distribution lists to community-based organizations, individuals and City subscription-based notification lists. Staff reached out to past applicants to inquire if they would like to apply again and shared the recruitment to local community groups. The recruitment was also advertised in print and online advertisement in Palo Alto’s local newspapers. PTC special recruitment invited applications from December 2, 2024 through January 15, 2025 through the application process.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council action on this item is not a project as defined by CEQA because it an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5).
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk