City Council
Staff Report
Report Type: SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: March 23, 2026
Report #:2512-5764
TITLE
Interview Candidates for Vacancies on the Human Relations Commission (HRC), Planning & Transportation Commission (PTC), and Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC); CEQA Status - Not a Project
BACKGROUND
The Spring 2026 Boards and Commissions recruitment opened on January 13, 2026 and closed on February 18, 2026. Recruitment for three full-term vacancies on the Historic Resources Board and one partial-term vacancy on the Stormwater Management Oversight Committee has been extended to April 8, 2026.
The Human Relations Commission has one partial-term vacancy, Planning & Transportation Commission has two full-term vacancies, and Utilities Advisory Commission has three full-term vacancies. City Council selected candidates to interview for these commissions at the March 2, 2026 City Council Meeting. The interview schedule will be published as a supplemental report on March 19, 2026.
Each candidate interview will be scheduled for 10 minutes. Candidates will have an opportunity to summarize their experiences, and the remaining time will be allocated to Councilmember questions. Candidates will be informed of the following:
1. Each interview is scheduled for 10 minutes. Candidates may begin with 1-2 minutes describing their experience and/or desire to serve. The remaining time will be Q+A with the City Council;
2. Interviews are located in Council Chambers on the ground floor of City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave) or on Zoom;
3. Please arrive or join Zoom 15 minutes before the scheduled time and check in with the clerk; and
4. If joining via Zoom, make sure to use your name so the clerk can identify the candidate.
Please use this link to join https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/362027238. The clerk will allow you to unmute and turn on your video when it’s your turn.
Appointments are tentatively scheduled for the April 6, 2026 City Council meeting.
Councilmembers will appoint candidates through live voting conducted during the meeting. The City Clerk will announce the results of the vote.
ANALYSIS
A summary of the openings, eligibility requirements, and term lengths for the HRC, PTC, and UAC vacancies are included below. In addition to the eligibility requirements below, no commissioners can be Councilmembers, officers, or employees of the City.
Human Relations Commission (HRC)
Vacancies and
Term Dates
Seat Number Number of
Applicants
Number of
Candidates to
Interview
Number of
Votes per
Councilmember
1 Partial Term
4/1/26 – 10/31/26
4 9 Up to 6 2
HRC Eligibility Requirements1:
Palo Alto residency is required
Planning & Transportation Commission (PTC)
Vacancies and
Term Dates
Seat Numbers Number of
Applicants
Number of
Candidates to
Interview
Number of
Votes per
Councilmember
2 Full Terms
4/1/26 – 3/31/30
1, 4 11 Up to 6 4
PTC Eligibility Requirements2:
Palo Alto residency is required
1 Palo Alto Municipal Code 2.22.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-0-0- 61312
2 Palo Alto Municipal Code 2.20.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-0-0- 61274
Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC)
Vacancies and
Term Dates
Seat Numbers Number of
Applicants
Number of
Candidates to
Interview
Number of
Votes per
Councilmember
3 Full Terms
4/1/26 – 3/31/29
3, 5, 6 10 Up to 8 6
UAC Eligibility Requirements5:
Each member shall be a utility customer or the authorized representative of a utility customer.
6 members of the commission shall at all times be residents of the City. oThe 4 commission members whose terms are not expiring in this recruitment are currently residents. Therefore, at least two Palo Alto residents must be appointed in this recruitment to maintain this requirement.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
None.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
City staff publicized the recruitment through the City’s Uplift Local community newsletter, City Clerk’s Office newsletters, the City’s website, and the City’s social media channels. The recruitment was also advertised in both print and online in the Palo Alto Daily Post, as well as the Palo Alto Weekly print and a LinkedIn online ad. Recruitment information was also posted at Palo Alto libraries, City Hall, and public facing facilities. Information was also emailed to previous applicants, community-based organizations, and businesses related to the commission’s issue areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council action on this item is not a project as defined by CEQA because it is 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
5 Palo Alto Municipal Code 2.23.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-0-0- 61350