City Council
Staff Report
Report Type: SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: September 14, 2026
Report #:2606-6493
TITLE
Review Applications and Select Candidates to Interview for the Human Relations Commission (HRC), Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC), Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC), Public Art Commission (PAC), and Stormwater Management Oversight Committee (SWMOC) Vacancies; CEQA Status – Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council review applications and select the following number of candidates to interview:
Up to 6 candidates for HRC
Up to 10 candidates for PRC
Up to 6 candidates for PTC
Up to 6 candidates for PAC
Up to 6 candidates for SWMOC
BACKGROUND
Recruitment
Per Council direction1, recruitment for Boards, Commissions, and Committees (BCCs) is split into fall and spring cycles. The fall recruitment opened on July 28, 2026 and closed on September 2, 2026. This recruitment includes 11 vacancies across 5 meeting bodies. The fall cycle includes HRC, PRC, PAC, and SWMOC. As of August 10, 2026, PTC has one unscheduled vacancy. Staff incorporated this position into the fall recruitment for efficiency and cost savings. More details on vacancies, eligibility requirements, and terms are included in the analysis section below. 1 May 13, 2024, City Council Action Minutes, Agenda Item #12:
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/Weblink/DocView.aspx?id=43160
Process and Tentative Timeline for Interviews and Appointments The City Council has established a process to select which applicants to interview for BCC vacancies3, but has the discretion to adjust the selection method if it chooses. Councilmembers vote on candidates to interview, with each Councilmember allotted twice as many votes as vacancies. Candidates must receive at least two votes to be interviewed, and candidates receiving the top number of votes are interviewed. The number of candidates interviewed is based on the number of vacancies as follows:
Interview all candidates if there are 6 or fewer applicants Interview up to 6 candidates when there are 1-2 vacancies Interview up to 8 candidates when there are 3 vacancies Interview up to 10 candidates when there are 4 vacancies Councilmembers will submit their votes to the City Clerk, who will announce the results at the September 14, 2026 City Council meeting. BCC candidate interviews are tentatively scheduled for the September 28, 2026 City Council meeting. Interviews are scheduled for 10 minutes each.
Candidates will have an opportunity to summarize their experiences and interest in serving, and the remaining time will be allocation to Councilmember questions. Appointments are tentatively scheduled for the October 5, 2026 City Council meeting.
ANALYSIS
A summary of the openings, eligibility requirements, and term lengths for each vacancy are included below. In addition to the eligibility requirements below, no commissioners may be Councilmembers, officers, or employees of the City.
Human Relations Commission (HRC)
Number of Vacancies and
Term Dates
2 Full Term Vacancies
11/1/2026 – 10/31/2029
Seat Numbers 1, 4
Number of Applicants 9
Number of Candidates to
Interview
Up to 6
Number of Votes per
Councilmember
4 Eligibility Requirements4 Palo Alto residency
3 City Council, May 5, 2025; Agenda Item #11, SR# 2504-4537 https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/Weblink/DocView.aspx?id=83381 4 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.22.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0- 0-0-61320
Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC)
Number of Vacancies and
Term Dates
4 Full Term Vacancies
11/1/2026 – 10/31/2029
Seat Numbers 1, 5, 6, 7
Number of Applicants 13
Number of Candidates to
Interview
Up to 10
Number of Votes per
Councilmember
8 Eligibility Requirements7 Each member of the commission shall have a demonstrated interest in parks, open space and recreation matters.
Palo Alto residency
Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC)
Number of Vacancies and
Term Dates
1 Partial Term Vacancy
4/1/2026 – 3/31/2030
Seat Number 4
Number of Applicants 9
Number of Candidates to
Interview
Up to 6
Number of Votes per
Councilmember
2 Eligibility Requirements8 Palo Alto residency
Public Art Commission (PAC)
Number of Vacancies and
Term Dates
2 Full Term Vacancies
11/1/2026 – 10/31/2029
Seat Number 2, 6
Number of Applicants 10
Number of Candidates to
Interview
Up to 6
Number of Votes per
Councilmember
4 7 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.25.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0- 0-0-61402
8 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.20.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0- 0-0-61282
Eligibility Requirements11 Members shall be either members of the Architectural Review Board or shall be professional visual artists, professional visual arts educators, professional visual arts scholars or visual arts collectors whose authorities and skills are known and respected in the community and whenever feasible, who have
demonstrated interest in, and have participated in, the arts program of the City of Palo Alto.
Stormwater Management Oversight Committee (SWMOC)
Number of Vacancies and
Term Dates
2 Full Term Vacancies
11/1/2026 - 10/31/2030
Seat Number 2, 3
Number of Applicants 7
Number of Candidates to
Interview
Up to 6
Number of Votes per
Councilmember
4 Eligibility Requirements12 Each Committee member shall be a resident of Palo Alto, an employee of a business located in Palo Alto or an owner of real property within the City.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
None.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
City staff publicized the recruitment through the following methods:
Electronic distribution via the City’s Uplift Local community newsletter, City Clerk’s Office newsletter, City’s website, and City’s social media channels; Physical posting and flyer distribution at City facilities, including libraries, community centers, and City Hall;
Print and online ads in the Palo Alto Daily Post and Palo Alto Weekly; and Outreach to previous applicants, community-based organizations and groups related to the commissions’ purview.
11 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.18.020
https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-0-0-61257 12 Resolution 10310
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=897189&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto
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).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: HRC Applications – Redacted
Attachment B: PRC Applications – Redacted
Attachment C: PTC Applications – Redacted
Attachment D: PAC Applications – Redacted
Attachment E: SWMOC Applications – Redacted
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk