City Council
Staff Report
Report Type: SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: September 28, 2026
Report #:2609-6803
TITLE
Review Applications and Select Candidates to Interview for the Human Relations Commission (HRC), Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC), 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 8 candidates for HRC
Up to 6 candidates for PTC
Up to 6 candidates for SWMOC
BACKGROUND
City Council’s review and selection of candidates to interview for HRC, PTC, and SWMOC was deferred from the September 14, 2026 meeting to manage meeting capacity and extend HRC recruitment. Applications were published as part of the September 14, 2026 City Council agenda packet and are available online and linked in Attachment A.
An HRC member resigned effective immediately on 9/8/26. Staff re-opened HRC recruitment through September 16 to publicize the unscheduled vacancy and solicit additional applications.
The City Council will consider appointing a total of 3 HRC commissioners (2 full-term vacancies and 1 partial-term vacancy). Three additional applications were received and are included in Attachment B.
The City Council has established a process to select which applicants to interview for BCC vacancies, 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
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)
1 Partial Term Vacancy (11/1/2025 – 10/31/2028)
Seat Numbers 1, 4 ,7
Number of Applicants 12 Total (9 in regular recruitment, 3 additional in extended) Number of Candidates to
Interview
Up to 8
Number of Votes per
Councilmember
6 Eligibility Requirements1 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 Requirements2 Palo Alto residency
1 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.22.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0- 0-0-61320
2 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.20.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0- 0-0-61282
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 Requirements5 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.
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: BCC Applications Published on 9/14/26
Attachment B: HRC Extended Recruitment Applications
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
5 Resolution 10310 https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=897189&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto