CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
March 16, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Scott, City Manager
Submitted By: Rosalia A. Butler, MMC, City Clerk
SUBJECT: APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF ONE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSIONER PURSUANT TO SECTION 806 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF POMONA RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council approve the appointment of Monica A. Canales as the new commissioner of the Police Oversight Commission pursuant to Section 806 of the City Charter.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
As a result of Commissioner Tremale Ratcliffe finishing his first term from the Police Oversight Commission and electing to not re-apply, a vacancy was created. Three applications were received and of those applicants, Monica A. Canales was selected for recommendation. The appointment of a Police Oversight Commissioner must be approved by a majority vote of the City Council per Section 2-652(a) of Ordinance No. 4333.
SB1439/GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLICABILITY:
☐ When this box is checked, it indicates the agenda item is subject to the Levine Act SB1439 requirements. Councilmembers are reminded to check their campaign contributions and determine whether they have received a campaign contribution of $500 or more that would require disclosure and/or recusal from discussing or acting on this agenda item. Campaign contributions of $500 or more made 1) by any person or entity who is identified in the agenda report as the applicant or proposer or 2) on behalf of the applicant or participant, including a parent, subsidiary or otherwise related business entity, or 3) by any person who has a financial interest in the agenda item requires a councilmember to comply with SB1439.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
DISCUSSION:
On October 14, 2025, one of the Police Oversight Commissioners, Tremale Ratcliffe, termed out and did not re-apply for a second term on the Police Oversight Commission, resulting in a vacancy. To fill this vacancy, applications for the Police Oversight Commission were accepted in the City Clerk’s office from October 21, 2025, to November 30, 2025. At the close of the recruitment period, only three applications were submitted: applications from Monica A. Canales (Attachment No. 1), Aron M. Farmer (Attachment No. 2), and John W. Vaughn (Attachment No. 3).
At the March 2, 2023 City Council meeting, Mayor Sandoval appointed Councilmember Garcia, Councilmember Lustro and himself to an ad-hoc committee to review the applications.
After reviewing the applications, the ad-hoc committee chose to recommend Monica A. Canales (Attachment No. 1) for the appointment. The recommendation now comes to the City Council for final approval per Section 2-652(a) of Ordinance No. 4333 which states notwithstanding “Section 801 of this Charter, the Commission shall be comprised of five (5) members appointed by majority vote of the City Council.” If approved, applicant Monica A. Canales will fill the vacancy and will be sworn in as a Police Oversight Commissioner for a term of four years that will end in October of 2029.
ALTERNATIVE(S):
The City Council has the following alternatives:
Approve the appointment of a different applicant as the new Commissioner of the Police Oversight Commission pursuant to Section 806 of the City Charter.
To not approve any of the applicants as the new Commissioner of the Police Oversight Commission pursuant to Section 806 of the City Charter and direct the City Clerk’s office to reopen recruitment.
Prepared by:
_____________________________
Diana Robles
Deputy City Clerk
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment No. 1 – Application of Monica A. Canales
Attachment No. 2 – Application of Aron M. Farmer
Attachment No. 3 – Application of John W. Vaughn
Commissioner Appointment to the Police Oversight Commission