September 13, 2022
Mayor's Office
DATE: September 13, 2022
TO: Members of the City Council
FROM: Tom Butt, Mayor
Subject: Urban Forest Advisory Committee Appointments
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Shannon Hilsey Choy, Anita Pereira, and Kyanna
Williams are applying for Seats #1, #7, and #9 on the
Urban Forest Advisory Committee, left vacant on
November 17, 2021, after the previous volunteers’ terms expired.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: APPOINT Shannon Hilsey Choy, Urban Forest Advisory Committee, Seat #1, Term Expires November 17, 2024;
Anita Pereira, Urban Forest Advisory Committee, Seat
#7, Term Expires November 17, 2024; Kyanna Williams,
Urban Forest Advisory Committee, Seat #9, Term
Expires November 17, 2024 - Mayor’s Office (Mayor Tom
Butt 510-620-6503).
DISCUSSION:
Shannon Hilsey Choy is a project manager at World Resources Institute and is a part of the Princeton Alumnicorps Emerging Leaders Program 2021 Cohort. As a new AGENDA
REPORT
September 13, 2022
homeowner in Richmond, Shannon has been looking for opportunities to serve the community. Shannon is a tree lover and has seven years of work experience in research and project management on sustainable cities and a broad understanding of the many and wide-ranging benefits of urban forests. Shannon thinks they could add value to the Urban Forest Advisory Committee, particularly in grant proposals, event support, citizen engagement, and communications around these benefits.
Anita Pereira is a retired optometrist who has volunteered with the Sierra Club, Audobon Society, and California Native Plant Society. Anita has also volunteered with the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tours, supporting environmentally sound, water conserving gardening, and Adopt-A-Spot, creating a more beautiful street corridor at the Carlson Boulevard medians. Anita is keenly interested in growing more trees in our beautiful city, improve the quality of life of residents and air quality, fighting climate change, promoting awareness of the value of trees as an integral part of living communities important to supporting all life on Earth, supporting the local population of bees, butterflies, and birds, and beautifying our city which possibly will lead to less crime and an increase in the sense of wellbeing and pride in our community.
Kyanna Williams is a self-employed lawyer, legal designer, and content designer who is also involved with the California Bar Association, the Charles Houston Bar Association, Bay Area Legal Incubator, and Strong Towns Toastmasters, a national organization dedicated to making cities stronger and more resilient, walkable, and beautiful for all that work and live there. Kyanna would like Richmond to plant more trees to improve air quality, provide natural cooling, enhance neighborhood appeal, and make biking and walking areas much more pleasant. Kyanna is an outdoor enthusiast and longtime resident.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Shannon Hilsey Choy’s Application
Attachment 2 – Anita Pereira’s Application
Attachment 3 – Kyanna Williams’ Application