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APPOINTMENTS
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: August 19, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Department: City Manager's Office
Subject: Reappointment of General Plan Advisory Committee Members (Wards 3, 5, 6)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, approve the reappointment of the following General Plan Advisory Committee Members:
1. Angela M. Torres as a voting member for Ward 3.
2. Anthony Aguirre as an alternate member for Ward 3.
3. Richard Kaplan as a voting member for Ward 5.
4. Raafi A. Bell as a voting member for Ward 6.
City Manager's Comments
I have been working with the Community Development Department to schedule a GPAC meeting either the last week of August or first week of September. The intent is to have the General Plan go to the Planning Commission in October.
Executive Summary
The General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) is comprised of a total of sixteen (16) members and was established by the Mayor and City Council to assist with updating the City’s comprehensive General Plan. Currently, the committee has five (5) vacancies and four (4) members with expired terms, which poses a challenge for meeting quorum requirements under the Brown Act. With the City’s General Plan anticipated to be brought before the Planning Commission this fall, it is recommended that the Mayor and Council reappoint the four (4) GPAC members whose term expired in December 2024. This will allow the GPAC to meet prior to the Planning Commission so that they can continue to provide their feedback and recommendations on the City’s General Plan.
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Background
The General Plan Advisory Committee was established by Resolution No. 2021-02 on January 20, 2021, which was later updated by Resolution 2021-154 on June 16, 2021.
The purpose of the GPAC is to actively participate in, and engage community members about, the specific focus areas and elements under consideration for inclusion in the General Plan. The GPAC provide recommendations to City staff and the consulting team in this capacity, and they provide one of the primary means of communication for the community when making recommendations about the General Plan to the Planning Commission and the Mayor and City Council.
The GPAC is comprised of a total of 16 members. Each City Council member appoints two (2) members, with one (1) appointment being a voting member and the other appointment being an alternate. The Mayor also appoints two members, with one (1) serving as a voting member and the other as an alternate.
Discussion
With the General Plan anticipated to be brought before the Planning Commission this fall, it is important for the GPAC to meet prior to time so that the committee can provide their feedback and recommendations. Currently, the GPAC has five (5) vacancies and four (4) members with expired terms, which poses a challenge for meeting quorum under the Brown Act. In order to help ensure that the GPAC can meet quorum, it is recommended for the four (4) members with expired terms be reappointed, which are highlighted below:
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Strategic Goals and Priorities
The proposed commission appointment aligns with Key Target No. 2: Focused, Aligned Leadership and Unified Community by building a culture that attracts, retains, and motivates the highest quality talent.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact to the City associated with this action.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, approve the reappointment of the following General Plan Advisory Committee Members:
1. Angela M. Torres as a voting member for Ward 3.
2. Anthony Aguirre as an alternate member for Ward 3.
3. Richard Kaplan as a voting member for Ward 5.
4. Raafi A. Bell as a voting member for Ward 6.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Resolution No 2021-154
Attachment 2 - Angela M. Torres Ward 3 Application
Attachment 3 - Anthony Aguirre Ward 3 Application
Attachment 4 - Richard Kaplan Ward 5 Application
Attachment 5 - Raafi A. Bell Ward 6 Application
Ward:
Third Ward; Fifth Ward; Sixth Ward
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
N/A
CC