CITY COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Department(s):
Office of Economic
Development and
Cultural Affairs
CEQA:
Not a Project, File No.
PP17-010, City
Organizational and
Administrative activities
resulting in no changes to
the physical environment.
Coordination:
City Attorney's Office and
City Manager’s Budget
Office
Dept. Approval:
/s/
Nanci Klein
Council District(s):
Citywide
CMO Approval:
6/7/23
SUBJECT: COMMUNITY STABILIZATION AND OPPORTUNITY PATHWAYS FUND
COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENT
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve staff’s recommendation to appoint a new member to the Community Stabilization and Opportunity Pathways Fund Commission to replace an appointee that has since withdrawn.
BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATION:
On December 13, 2022, the City Council approved staff’s recommendation to appoint the initial 13 voting members and one alternate to the Community Stabilization and Opportunity Pathways Fund Commission (Fund Commission). The Fund Commission is responsible for guiding decisions related to the Community Stabilization and Opportunity Pathway Fund, a community benefit of the Downtown West project.
Of the 13 voting members, there are eight “work experience” seats on the Fund Commission. These commissioners have professional or subject matter experience in one or more relevant fields, such as
affordable housing preservation, homeless supportive services, education, workforce development, small business, philanthropy, nonprofit management, or community development. Recently, one of the appointees for a work experience seat (Anna Nguyen) contacted the Clerk’s Office and withdrew from the Fund Commission. As a result, staff is now recommending a replacement for appointment by the City Council.
Following the adoption of the ordinance establishing the Fund Commission (Part 50 of Section 2.08 of the San José Municipal Code), staff implemented an application and evaluation process resulting in the initial slate of commissioners recommended for appointment by City Council. As part of this process, a panel of three City staff evaluated all complete applications against the membership criteria established in the ordinance and generated a combined score for each applicant. Staff kept these applications on file for future consideration in the event of an unanticipated vacancy.
To identify a replacement for Commissioner Anna Nguyen, staff referred to the applications received through the initial effort. Based on the previous evaluation and current mix of expertise represented on the Fund Commission, staff recommends the appointment of Julie Vennewitz-Pierce. Ms. Vennewitz-Pierce received a high rating from the panel among work experience applicants. She is a demonstrated leader with extensive experience in philanthropy, community relations, fundraising, and grantmaking in fields related to economic opportunity. This expertise will be an important asset to the Fund Commission, especially as it works with the City on fundraising, the selection of a third-party fund manager, and development of a strategic plan.
Please refer to the December 13, 2022 staff report for additional background information and the complete set of applications.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 6/20/23
FILE: 23-903
ITEM: 2.13
Commission Recommendation/Input:
No commission recommendation or input is required for the action associated with the recommendation in this memorandum.
COST AND FUNDING SOURCE:
There is no cost or budget action required in association with this memorandum.
FOR QUESTIONS CONTACT: Zacharias Mendez, Senior Executive Analyst, (408) 793-4385