COUNCIL
AGENDA:
6/16/2026
FILE:
26-734
ITEM:
2.8 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Toni J. Taber, MMC
City Clerk
SUBJECT: BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
APPOINTMENTS
DATE: June 16, 2026
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the following Boards and Commissions appointments:
(a) Arts Commission
(1) District 2 Seat: Appoint Minerva Sarellano for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (2) District 4 Seat: Appoint Rebecca Porda for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (3) District 6 Seat: Appoint De Anna McNeal Mirzadegan for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030
(4) District 8 Seat: Appoint Carman Gaines for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (5) District 10 Seat: Appoint Shelby Taketa for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (b) Historic Landmarks Commission
(1) Citywide Seat: Appoint Rachel Royer for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (2) Citywide Seat: Appoint Jimi Kogura for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (c) Library and Education Commission
(1) Education Seat 2: Appoint Hania Garcia for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (d) Measure T Community Oversight Committee
(1) District 3 Seat: Appoint Karanveer Anand for a term beginning on the date of appointment
(2) District 10 Seat: Appoint Gilbert Lujan for a term beginning on the date of appointment
(e) Planning Commission
(1) District 1 Seat: Appoint Daniel Cao for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (2) District 4 Seat: Appoint Melissa Bickford for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (3) District 5 Seat: Appoint Luis Arguello for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (4) District 6 Seat: Appoint Pierluigi Oliverio for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (5) District 9 Seat: Appoint Michael Young for a term of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030
OUTCOME
Appointment to the vacant seats on each of the Commissions will allow the commissions to continue conducting business.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
June 16, 2026
Subject: Boards and Commissions Appointments
BACKGROUND
Section 2.08.180 of the San José Municipal Code (SJMC) indicates that each Councilmember, including the Mayor, shall nominate one Commissioner to each Council-Nominated Commission. Section 2.08.2220.C of the San José Municipal Code (SJMC) indicates that if the Council Appointment Advisory Commission is unable to meet, persons to those commission seats that have special eligibility requirements may be appointed upon the Mayor's nomination to the City Council and the City Council's approval of such nomination. Section 2.08.2640 of the San José Municipal Code (SJMC) indicates that if the Council Appointment Advisory Commission is unable to meet, Historic Landmarks Commission members shall be appointed to the commission upon the Mayor's nomination, without recommendation from the Council Appointment Advisory Commission, and the City Council's approval of such nomination.
ANALYSIS
The applications of all nominated candidates are attached. Memoranda from the Office of the City Attorney regarding conflicts of interest of the candidates nominated for quasi- judicial boards and commissions are also included. The applicants of quasi-judicial boards and commissions were also reviewed by Planning Building and Code Enforcement with no issues found. A supplemental memorandum will be posted should additional names be submitted for vacancy nominations.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
A duty of the Office of the City Clerk is to minimize vacancies on the Boards and Commissions. The Office of the City Clerk and City Council Offices are still recruiting for additional vacancies.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
The Office of the City Clerk noticed vacancies on the City Clerk’s Boards and Commissions webpage.
The memorandum has been posted on the City Clerk’s website as part of the June 16, 2026 City Council Meeting Agenda.
COORDINATION
This memorandum has been coordinated with the Office of the City Attorney.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
June 16, 2026
Subject: Boards and Commissions Appointments
CEQA
Not a Project, File No. PP17-010, City Administrative Activities, resulting in no changes to the physical environment.
TONI J. TABER, MMC
City Clerk
For questions, please contact Toni Taber, City Clerk, at (408) 535-1260.