CITY OF SAN MATEO
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 21 Section Name: {{section.name}} Account Number: 10-1511 File ID: {{item.tracking_number}} TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: City Clerk's Office
MEETING DATE: June 02, 2025
SUBJECT:
Boards and Commission Appointment Subcommittee — Appointment Recommendations RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Appoint Lamoin Werlein-Jaen to the Community Relations Commission for a full term from June 10, 2025, through June 10, 2029, and place Meaghan Crowell and Davin Cole on a six-month eligibility list, should a vacancy occur.
2. Appoint Sheila Canzian and Annie Tsai to full terms on the Library Board for the same period, and Alison Joly to a partial term from June 30, 2025, through June 10, 2026; place Tedi Taylor on a six-month eligibility list.
3. Appoint Maxwell Schaumkel and Caiti Busch to the Planning Commission for full terms, and place Lisa Maley and John Lovell on a six-month eligibility list.
4. Appoint Thomas Lease to the Senior Advisory Commission for a full term, and Susan Rowinski to a partial term from June 2, 2025, through June 10, 2026; place Alison Joly, Stephen Mayer, and Arthur Cote on a six-month eligibility list.
5. Appoint Jean-Paul Renaud to the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission for a full term, and place Kevin Simpson, Susan Rowinski, and Lindsay Raike on a six-month eligibility list.
6. Appoint Stephen Mayer to the Measure S Oversight Committee for a full term, and Valerie Oblath to a partial term from June 2, 2025, through June 10, 2027; place Nathan Stump and Michele King on a six-month eligibility list.
7. Appoint Sarah Fields and Sabrina Ocampo to the Park and Recreation Commission for full terms from June 10, 2025, through June 10, 2029, and place Cecilia Teng and Andrew Ryan on a six-month eligibility list.
8. Appoint Debra Kaiser and Sally Porush to the Personnel Board for full terms for the same period, and place John Ferneborg on a six-month eligibility list.
9. Appoint Erin Emma Finn and Oliver Aren Baker as Youth Commissioners to the Library Board for a one-year term, and place Advika Singh and Pranav Sathish on a six-month eligibility list.
10. Appoint Dahlia Anapolsky as a Youth Commissioner to the Park and Recreation Commission for a one-year term, and place Oliver Aren Baker on a six-month eligibility list.
11. Appoint Pranav Sathish and Ellie Chiu as Youth Commissioners to the Senior Advisory Commission for a one-year term.
12. Appoint Zachary Scott and Advika Singh as Youth Commissioners to the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission for a one-year term, and place Ellie Chiu on a six-month eligibility list.
BACKGROUND:
Community Relations Commission:
On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the Appointment Subcommittee to the Community Relations Commission, consisting of Mayor Newsom. Deputy Mayor Loraine, and Council Member Cwirko-Godycki, with Housing & Neighborhood Services Manager Rachel Horst advising, interviewed applicants to fill a vacancy on the Community Relations Commission. The Appointment Subcommittee interviewed the following applicants:
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Josef Elguhiem
Charles Hansen
Lamoin Werlein-Jaén
Zaida Bowers
Tammie Pereira
Davin Cole
Manu Finau
Meghan Crowell
John Dollard
Michelle Conn
Arianna Avendano
Laura Herrera-Sarabia
The Appointment Subcommittee recommends the following actions:
Recommended Action Duration
Appoint Lamoin Werlein-Jaen to a full term June 10, 2025 through June 10, 2029 Place Meaghan Crowell on an eligibility list in priority #1 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Place Davin Cole on an eligibility list in priority #2 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Library Board:
On Friday, May 9, 2025, the Appointment Subcommittee to the Library Board, consisting of Council Members Fernandez and Diaz Nash, with City Librarian Rukshana Singh advising, interviewed applicants to fill vacancies on the Library Board.
The Appointment Subcommittee interviewed the following applicants:
Oliver Aren Baker
Erin Emma Finn
Ellie C Chiu
Pranav Sathish
Advika Singh
Tedi Taylor
Laura Hyatt
David Mendel
Paul Costello
James Traceski
Joseph Daly
Alexis Mix
Cindy Harper
Carla Cravalho
Alison Joly
Sheila Canzian
Heather Stretch
Annie Tsai
David Kyo
Sarah Phelps
Stacey Chyi
Lindsey Martinson
CITY OF SAN MATEO
The Appointment Subcommittee recommends the following actions:
Recommended Action Duration
Appoint Sheila Canzian to a full term June 10, 2025 through June 10, 2029 Appoint Annie Tsai to a full term June 10, 2025 through June 10, 2029 Appoint Alison Joly to a partial term* June 30, 2025 through June 10, 2026 Place Tedi Taylor on an eligibility list in priority #1 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Appoint Erin Emma Finn as a Youth Commissioner Immediate through June 2, 2026 Appoint Oliver Baker as a Youth Commissioner Immediate through June 2, 2026 Place Advika Singh on an eligibility list in priority #1 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Place Pranav Sathish on an eligibility list in priority #2 Immediate through November 27, 2025 *Note: Alison Joly is recommended as the next highest-ranking applicant to fill a vacancy for a partial term left by Austin Voltz.
Park and Recreation Commission:
On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, the Appointment Subcommittee to the Park and Recreation Commission, consisting of Mayor Newsom, and Council Members Fernandez and Cwirko-Godycki, with Parks and Recreation Director Joanne Magrini advising, interviewed applicants to fill vacancies on the Commission. The Appointment Subcommittee interviewed the following applicants:
Oliver Aren Baker
Ellie C Chiu
Zachary Scott
Dahlia Anapolsky
Pranav Sathish
Advika Singh
Sabrina Ocampo
Paul Costello
Carol Palacio
Cecilia Teng
Sarah Fields
Andrew Reback
Stephen Mayer
Dianne Whitaker
Andrew Ryan
The Appointment Subcommittee recommends the following actions:
Recommended Action Duration
Appoint Sarah Fields to a full term June 10, 2025 through June 10, 2029 Appoint Sabrina Ocampo to a full term June 10, 2025 through June 10, 2029 Place Cecilia Teng on an eligibility list in priority #1 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Place Andrew Ryan on an eligibility list in priority #2 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Appoint Dahlia Anapolsky as a Youth Commissioner Immediate through June 2, 2026 Personnel Board
On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the Appointment Subcommittee to the Personnel Board, consisting of Mayor Newsom, and Council Member Cwirko-Godycki, with Human Resources Director Aracelia Esparza advising, interviewed applicants to fill vacancies on the Personnel Board. The Appointment Subcommittee interviewed the following applicants:
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Debra Kaiser
John Ferneborg
Sally Porush
William James
Fernando Lorenzo
The Appointment Subcommittee recommends the following actions:
Recommended Action Duration
Appoint Debra Kaiser to a full term June 10, 2025 through June 10, 2029 Appoint Sally Porush to a full term June 10, 2025 through June 10, 2029 Place John Ferneborg on an eligibility list in priority #1 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Planning Commission:
On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the Appointment Subcommittee to the Planning Commission, consisting of Mayor Newsom, Deputy Mayor Loraine, and Council Members Fernandez and Cwirko-Godycki, with Community Development Director advising, interviewed applicants to fill vacancies on the Commission. The Appointment Subcommittee interviewed the following applicants:
John Lovell
Taso Zografos
Aidin Rezaei Sarabi
Vikash Bhagwandin
Adam Nugent
Caiti Busch
Kevin Simpson
Lisa Maley
Rebecca Dun
William Mader
Maxwell Schaumkel
The Appointment Subcommittee recommends the following actions:
Recommended Action Duration
Appoint Maxwell Schaumkel to a full term June 10, 2025 through June 10, 2029 Appoint Caiti Busch to a full term June 10, 2025 through June 10, 2029 Place Lisa Maley on an eligibility list in priority #1 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Place John Lovell on an eligibility list in priority #2 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Senior Advisory Commission:
On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, the Appointment Subcommittee to the Senior Advisory Commission, consisting of Deputy Mayor Loraine, and Council Member Fernandez, with Parks and Recreation Community Services Manager, Zachary Silva advising, interviewed applicants to fill vacancies on the Commission. The Appointment Subcommittee interviewed the following applicants:
Ellie C Chiu
Pranav Sathish
Advika Singh
Thomas Lease
Susan Burns
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Alison Joly
George Simpson
Arthur Cote
Stephen Mayer
Susan Rowinski
The Appointment Subcommittee recommends the following actions:
Recommended Action Duration
Appoint Thomas Lease to a full term June 10, 2025 through June 10, 2029 Appoint Susan Rowinski to a partial term Immediate through June 10, 2026 Place Alison Joly on an eligibility list in priority #1* Immediate through November 27, 2025 Place Stephen Mayer on an eligibility list in priority #2 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Place Arthur Cote on an eligibility list in priority #3 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Appoint Pranav Sathish as a Youth Commissioner Immediate through June 2, 2026 Appoint Ellie Chiu as a Youth Commissioner Immediate through June 2, 2026 *Note: Alison Joly was the next highest-ranking candidate for Senior Advisory Commission after Thomas Lease, however Ms. Joly requested her application be considered for appointment to the Library Board instead.
Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission:
On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Appointment Subcommittee to the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission, consisting of Mayor Newsom, Deputy Mayor Loraine, and Council Members Fernandez, Cwirko-Godycki, and Diaz Nash, with the Director of Public Works, Matt Fabry advising, interviewed applicants to fill vacancies on the Commission. The Appointment Subcommittee interviewed the following applicants:
Ellie C Chiu
Zachary Scott
Pranav Sathish
Gabriella Pate
Advika Singh
Fernando Lorenzo
Aidin Sarabi
Gabrielle Godoy
Robert Hogg
Lindsay Raike
Kevin Simpson
Susan Rowinski
Rebecca Dun
Stephen Mayer
Nathan Stump
Jean-Paul Renaud
Nadisha Silva
The Appointment Subcommittee recommends the following actions:
Recommended Action Duration
Appoint Jean-Paul Renaud to a full term June 10, 2025 through June 10, 2029 Place Kevin Simpson on an eligibility list in priority #1 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Place Susan Rowinski on an eligibility list in priority #2 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Place Lindsay Raike on an eligibility list in priority #3 Immediate through November 27, 2025
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Appoint Zachary Scott as a Youth Commissioner Immediate through June 2, 2026 Appoint Advika Singh as a Youth Commissioner Immediate through June 2, 2026 Place Ellie Chiu on an eligibility list in priority #1 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Measure S Oversight Committee:
On Thursday, May 22, 2025, the Appointment Subcommittee to the Measure S Oversight Committee, consisting of Mayor Newsom and Council Member Cwirko-Godycki, with Finance Director Karen Huang advising, interviewed applicants to fill vacancies on the Committee. The Appointment Subcommittee interviewed the following applicants:
Michele King
Rajesh Sewak
Michelle Gregory
Ariana Lacson
Stephen Mayer
Fernando Lorenzo
Valerie Oblath
Nathan Stump
Recommended Action Duration
Appoint Stephen Mayer to a full term June 10, 2025 through June 10, 2029 Appoint Valerie Oblath to a partial term Immediate through June 10, 2027 Place Nathan Stump on an eligibility list in priority #1 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Place Michele King on an eligibility list in priority #2 Immediate through November 27, 2025 Recruitment Analysis:
This year’s annual Boards and Commissions recruitment marks the second full implementation of the City Clerk’s Office’s Outreach Success Plan, an initiative designed to expand public engagement and diversify the applicant pool. As a result of this continued effort, the City has seen a 78% increase in applications compared to 2024, and an 386% increase from the 2023 cycle.
Key to this success was the launch of a targeted digital advertising campaign, including strategic social media placements and audio content, to raise visibility and drive traffic to the Boards and Commissions application portal. In tandem, the Clerk’s Office expanded its direct outreach to community-based organizations, ensuring that information about civic service opportunities reached a broader and more representative cross-section of San Mateo residents. The table below shows applications received per advisory body between 2021 and 2025.
Number of ApplicantsBoard or Commission 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission 9 8 - 6 13 Library Board 10 - 8 10 17
Community Relations Commission 6 5 - 9 14
Park and Recreation Commission 4 - 4 15 10
Planning Commission 6 - - 12 13
Senior Advisory Commission 3 0 3 7 7
Personnel Board 4 - 2 - 5
Measure S Oversight Committee - - 5 - 8
Mosquito and Vector Control District - - - 1 -
Youth Commissioner 20
Total Applications 41 13 22 60 107
CITY OF SAN MATEO
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no budgetary impact from this administrative action.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This appointment recommendations is not a project subject to CEQA, because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5).)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 – Boards, Commissions and Committees List
STAFF CONTACT
Martin McTaggart, City Clerk
[email protected]
(650) 522-7044