City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 5/27/2026 Page 1
APPOINTMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Adam Loraine
Nicole Fernandez
Danielle Cwirko-Godycki
Lisa Diaz Nash
Robert Newsom, Jr.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Special Meeting Minutes
City Council
Appointment Subcommittee to the
Planning Commission
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
May 27, 2026
City Hall Conference Room C, 6:00 PM
Special Meeting
CALL TO ORDER at 6:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Loraine, Deputy Mayor Fernandez, Council Members: Cwirko-Godycki, Newsom, Jr.
Absent: Council Member Diaz Nash
NEW BUSINESS
1. Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission – Interviews The Appointment Subcommittee for the Planning Commission, comprised of Mayor Adam Loraine, Deputy Mayor Nicole Fernandez, and Council Members Danielle Cwirko-Godycki and Robert Newsom, with Community Development Director Zach Dahl advising, interviewed the following applicants to fill one seat on the Commission and will establish an eligibility list for future vacancies:
Thomas Sanfilippo
Thomas O’Connor
Thomas Braham
James Horsman
Stephen O’Neill
Seema Patel
Public Comment: The following speakers provided comment on their preferred candidate for appointment to the vacant Planning Commission seat or provided input on the selection process: Jeff LaMont, Gene Alston, Mike Etheridge, Risk Sakuda, Laurie Watanuki, Richard Ballard, Kiera Aldridge, Michael Ragan, Doug D’Anna, Vikash Bhagwandin, Alexandra Dove, Jonathan New, Connie Weiss, Trina Pierce, Michael Arruza Cruz, Noelia Corzo, Jordan Grimes, Ally Chan, Andrew Lomano, John Ebneter,
The appointment subcommittee deliberated and concluded with the following recommendations: Appoint James Horsman to the Planning Commission for a full term, and place Seema Patel and Thomas Braham on a six-month eligibility list.
ADJOURNMENT –The meeting adjourned at 10:16 p.m.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Adam Loraine, Mayor Martin McTaggart, City Clerk Docusign Envelope ID: 518E5B58-BC72-8C60-807F-24768B8DAC6B