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: 1 Section Name: STUDY SESSION Account Number: 10-1511 File ID: 26-11342 TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: City Clerk's Office
MEETING DATE: June 15, 2026
SUBJECT:
Planning Commission Unscheduled Vacancy – Direction
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide direction regarding the process for filling one unscheduled vacancy on the Planning Commission and potentially take action to fill the vacancy depending on direction from the City Council.
BACKGROUND:
On June 1, 2026, the City Council appointed James Horsman to the Planning Commission for a full four-year term commencing June 10, 2026, and ending June 10, 2030. As part of the same appointment process, the City Council placed Seema Patel (in first order priority) and Thomas Braham (in second order priority) on a six-month eligibility list for potential future appointments.
On June 10, 2026, Mr. Horsman submitted his resignation from the Planning Commission due to a new conflict with his employment schedule, thereby creating an unscheduled vacancy on the Planning Commission.
DISCUSSION:
Chapter 11, Section 2.J.1 of the City Council's adopted Rules and Procedures for Board and Commissions outlines a process for unscheduled vacancies, this provides that:
Subject to the Maddy Act (Government Code Section 54970), the City Council may fill an unscheduled vacancy by either:
1. Appointing an individual from an existing eligibility list, if available; or
2. Directing staff to conduct a new recruitment process Additionally, Chapter 11, Section 2.J.2 provides that announcements for non-routine vacancies should be made as soon as possible to maintain viable memberships on boards and commissions, with all appointments occurring at an open public meeting. Chapter 13, Sections 3.N.1 and 3.N.2 of the City Council Rules and Procedures outlines the same process.
The City Council currently has an active six-month eligibility list established through the 2026 Boards and Commissions annual recruitment process containing two candidates: Seema Patel and Thomas Braham.
NEXT STEPS:
Staff is requesting Council’s direction on how to fill the new vacancy. Council may either appoint an individual from the existing eligibility list including Seema Patel or Thomas Braham, or direct staff to run a new recruitment.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with providing direction regarding the vacancy. Should the Council direct staff to
CITY OF SAN MATEO
conduct a new recruitment process, staff time and administrative costs would be incurred as part of the recruitment and appointment process.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This discussion item 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 and Commissions Rules and Procedures Chapter 11
STAFF CONTACT
Martin McTaggart, City Clerk
[email protected]
(650) 522-7042