____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting:
Disposition:
Special Meeting
Agenda Item No: SM 1.b
Meeting Date: November 4, 2024
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Department: City Clerk
Prepared by: Lindsay Lara, City Clerk City Manager Approval: ___________ TOPIC: PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION INTERVIEWS
SUBJECT: INTERVIEW APPLICANTS AND MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO FILL TWO FOUR-YEAR TERMS THROUGH THE END OF OCTOBER 2028 ON THE
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION DUE TO THE EXPIRATION OF
TERMS OF ROBERT SANDOVAL AND KELA CABRALES
RECOMMENDATION:
Interview the following applicants and make appointments to fill two four-year terms through the end of October 2028 on the Park and Recreation Commission due to the expiration of terms of Robert Sandoval and Kela Cabrales.
Name
Emily Willingham
Kela Cabrales
Robert Sandoval
Susanne Berg
BACKGROUND:
The terms of Robert Sandoval and Kela Cabrales are set to expire at the end of October 2024 and both Commissioners expressed a desire to reapply. The City Clerk’s office recruited for applications and received ten applications; but two lived outside of city limits, and one withdrew from the application process.
This Park and Recreation Commission assists the City Council in developing and implementing long-range plans for City parks and recreation facilities; monitors current service levels and community needs; reviews the performance of City partnerships with community groups in the utilization of facilities and production of programs; reviews and advises on general policies and procedures in the delivery of park, recreation, child care, and cultural services. Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael, CA 94901.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
ANALYSIS:
The City Clerk’s office recruited for the Park and Recreation Commission vacancies and received ten (10) applications; however, two applicants were ineligible due to residing outside of city limits, and one applicant withdrew. Due to the volume of applications received, a subcommittee of the City Council consisting of the Mayor and the Park & Recreation Commission’s City Council Liaisons reviewed the applications and selected four (4) eligible applicants to be interviewed to fill the two terms.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
The call for applications for the Park and Recreation Commission was advertised through mass email notification, the City website, social media platforms, Marin IJ, and physically posted at City facilities.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Four (4) Applications
2. Bylaws
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
1 / 3
Q1
Contact Information / Información del contacto
First and Last Name / Nombre y Apellido Emily Willingham Address / Dirección
City / Ciudad San Rafael
State / estado California
ZIP/Postal Code / Código postal 94903
Email Address / Dirección de correo electrónico
Phone Number / Número de teléfono
Q2
What district do you currently live in?¿En qué distrito vive actualmente?
District 4/Northern / Distrito 4/Norte
Q3
How long have you lived in San Rafael?
11 years
Q4
Business Information
Company Marin Academy
Address
City/Town San Rafael
ZIP/Postal Code 94901
#81
COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Wednesday, August 07, 2024 5:26:26 PM
Last Modified: Wednesday, August 07, 2024 5:39:39 PM
Time Spent: 00:13:12
IP Address: 67.170.225.245
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
2 / 3
Q5
How did you hear about this vacant position?
Social Media
Q6
What Board would you like to apply to?¿A cuál te gustaría aplicar?
Park and Recreation Commission
Q18
Do you participate in any civic activities? If so, what are they? I have just, for the first time in my time in Marin, become able to work a regular 40-hour week (instead of 60-80 hours), so I am looking for ways to participate in civic activities. As a journalist, I was not "supposed" to become overtly politically involved; I have now left journalism for full-time teaching. My online work has largely focused on disability and social justice. I also have supported fundraising for Wildcare (through a calendar sales campaign) and have been a longtime donor to the local food bank.
Q19
List any civic organizations of which you are a member:
No formal memberships
Q20
Education:
PhD, biological sciences
BA, English
Q21
Why are you interested in serving on a board or commission? I was once the outdoors columnist for the Marin IJ, my son works for Marin Co. Parks and Rec, and our family are closely familiar with the city and county parks here, in addition to the city's cultural and childcare offerings (our youngest son is a Parkside alum). This is where my interests lie and where I think I might have the most to contribute and the best understanding. I have served on two boards (one a nonprofit school, and one a nonprofit journalism organization), so I have experience in that broader milieu.
Q22
Describe possible areas in which you may have a conflict of interest with the City:
I do not think I have any.
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
3 / 3
Q23
Upload your resume.
Willingham_Resume_2024.pdf (88.5KB)
Emily Willingham
EDUCATION
• B.A., English, with minors in German and history, University of Texas at Austin, December 1989 • Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, May 2001
COMMUNICATIONS EXPERIENCE
• Journalist/associate editor/managing editor, health/science/medicine (contract and staff) —1996 to 2024
Bylines: Medscape/WebMD, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Everyday Health, Slate, Wired, Discover, MIT Tech Review, NOVA, The Scientist, and Scientific American, among others. Also author of Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis (2020, Avery/Penguin), author of The Tailored Brain (December 2021, Basic Books), and co-author of The Informed Parent: A Science-Based Resource for Your Child’s First 4 Years (Perigee Books/Penguin) • Editor and writer
—2005 to present
Editor/writer of research articles and reviews, grants, theses/dissertations, books, book chapters, essays, commentaries, and other materials, across a variety of topic areas • More
—1989 to present
Public information officer at large stage agency, nonprofits; secondary school teacher in English, communications, Spanish, science, and piano; fact-checker; newsletter writer and producer; scriptwriter; frequent podcast and video appearances
SELECTED ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
• Science Teacher, Crossroads Coordinator, Yearbook Advisor, Marin Academy –November 2022 to present
• Instructor, Science Journalism, University of California, Berkeley-Extension —September 2020 to 2023
Teaching a journalism class that covers finding story ideas and sources, conducting interviews, targeting specific audiences, story structure, pitching, and more • Adjunct Professor, Dominican University
—August 2013 to May 2017
Natural Sciences (undergraduate), Clinical Laboratory Sciences (graduate). Teaching graduate anatomy, undergraduate anatomy and physiology lecture and lab, undergraduate developmental biology lecture and lab, graduate scientific writing
HONORS AND OUTREACH
• Board Member, National Association of Science Writers —August 2014 to August 2018
• Committee Chair, National Association of Science Writers —August 2013 to August 2022
• Awards judge, World Federation of Science Journalists, Victor K. McElheny Award • Organizer, Science Writing Summit
—June 2013, funded by NASW Idea Grant
• Managing editor, Double X Science, funded by NASW Idea Grant • MIT 2021–2022 Knight Science Project Fellow
PORTFOLIO General | Scientific American
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
1 / 3
Q1
Contact Information / Información del contacto
First and Last Name / Nombre y Apellido Kela Cabrales
Address / Dirección
City / Ciudad San Rafael
State / estado CA
ZIP/Postal Code / Código postal 94901
Email Address / Dirección de correo electrónico
Phone Number / Número de teléfono
Q2
What district do you currently live in?¿En qué distrito vive actualmente?
District 2/Western / Distrito 2/Oeste
Q3
How long have you lived in San Rafael?
28 years
Q4
Business Information
Respondent skipped this question
Q5
How did you hear about this vacant position?
Other (please specify):
currently serving on the commission
Q6
What Board would you like to apply to?¿A cuál te gustaría aplicar?
Park and Recreation Commission
#89
COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Wednesday, October 02, 2024 9:56:13 AM
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 02, 2024 10:17:35 AM
Time Spent: 00:21:22
IP Address: 135.180.148.113
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
2 / 3
Q18
Do you participate in any civic activities? If so, what are they? Chairperson for Park and Recreation Commission
Q19
List any civic organizations of which you are a member:
Chairperson for Park and Recreation Commission
Q20
Education:
BA in Broadcast & Electronic Communication
SF State 1994
Project Management Certificate
Cal State East Bay 2012
Q21
Why are you interested in serving on a board or commission? My family and I have actively been involved in many of the areas that the Park and Rec Commission cover, and I would like to give back to the community.
Q22
Describe possible areas in which you may have a conflict of interest with the City:
None that I can think of.
Q23
Upload your resume.
KELA%20CABRALES%20RESUME_ProjectV2-2.pdf (38.5KB)
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
3 / 3
Q24
Ethnicity / Raza/etnia:
Q25
To which gender do you most identify?¿Con qué género se identifica más?
KELA CABRALES
OPERATIONS & PROJECT MANAGER
. San Rafael, CA 94901
SKILLS
BuilderTrend
monday.com
Quickbooks Online
Google Workspace
Nuke
Silhouette
Zoom
Shotgrid
Film Production
Special Effects
Unix
Mac & PC Systems
Project Management
Microsoft Office
EXPERTISE
Production
Compositing
Rotoscoping
Digital Paint
3D Conversion
Digital Matte Painting
EDUCATION
BA, Broadcasting & Electronic Arts
San Francisco State University, 1994
Project Management Certification,
Cal State East Bay, 2012
FILMOGRAPHY
Mass Teleportation Authority
(unrealeased)
The Avengers
MI: Ghost Protocol
Avatar
Star Trek (2009)
Transformers
Mission Impossible III
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the
Black Pearl
Star Wars Episodes I & II
PROFILE
I have had the privilege to work on projects for most of my career.
I have a passion to be able to breakdown complex topics and create systems to make working and learning easier.
Communication and adaptability are what make me an asset to any workplace. I am at my best when new opportunities or challenges arise.
EXPERIENCE
Operations Manager/Project Manager
Matthew Kelly Construction 2022- Present
· Creating and implementing operational systems
· Coordinating construction projects
· Business strategy & development
Part- time Instructor
Academy of Art / San Francisco, CA / 2013 - 2022
· Teaching graduate and undergraduate classes in
rotoscoping.
· Transitioned class to industry standard software
· In-person, zoom & asynchronous
Compositing Lead
Academy of Art StudioX/ Remote/ 2020- 2021
· Remote studio setting using Zoom, Shotgrid, and Box to run remote dailies, collaborating with director, artists and production team
· Look development for teleportation sequence
· Creating documents for finaling checklists
Online Class Build
Academy of Art / 2017
· Designed and wrote online, asynchronous class for
Animation and Visual Effects Department - Rotoscoping
Computer and Technology Instructor
Coleman Elementary/ San Rafael, CA / 2013 - 2020
· Created and taught curriculum to K-5th grade
· Topics included Digital Citizenship, Computational
Thinking, Coding, Maker-Design Thinking
· In-person, zoom & asynchronous
Jurassic Park III
The Mummy
Star Wars Special Editions
(full list available on IMDB)
Digital Artist
Industrial Light & Magic / San Francisco, CA / 1998-2012 · Worked with a team of digital artists to create a
seamless look for special effects on feature films
· Adapted to various departments on an as needed basis
for compositing on Flame to rotoscoping with
Commotion
· Created images for Disney rides, 3D conversions of films and independent films
Technical Assistant
Industrial Light & Magic / San Rafael, CA / 1996-1998
· Managed various departments’ computer resources and
disk space.
· Developed internal programs to streamline I/O
procedures.
· Provided backup and retrieval support for the computer graphics department.
Production Assistant
Industrial Light & Magic / San Rafael / 1995-1996
· Assisted with preparation of live action and location shooting.
· Generated and maintained billing for location production and film processing costs.
· Scheduled and coordinated digital plate clean up
Demo Reel available at: https://vimeo.com/278358457
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
1 / 4
Q1
Contact Information / Información del contacto
First and Last Name / Nombre y Apellido Robert Sandoval Address / Dirección
City / Ciudad San Rafael
State / estado CA
ZIP/Postal Code / Código postal 94901
Email Address / Dirección de correo electrónico
Phone Number / Número de teléfono
Q2
What district do you currently live in?¿En qué distrito vive actualmente?
District 3/Eastern / Distrito 3/Este
Q3
How long have you lived in San Rafael?
almost 5 years
Q4
Business Information
Company Payward Inc., dba Kraken Digital Asset Exchange Address
City/Town Cheyenne, WY
ZIP/Postal Code 82001
#147
COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 7:39:58 PM
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 8:50:56 PM
Time Spent: 01:10:57
IP Address: 98.42.236.63
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
2 / 4
Q5
How did you hear about this vacant position?
City Council Agenda,
Social Media,
Community Center/Library,
City Manager's Newsletter,
Friend
Q6
What Board would you like to apply to?¿A cuál te gustaría aplicar?
Park and Recreation Commission,
Planning Commission
Q18
Do you participate in any civic activities? If so, what are they? Yes, I have participated in civic activities in local government, nonprofits, and through my legal profession.
Government:
• Vice Chair, Park and Recreation Commission
o Alternate, Master Plan Steering Committee
• Public Art Review Board
Nonprofits:
• Board Member, Point San Pedro Road Coalition
o Chair, Roadway Committee
• Member, Association of Latino Marin Attorneys
• (former) 2017-2021 Director, San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association • (former) 2017-2019 Board Member, Aim High Young Leaders Board Law Pro Bono:
• Represented victims of civil rights abuse
• Represented victims of domestic violence
Q19
List any civic organizations of which you are a member:
Point San Pedro Road Coalition
Association of Latino Marin Attorneys
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Marin
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
3 / 4
Q20
Education:
BA Politics and Economics, Occidental College
JD, University of Chicago Law School
Q21
Why are you interested in serving on a board or commission? I am a husband and father of two young kids, and I feel so privileged that San Rafael is my home. Raising a family here, it is more important to me than ever that the City continues to prosper and be a safe, welcoming, and diverse place. I am interested in serving on the Planning Commission because I want to help the City Council address critical upcoming property development issues that will shape our future. I am also/alternatively interested in continuing to serve on the Park & Recreation Commission because I would like to keep building on our recent successes and improving our parks and facilities consistent with our Master Plan and the City’s General Plan.
In my current role as in-house legal counsel for a tech company, I've honed my analytical and problem-solving skills. I advise our executives on how to navigate complex issues and find creative solutions to problems. I also have experience working on high-stakes matters with multiple stakeholders, resolving conflicts and building consensus. These skills lend themselves to serving on Commissions—like the Planning Commission—which hears hotly contested issues in our City like the Northgate Mall Redevelopment Project and others.
As the current Vice Chair of the Park & Recreation Commission, I've also developed valuable experience with community engagement, project analysis, and generally how to compliantly and efficiently carry out Board meetings for the benefit of the public. I previously served as an alternate on the Citywide Park and Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee, which assessed infrastructure, prioritized new projects and funding allocations, and created a roadmap and vision for the future of our Park and Recreation Department. I am proud of the work our Parks Department has done: like providing new playgrounds for the next generation of families starting in San Rafael; and the Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project, which was years in the making. I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with residents, learning about their issues and concerns directly, fostering inclusive dialogue, and promoting our parks and facilities to improve the lives of those in our community.
If selected for the privilege of serving on the Planning Commission or Park & Recreation Commission, my priorities will remain focused on open communication, transparency, and ensuring that our planning and development processes reflect the needs and values of our community. I also will prioritize fostering economic development, protecting our beautiful parks and open spaces for the benefit of local businesses and residents, and safeguarding property values and our quality of life.
I hope to continue to contribute to San Rafael's success on either the Planning Commission or Park & Recreation Commission. Thank you for your consideration.
Q22
Describe possible areas in which you may have a conflict of interest with the City:
I do not have a conflict.
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
4 / 4
Q23
Upload your resume.
Robert%20Sandoval%20Resume.pdf (139.2KB)
Q24
Ethnicity / Raza/etnia:
Q25
To which gender do you most identify?¿Con qué género se identifica más?
Q26
How old are you?¿Cuántos años tienes?
Robert Sandoval
www.linkedin.com/in/rssandoval •
EDUCATION
The University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, IL
Juris Doctor, June 2016
Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford, CA
Cert., Summer Institute of General Management, Summer 2013 Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, Majors: Politics, Economics; Minor: Classical Studies, May 2013
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Kraken, San Francisco, CA
Legal Counsel, 2023 – Present
• Advise business executives, product, compliance, and other teams on a wide variety of commercial legal issues, employee and HR disputes, client and business litigation, and financial regulatory issues Morrison & Foerster LLP, San Francisco, CA
Senior Associate, Litigation, 2019 – 2023
• Advise a range of business and tech companies on contractual disputes, complex class actions, and consumer and privacy regulatory compliance
• Lead teams in litigation as the senior associate coordinating case strategy and executing client goals Secondment: Meta, Lead Counsel, Product - News Feed, May 2021 – February 2022 o Counseled News Feed product and cross-functional teams on consumer and privacy law issues UC Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, CA
Adjunct Professor, Fall 2021
• Taught Legal Research and Writing to first year law students United States District Court, Northern District of California, San Francisco, CA Judicial Law Clerk to The Hon. William H. Orrick and The Hon. Richard Seeborg, 2018 – 2019 • Managed dockets for two Judges simultaneously across many areas of law, including commercial disputes, product class actions, privacy, securities, and cryptocurrency California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, San Francisco, CA Honors Deputy Attorney General, Civil Division, 2016 – 2018 • Represented California employees, agencies, and departments in all aspects of civil litigation • Received the Attorney General’s Team Award for contributions to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Litigation.
VOLUNTEER AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
San Rafael Park & Recreation Commission, San Rafael, CA Vice Chair, Commissioner, 2020-Present
Master Plan Steering Committee, 2021-2023
San Rafael Public Art Review Board, San Rafael, CA
Member, 2022-Present
Point San Pedro Road Coalition, San Rafael, CA
Board Member, 2024-Present
Chair, Roadway Committee, 2023-Present
San Francisco La Raza Lawyers’ Association, San Francisco, CA Board of Directors, 2017-2021
Aim High, San Francisco, CA
Young Leaders Board Member, 2017-19
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
1 / 3
Q1
Contact Information / Información del contacto
First and Last Name / Nombre y Apellido Susanne Berg
Address / Dirección
City / Ciudad San Rafael
State / estado CA
ZIP/Postal Code / Código postal 94901
Email Address / Dirección de correo electrónico
Phone Number / Número de teléfono
Q2
What district do you currently live in?¿En qué distrito vive actualmente?
District 2/Western / Distrito 2/Oeste
Q3
How long have you lived in San Rafael?
2 years
Q4
Business Information
Respondent skipped this question
Q5
How did you hear about this vacant position?
Other (please specify):
City of San Rafael website
Q6
What Board would you like to apply to?¿A cuál te gustaría aplicar?
Park and Recreation Commission
#75
COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Thursday, July 25, 2024 7:23:30 PM
Last Modified: Thursday, July 25, 2024 7:36:39 PM
Time Spent: 00:13:09
IP Address: 76.253.12.10
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
2 / 3
Q18
Do you participate in any civic activities? If so, what are they? I do not currently participate in any civic activities
Q19
List any civic organizations of which you are a member:
Board Member, BuildChange, the global leader in systems change for resilient housing.
Q20
Education:
JD, Berkley Law (2004)
BA, University of the Pacific (1998)
Q21
Why are you interested in serving on a board or commission? I am interested in serving on the Parks and Recreation Commission as I have a four year-old son and we love taking advantage of all parks/playgrounds in San Rafael as well as the activities that the Rec center offers. My son will be entering Parkside this fall and will likely continue there for after-care once he enters kindergarten. I want to be able to give back to the City and also be a voice for those with young families and grown adults who rely on the services of the Park and Rec community.
Q22
Describe possible areas in which you may have a conflict of interest with the City:
N/A
Q23
Upload your resume.
%20Susie%20Berg%20Resume%202024%20.pdf (178.6KB)
Boards, Commissions & Committees Application
3 / 3
Q24
Ethnicity / Raza/etnia:
Q25
To which gender do you most identify?¿Con qué género se identifica más?
Q26
How old are you?¿Cuántos años tienes?
SUSANNE BERG, ESQ
San Rafael, CA 94109
linkedin.com/in/bergsusie
PRODUCT & SAAS COUNSEL | OPERATIONS PARTNER
Commercial attorney who enjoys working in a dynamic legal department. Experience working with C-suites and stakeholders on complex business deals, managing litigation and product development.
Career at a glance:
• Counseling 10+ product teams (e.g., payments, AI, e-commerce) on new products, product improvements, and compliance.
• Building and leading corporate teams of up to 5, and volunteer teams of up to 50. Also, experienced as nonprofit board president managing a 2,000-member organization. • Collaborating with 3- to 25-member teams, including commercial, product, engineering, finance, marketing, compliance, privacy, security governance, customer service, and regulatory. Additional experience establishing and managing relationships with external counsel.
• Serving as litigation counsel on 25+ matters and managing litigation on 125+ additional cases. • Managing operating budgets up to $925K.
• Structuring and negotiating 200+ commercial contracts and deals including strategic partnerships, payment processing, financings, and corporate transactions, as well as acquisitions and divestitures.
EXPERIENCE:
AUTODESK INC.
San Francisco, CA
Director & Senior Corporate Counsel | Digital Platform, E-commerce & Experiences Aug 2019 to present
Recruited to serve as global lead counsel for the Autodesk digital experience. Reporting to Assistant General Counsel. • Digital Platform, E-commerce & Experiences: Appointed as business and legal advisor for Autodesk’s .com properties, helping open new growth pathways and enhancing customer experiences as digital business growth exceeded 30% YoY over 4 years.
- E-commerce & Go-to-Market Experiences: Appointed as legal business partner to 570-person operating division’s Chief Technologist and 14 direct reports—advising on issues in EMEA, APAC, and Americas.
Matters impact Autodesk.com e-commerce and go-to-market experiences, including 20+ marketing campaigns and promotions (e.g., email, telemarketing, contests); 2 new business models (e.g., subscription tokens); customer T&C / disclosures; community forum user rules (e.g., brand advocate policies). - Artificial Intelligence Product Counseling: Supported General AI considerations (e.g., consumer trust, IP, data privacy, security) related to product launch of employee- and customer-facing chatbots. Member of AI center of excellence and responsible reviewing proposed POC involving AI. - International e-Store Restructuring & Payments: Collaborated with 15-member e-commerce product team in restructuring 3 international e-Stores from vendor- to in-house management.
Included launching 5 international payments methods (e.g., credit cards, alternative payments, wire transfers)—negotiating multimillion-dollar payment vendor agreements (e.g., buy-now-later financing, data analytics) and ensuring regulatory compliance (e.g., SEPA, ACH, PCI) across 6 countries. - Website Accessibility: Served as point person for website compliance under the Americans With Disabilities Act, and conducted ADA training for 30-attendee conference breakout. • Social Responsibility: Co-founded 7-member Pro Bono Legal Committee to deliver global pro bono legal work, presently serving clients in 4 countries on immigration, LGBTQ+, and homelessness matters. Awarded “Partner in Justice” by Legal Aid of Marin. Includes partnership development with 8 law firms and non-profits. • Legal Summit Management: Led development and day-of operations for 110-attendee legal summit, hosted in Napa (Feb 14-17th, 2023). Included theme naming (“Defying Gravity”), planning and acquisiton of 8 executive level speakers, and team building planning, as well as event planner vendor selection and management.
YAPSTONE HOLDINGS
Walnut Creek, CA
Senior Legal Counsel
2016 to 2019
Recruited by GC to support 10-member commercial / product legal team as part of Series C company that powered payments for residential rental partners and one of the world’s top vacation marketplaces. Reporting to AGC. • Commercial Contracts: Worked closely with C-Suite in negotiating and drafting 20+ complex commercial deals, including a $15M PSA and a $35M cash-stock deal. Conducted due diligence on a potential fintech acquisition.
• Privacy Counsel: Led 2 core data protection initiatives, including workflows and terms necessary for compliance with GDPR and privacy shield
• Product Counseling: Advised the CTO, Chief Privacy Officer, and Office of the PMO on 5 bespoke fintech products and feature enhancements.
• Marketing Counseling: Appointed by GC to support 6-member marketing team, ensuring collateral compliance with UDAAP laws.
OVO COSMICO, INC. DBA BTCJAM
San Francisco, CA
In-House Counsel
2015 to 2016
Hired by Series A start-up to provide counsel across all aspects of legal and compliance issues relating to international peer-to-peer Bitcoin lending. Managed operations in COO’s absence, including HR, payroll, insurance, corporate governance matters, and records. Reported to COO and CEO, respectively. • Litigation Management: Acted as litigation counsel for master services agreement breach, resulting in advantageous settlement agreement with a Fortune 50 company. • Regulatory Strategic Planning: Created and implemented legal roadmap addressing regulatory issues including SEC, money transmission, and consumer lending. • Bitcoin Licensing Lead: Authored and project managed licensing application and process.
HERO CITY at DRAPER UNIVERSITY
San Mateo, CA
Managing Director
2013 to 2015
Hired to lead strategic direction and manage property / incubator operations serving 16 companies and 5 venture capital firms for 50,000 square foot co-working facility. Reported to the COO.
PARK TREE INVESTMENTS, LLC
San Francisco, CA
In-House Counsel and Chief of Staff
2009 to 2013
Managed legal and operational matters for a boutique hedge fund with mortgage and real property assets in 36 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Reported to the CEO, and led in his absence.
Legal Counsel:
• Compliance: Launched and managed 4-member loss mitigation team in Canton, OH, ensuring compliance with Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, Truth-in-Lending-Act and licensing requirements. • Acquisition Management: Directed 4-member due diligence team on title underwriting, and property valuation. Helped negotiate and draft buy- and sell-side note sale agreements. • Transactions & Litigation Matters: Oversaw national network of 50+ foreclosure attorneys; drafted loan modifications and agreements (transfer, purchase / sale, operating), promissory notes and documents for recordation. Managed contested foreclosures, title claims, and bankruptcies.
Operations:
• Revenue Growth & Portfolio Performance: Helped raise $12M in capital and managed $26M in mortgage assets as firm grew from 2 to 8 employees and 12 investors. Included growth from $0 to $3.2M (2009-2012) and portfolio performance increase from 73% to 43% default rate. • Policy & Procedures Development: Authored 60-page process and procedures manual and employee handbook, and researched / established new benefits and administration policy.
LAW OFFICES of SUSANNE BERG
San Francisco, CA
Attorney
2005 to 2009
BINGHAM MCCUTCHEN
Walnut Creek, CA
Associate
2004 to 2005
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
San Jose, CA
Government Affairs Coordinator
2000 to 2001
CALIFORNIANS for GRAY DAVIS
San Francisco and Sacramento, CA
Deputy Finance Director (fundraising)
1998 to 2000
EDUCATION:
U.C. Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2004 University of the Pacific, Bachelor of Arts, English, 1998 – with honors CIPP/US and CIPP/E, 2017 & 2018
California State Bar, 2005
Park and Recreation Commission Bylaws
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION BYLAWS
ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1.1. Name. The name of this body shall be the City of San Rafael Park and Recreation Commission, hereinafter referred to as the “Commission.” Section 1.2. Purpose. The purpose of the Commission is to assist the City Council in developing and implementing the long-range plans for City parks and recreation facilities; monitor current service levels and community needs; review the performance of City partnerships with community groups in the utilization of facilities and production of programs; and review and advise on general policies and procedures in the delivery of park, recreation, child care and cultural services.
Section 1.3. Committee Responsibility. The Commission’s authority is advisory only.
The Commission has no power to act on behalf of the City of San Rafael or any other entity.
Subject to the direction and control of the City Council, as provided in Section 2.04.030 of the San Rafael Municipal Code, the powers and duties of the Commission shall be:
1. To assist in the preparation and adoption of a review annually and revise as necessary a long-range plan for parks including neighborhood parks, communitywide parks, special use facilities and open space lands;
2. To focus public attention upon the need for adequate parks and healthful and creative year-round supervised recreation for all age groups;
3. To assist in promoting the public recreation programs;
4. To solicit to the fullest extent possible the cooperation of school authorities and other public and private agencies interested therein;
5. To assist the Parks and Recreation Director in establishing general policies and procedures in respect to park usage;
6. To receive periodic reports from the department head concerning the general operations and functions of the department;
To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the council.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP
Section 2.1. Number of Members. The Commission shall consist of five (5) members, one of whom may be a Councilmember.
Park and Recreation Commission Bylaws
Section 2.2. Eligibility. Committee members shall reside in City limits.
Section 2.3. Term Limits. Members of the Committee shall be limited to two (2) consecutive four-year terms. Additional terms may be served if there is a break between terms.
Section 2.4. Absence and Removal. An unexcused absence from two (2) consecutive Commission meetings without notification to the Staff Liaison shall be considered a voluntary resignation from the Commission. Previously dismissed Commission members may be eligible for reappointment to the Commission.
Section 2.5. Compensation. Commissioners shall serve without compensation.
ARTICLE III. MEETINGS
Section 3.1. Time and date of Regular Meeting. Notification of meeting place, date, and time shall be rendered to the public through posting on the City of San Rafael website.
The Commission shall meet once per month, on a consistent day of the month, and shall be scheduled annually. The schedule for the upcoming year will be set by December of the previous year.