COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Donna G, Schwartz, Chief Deputy City Clerk
DATE: September 16, 2025
SUBJECT: Appointment to the Recreation and Parks Commission
Description:
The City Council will consider making an appointment to the Recreation and Parks Commission.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recreation and Parks Commission
Councilmember Soto will have the opportunity to make an appointment for an unexpired term ending January 2027.
Unexpired term ending January 2027: Nomination to be made by:
Vacant Councilmember Soto
New Applications:
Geoffrey Wheeler
Charles Provencio
Yolanda Zamora
Araceli Gaspar
Floyd Watson II
Attendance Reporting:
Members of the City’s Boards, Commissions, and Committees serve an important role in advising staff and the City Council on matters that affect policy and issues that affect the future of the community; therefore, Members’ attendance is key to the work these Boards, Commissions, and Committees perform. Members serve in their capacity as Members at the pleasure of the City Council pursuant to Santa Maria Municipal Code (SMMC) Section 2-16.02. As established by SMMC 2 -16.01, Members are required to attend mee tings regularly and not miss 25 percent of the regular meetings in a calendar year, or they would be deemed to have resigned upon acceptance by the City Council. While the Municipal Code focuses on the Planning Commission, Recreation and Parks Commission, Board of Appeals, and Library Board, it is the expectation that all City 2 Boards and Committee Members participate and attend meetings in the same manner as those Boards, Commissions, and Committees defined in the Municipal Code.
BACKGROUND:
Members of the Recreation and Parks Commission are required by the Political Reform Act (Govt. Code Section 81000 -91014), and the City’s Conflict of Interest Code, to file Statements of Economic Interest, Form 700, disclosing personal assets and income within 30 days of appointment, annually thereafter, and upon leaving office. Board Members must also disqualify themselves from participating in decisions which may affect their personal economic interests. Statements of Economic Interests are public documents and may b e inspected by any member of the public and copied if requested. The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) is the State agency which interprets the law’s provisions.
Copies of applications may be obtained from the City Clerk's office upon request.
Alternative(s)
A Councilmember could decide to withhold their nomination to a Board, Commission, or Committee until such time as additional applications can be received or there is sufficient opportunity for the Councilmember to contact the existing applicant(s) to be considered for nomination.
Impact on the Community
Having members of the public serve on the City’s Advisory Bodies provides a positive impact to the community, enabling the city to obtain input from all segments of the community and ensures that the community receives information regarding the activities of the City’s Boards, Committees, and Commissions.