CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Meeting Date: February 7, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Planning Department and City Administration
Subject: Consideration of Appointment to Vacancies on the Climate Action Committee and Direction regarding recruitment
Recommendation : That the Mayor and City Council Make Appointments following Interviews and provide direction regarding additional recruitment
Funding: Currently Budgeted: _______ Yes _________ No __X___ N/A Net General Fund Cost: N/A
Amount: $0
Account Code/Costs authorized in City Approved Budget (if applicable) __AK_______ (verified by Administrative Services Department) INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: This item is to request that the Mayor and City Council make appointments for Open Positions on the Climate Action Committee.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council earlier in the evening conducted interviews with the following individuals for the Climate Action Committee (CAC):
Name of Applicant Category Applied For
Josho Somine (Ecological background)
Woody Hastings (Climate Action or other climate group)
Alex Goodman (Climate Action or other climate group)
Gerry Glaser (Climate/sustainability background)
DISCUSSION:
The Council is asked to consider an appointment for the above vacancies on the Climate Action Committee based on the interviews conducted earlier in the evening, or the City Council could consider re-posting the opening(s) for future Council interview/appointment. Appointment(s) are for two years and the term ending date for appointment(s) made tonight will be December 3I, 2024.
The member terms which ended on December 31, 2022 include:
Josho Somine (Ecological background)
Woody Hastings (Climate Action or other climate group)
Alex Goodman (Climate Action or other climate group)
Gerry Glaser (Climate/sustainability background)
Vacant Youth Position (1 of 2 youth positions)
Agenda Item 9 Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting of February 7th, 2023
Current Committee composition (with open positions highlighted) Additional Open Positions/Discussion of Additional Recruitment In addition to appointments for the positions open as of November 2022, the CAC and staff are requesting the Council provide direction on the following:
Business owner representative -- The current business owner representative, Deborah Burnes, is remaining on the Committee. However she would like to transition to being the Planning Commission’s representative rather than the business owner representative based on planning commission discussions. Therefore, an additional business owner representative is desired. No applications for this position were received in the current recruitment.
Additionally, the second youth member, Argus Brent, recently announced his resignation, so there is an additional youth position available.
The CAC has discussed the vacancies in the Youth position, and are actively recruiting at the high school, and the business owner representative. The City staff has received one application after the recruitment time, and interest from youth. Therefore, staff recommends that, in addition to appointments tonight, that the City readvertise for recruitment for CAC vacancies in the following categories:
Youth representative (2 vacancies)
Business representative (1 vacancy)
Environmental Justice (1 vacancy)
These recruitments could be either a standard recruitment time (6 weeks with potential 2-week extension if needed) or ‘until filled’. If ‘until filled’, the vacancies would be listed on the City’s website and any applications would be referred to the Council upon receipt for interviews and potential appointment. This could also assist with the Environmental justice position, which has never been filled, and the youth positions, which often experience vacancies due to students graduating/leaving the area for college, etc.
Committee Members Role Term End
Gerald Glaser Climate/Sustainability Background 12/31/2022 Alex Goodman Climate Action group 12/31/2022
Dena Allen Climate Action group 12/31/2023
Josho Somine Ecological Background 12/31/2022
Kenna Lee Climate Background 12/31/2023
Liselotte (Lisa) Pierce Climate Action group 12/31/2023 Sunali Shanti Sikand Rights of Nature 12/31/2023
Woody Hastings Climate Action and expertise 12/31/2022
VACANT Env Justice Representative 12/31/2024
VACANT Youth Representative 12/31/2023
Argus Brent Youth Representative 12/31/2023
Ambrosia Thomson Zero Waste/Recology expert 12/31/2023
Deborah Burnes / RECRUITING **see notes Business Owner Representative 12/31/2023 Evert Fernandez / Deborah Burnes** see notes Planning Commission liaison as assigned Diana Rich, Councilmember Council Zero Waste liaison as assigned Council SCTA/RCPA liaison *Being modified
*As assigned - terms coincide with assignment
from Council/Commission
Agenda Item 9 Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting of February 7th, 2023
GOALS:
This action supports the following City Council Goals:
Goal 5 - Provide Open and Responsive Municipal Government Leadership, including Goal 5.1.4 Enhance the use of the City of Sebastopol Committees, Commissions and Boards.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
As of the writing of this staff report, the City has not received any public comment. However, staff anticipates receiving public comment from interested parties following the publication and distribution of this staff report.
Such comments will be provided to the City Council as supplemental materials before or at the meeting. In addition, public comments may be offered during the public comment portion of this item.
PUBLIC NOTICE:
This item was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to schedule meeting date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the recommended action tonight.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council make appointments to fill vacancies as listed above. Staff further recommends the Council determine whether to reopen the environmental justices position or leave unfilled at this time. (If re-advertised, staff recommends, based on input from CAC members, that the position be posted as ‘open until filled’.)
Attachments:
None.
Agenda Item 9 Agenda Item Number: 9
City Council Meeting of February 7th, 2023