CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
Febr
uary 27, 2023
TO: Cit
y Council
FR
OM: Department of Environmental Services
SUBJ
ECT: APPOINTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL EXECUTIVE BOARD
MEMBERS TO THE FOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve, and the Mayor appoint, 15 applicants nominated to serve on the Executive Boards of the four Neighborhood Councils for a term commencing on March 1, 2023, and expiring on February 28, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
The City’s Neighborhood Councils were established in 1970 to promote citizen awareness and participation in local government. The Simi Valley Municipal Code calls for the City Council to appoint a minimum of seven and a maximum of 13 members to each Neighborhood Council Executive Board. The Municipal Code further states that Executive Board members serve 24-month staggered terms, with regular appointments occurring every eight months. The nex t term is scheduled to commence on March 1, 2023.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
Recruitment to fill 16 vacant seats began on October 3, 2022. There are four vacancies on each of the four Neighborhood Councils. The recruitment concluded on October 28, 2022.
On January 9, 2023, the City Council appointed Mayor Thomas and Mayor Pro Tem Judge to serve on an Interview Subcommittee for Neighborhood Councils 1 and 3, and Council Member Litster and Council Member Rhodes to serve on an Interview Subcommittee for Neighborhood Councils 2 and 4.
On January 30, 2023, Mayor Thomas and Mayor Pro Tem Judge interviewed seven applicants for Neighborhood Councils 1 and 3 and nominated seven for appointment. On February 6 and 14, 2023, Co uncil Member Litster and Council Member Rhodes interviewed nine applicants for Neighborhood Councils 2 and 4 and nominated eight for
appointment.
The names of the nominees are detailed in Table 1, page 2, and their applications are included as Attachment A on page 3.
ApptNCccmtg2-27-23(klk)
AGENDA ITEM NO.
3A(1)
ApptNCccmtg2-27-23(klk)
Table 1
Neighborhood
Council 1
Neighborhood
Council 2
Neighborhood
Council 3
Neighborhood
Council 4
Alan Mann Sam Cohen Rachel Bystrom Tracy Bodis
Todd Taylor Jerry Placeres Cintia Gallo Don Diamond
Carol Thomaier Satish Shah Fred Peterson Holly Harpham
Kevin Yablan Pete Stong Vacant* Amber Powell
A total of seven applications were received for the four vacancies on Neighborhood Council 3. However, prior to interviews, four of the seven applicants either requested to be transferred to the next recruitment or did not attend a mandatory orientation. This left only three applicants to fill four vacancies.
The following alternatives are available to the City
Council:
1. A
pprove, and the Mayor appoint, 15 applicants nominated to serve on the Executive Boards of the four Neighborhood Councils for a term commencing on March 1, 2023, and expiring on February 28, 2025;
2. P
rovide staff with alternative direction.
S
taff recommends Alternative No. 1.
SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
I mo
ve to approve, and for the Mayor to appoint, 15 applicants nominated to serve on the Executive Boards of the four Neighborhood Councils for a term commencing on March 1, 2023 and expiring on February 28, 2025.
SUMMARY
O
n January 30, 2023, Mayor Thomas and Mayor Pro Tem Judge interviewed seven applicants for Neighborhood Councils 1 and 3 and nominated seven for appointment. On February 6 and 14, 2023, Council Member Litster and Council Member Rhodes interviewed nine applicants for Neighborhood Councils 2 and 4 and nominated eight for appointment.
___
_________________________________
Stratis Perros
Environmental Services Director
P
repared by: Emily Habib, Community Services Coordinator INDEX Page
A
ttachment A .................................................................................... 3 2 ATTACHMENT A
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 10
11 12
13 14
15 16
17 18
19 20
21 22
23 24
25 26
27 28
29 30
31 32
33 34
35 36
37