30/03-24
CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
April 15, 2024
TO: City Council
FROM: Office of the City Manager
SUBJECT: SELECTION OF ONE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO SERVE ON A
SELECTION COMMITTEE WITH A CONTINUING ARTS
COMMISSIONER TO INTERVIEW AND NOMINATE PROSPECTIVE SIMI
VALLEY ARTS COMMISSIONERS
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council select one City Council Member to serve on a selection c ommittee with a continuing Arts Commissioner to interview and nominate prospective Simi Valley Arts Commissioners.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
The terms of service for t hree City Council-appointed public members of the Simi Valley Arts Commission (Commission) will conclude on June 30, 202 4. The City Council regularly appoints public members to the Commission to fill vacant positions. Staff is requesting that the City Council select one City Council Member to interview and nominate prospective Simi Valley Arts Commissioners with terms commencing July 1 , 2024, and concluding on June 30, 2026 . Council Member Litster last served in this capacity in May of 2023.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
At the February 26, 2020 , meeting, the Commission approved a motion for the City Council to consider having one City Council member and one continuing Commission public member serve on the selection committee to interview the Commission applicants.
This would allow a continuing public mem ber of the Commission to have input on the selection of incoming Arts Commissioners.
The Commission is responsible for promoting greater public participation in, and access to, arts and culture; exploring alternate sources of arts and culture funding; planning arts programs and events; developing a master cultural plan; applying for grants; reviewing the annual financial and operational plans for the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center ; and reinforcing the arts as a vital, integral, and necessary component of life for all members of the community. Membership on the Commission is comprised of eight members: two City Council Members, five City Council-appointed public members, and one Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation Board of Director. All public members serve staggered two-year terms of office. Arts Commission members may serve two consecutive terms AGENDA ITEM NO.
3(A)2
2 30/03-24
and may serve additional terms provided 12 months have lapsed between appointments beyond two consecutive terms.
The City initiated a recruitment on February 9, 202 4, to solicit applications for the upcoming vacancies. The deadline for applications was March 15, 2024, at 5:30 p.m .
Recruitment efforts included a press release, cable television public service announcements, shares on social media, and postings on the City's website. Orientations for prospective applicants were held on March 26, 2024, March 28, 2024 , and April 2, 2024. A total of eight (8) applications were received and all applicants attended an orientation. Therefore, it is estimated that approximately one and one-half hours will be needed to conduct the interviews. Staff is recommending that the City Council select one City Council Member to serve with a continuing Arts Commissioner to interview and nominate applicants for the Commission for appointment by the City Council.
The following alternatives are available to the City Council:
1. Select one City Council M ember to serve on a selection committee with a continuing Arts Commissioner to interview and nominate prospective Simi Valley Arts Commissioners;
2. Provide staff with other direction.
Staff recommends Alternative No. 1.
SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
I move to select [Council Member name ] to serve on a selection c ommittee with a continuing Arts Commissioner to interview and nominate prospective Simi Valley Arts Commissioners for the upcoming vacancies.
SUMMARY
The terms of service for three City Council-appointed public members of the Commission will conclude on June 30, 2024. The City initiated a recruitment on February 9, 2024, to solicit applications for the upcoming vacancies. The deadline for applications was March 15, 2024, at 5:30 p.m . A total of eight (8) applications were received and all applicants attended an orientation. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council select one City Council Member to serve on a selection committee with a continuing Arts Commissioner to interview and nominate prospective Simi Valley Arts Commissioners.
____________________________________
Linda Swan
Assistant City Manager
Prepared by: Anna M. Medina, Deputy Community Services Director