TO:City Council
FROM:David Newman, Mayor
DATE:April 29, 2025
SUBJECT: Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Committee Appointment
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the appointment of Wilfred Garrand to serve as the City’s representative to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Committee to fill an unscheduled vacancy for a term ending September 2026.
2. Find that this action is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Minimal staff time for costs associated with coordinating interviews, appointments, and preparing support materials, is included in the Adopted FY 2024-25 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) was established by the California State Legislature in 1980. Through direct action, alliances, partnerships, and joint powers authorities, the SMMC's mission is to strategically acquire, preserve, protect, restore, and enhance natural lands in Southern California to form an interlinking system of urban, rural and river parks, open space, trails, and wildlife habitats that are easily accessible to the general public.
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Committee (SMMCAC) is a 26-person committee comprised of 17 representatives of cities and counties within or near the Santa Monica Mountains, six public members, and three representatives from regional park districts within the Santa Monica Mountains.
The SMMCAC provides input to the Board of Directors of the SMMC on issues related to open space preservation and acquisition.
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Committee Appointment April 29, 2025
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The Thousand Oaks City Council appoints one resident to represent the City and serve a two-year term on the SMMCAC.
The SMMCAC meets jointly with the SMMC Board of Directors. The basic duty of a SMMCAC member is to deliberate and vote on each item presented to the Advisory Committee and pass that recommendation on to the Conservancy Board during the joint meeting. When there is an item on the SMMC agenda that is relevant to the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA), or the City, the COSCA Administrator and City staff coordinate with the City’s representative to the SMMCAC to discuss how the City/COSCA should be represented in discussions.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
An open application period for one scheduled vacancy opened on July 9, 2024, and closed on August 8, 2024. Five applications were received. Per established procedure, candidate interviews were conducted by an interview committee comprised of one City Councilmember and one City staff member. Committee members were Mayor David Newman and COSCA Administrator Brian Stark. Five interviews were conducted on August 29, 2024. Upon completion of the interviews and careful consideration of all the applications, Kat Selm was reappointed to serve as the City’s representative to the SMMCAC.
Kat Selm has resigned her position on the SMMCAC to serve on another City Committee. Wilfred Garand was the runner up for the original appointment and has agreed to serve on the Committee to complete the current committee term ending in September of 2026. The recommended appointment application is attached (Attachment #1).
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
E. Complete ring of open space around the City; Protect and preserve ridgelines, natural habitat, and designated open space areas.
H. Participate in public-private and multi-jurisdictional opportunities to ensure residents have access to high levels of parks, recreation, education and leisure programs and services.
PREPARED BY: Brian Stark, COSCA Administrator
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – SMMCAC Application
CMO: 110-20\KM\H:COMMON\Council Items\2025 Staff Reports\042925\042925 SMMCAC Appt Staff Report.docx