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CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Appointments to the Civil Service Commission; Cultural Affairs Commission; Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission; Planning Commission; Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles County West Vector and Vector-Borne Disease Control District; Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board; Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness; Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; Disability Advisory Committee; Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee; Fiesta La Ballona Committee; and LAX Area Advisory Committee; (2) Consideration of an Appointment of a Labor Representative to fill a Finance Advisory Committee Labor Seat; (3) Consideration of Approval of the Recommendation for the Culver City Unified School District Representative to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; and (4) Direction to the City Clerk Regarding any Vacancies not Filled.
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Meeting Date: June 26, 2023
Contact Person/Dept: Mimi Ferrel/City Clerk Specialist
Phone Number: (310) 253-5851
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (06/22/2023)
Department Approval: Jesse Mays, Assistant City Manager (06/20/2023)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) make appointments to the Civil Service Commission; Cultural Affairs Commission; Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission; Planning Commission; Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles County West Vector and Vector-Borne Disease Control District; Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board; Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness; Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; Disability Advisory Committee; Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee; Fiesta La Ballona Committee; and LAX Area Advisory Committee; (2) consider the appointment of employee Anissa Di Vincente as the Labor Representative to the Finance Advisory Committee Labor Seat; (3) consider approval of the recommendation for appointment of Greg Maron as the Culver City Unified School District Representative to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; and (3) provide direction to the City Clerk regarding any vacancies not filled.
BACKGROUND
In this application cycle, there were a total of 32 openings across 12 bodies, as follows:
• Civil Service Commission (3 Positions - Seat 1, Seat 4, and Seat 5)
• Cultural Affairs Commission (1 Position - Seat 4)
• Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission (1 Position - Seat 2)
• Planning Commission (1 Position - Seat 1)
• Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles County West Vector and Vector- Borne Disease Control District (1 Position)
• Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board (3 Positions - Tenant Seat 4, Landlord Seat 4, and Member-at-Large Seat 4)
• Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness (2 Positions - Seat 5, Seat 7)
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (3 Positions - 1 Resident Disability Representative, 1 Resident 1, 1 Resident 2)
• Disability Advisory Committee (4 Positions - Seat 3, Seat 7, Seat 8, and Seat 9)
• Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (6 Positions - Seat 1, Seat 3, Seat 5, Seat 7, Youth Rep Seat 1, and Labor Representative Seat 1)
• Fiesta La Ballona Committee (4 Positions - Seat 2, Seat, 3, Seat 4, and Seat 5)
• LAX Area Advisory Committee (3 Positions)
Beginning on April 3, 2023, the City Clerk’s Office publicized the vacancies, as follows:
• Notice was posted on the City’s website starting on April 3, 2023.
• Advertisements were published in the Culver City News on April 6 and 20, and May 4, 2023.
• Notice was sent via e-mail through GovDelivery on April 6, 13, and 26; and May 11, 2023.
• Notice was posted on the social media application NextDoor on April 13, and May 4, and 11, 2023.
• Notice was posted on social media applications Facebook, and Twitter on April 7, 11, 14 and 27; and May 3 and 14, 2023.
• Promoted at the Culver City High School 2023 Spring Career Fair on April 20, 2023.
• Promoted at the Culver City Farmers Market on April 18, and May 2 and 9, 2023.
• Promoted at the 19th Annual Culver City Car Show on May 13, 2023.
• Posted flyers at Culver City High School
• Distributed flyer to West Los Angeles College
• Distributed flyer to YMCA Youth in Government Council
Confirmation of Eligibility Requirements
Upon receipt, the City Clerk’s Office reviewed each application to confirm whether, on the face of the application, applicant met the minimum eligibility requirements.
With respect to commission appointments, the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) provides certain general provisions related to members and those seeking appointment to Commissions. CCMC Section 3.03.005 provides in pertinent part:
“Commissioners shall be residents of the City, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in the City Government. Minors, age sixteen (16) or older, are eligible to apply with parental or legal guardian consent. No person may serve on more than one (1) Commission at the same time.”
Please note, the Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness, Disability Advisory Committee, Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee, Fiesta La Ballona Committee, and the Landlord seat for the Landlord Tenant Mediation Board do not require all applicants to be Culver City residents. Some applicants may be non-residents.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the LAX Area Advisory Committee do not have term limits.
Any seats not filled by the City Council this evening will be advertised again during the next annual cycle, unless City Council determines otherwise, and applications are accepted on a year-round basis.
On June 21, 2023, a Special Meeting of the City Council was held to conduct interviews of all eligible Commission, Board, and Committee applicants. Below, are applicants who withdrew their applications at the Special Meeting:
Joseph Dougherty - Civil Service Commission
Denton Fisch - Civil Service Commission
Blake Hottle - Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
DISCUSSION:
Following are summaries of those who submitted applications. Those applicants with one asterisk (*) applied to multiple bodies. Those current appointees reapplying for their respective position will have “(Current Member)” next to their names.
It should be noted that there were several applicants for bodies that require Culver City residency who did not meet this requirement. Those individuals received e-mails or phone calls from the City Clerk’s Office indicating that they were not eligible for appointment.
Seat Vacancies:
Civil Service Commission (CSC) - There are three positions available Seat No. 1, Seat No. 4, and Seat No. 5. Seat No. 1 is available for a full term, is currently held by member Sal LaPardo, who has served a partial term, is eligible for re-appointment, and has applied to be considered for re-appointment for a four-year term ending on June 30, 2027. Seat No. 4 is available for a full term, is currently held by member Michele Van Gelderen, who has served a partial term, is eligible for re-appointment, and has applied to be considered for re-appointment for a four-year term ending on June 30, 2027. Seat No. 5 is available for a full term ending on June 30, 2027, is currently held by member Stewart Bubar who did not reapply for a second term.
A total of six (6) eligible applications were received from:
Jocelyn Chavez* (District, CSC, CAC)
Hilton Creve
Joseph Dougherty
Sal LaPardo (Current Member)
Peter Stern
Michele Van Gelderen (Current Member)
Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC) - There is one position available Seat No.4 for a full term through June 30, 2027 and is currently held by member Tania Fleischer. Tania Fleischer has served a partial term and a full term, is eligible for a second full term, and has applied to be considered for re-appointment.
A total of three (3) eligible applications were received from:
Jocelyn Chavez* (District, CSC, CAC)
Denton Fisch* (CAC, PRCS)
Tania Fleischer (Current Member)
Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission (PRCS) - There is one position available Seat No. 2 for a full term through June 30, 2027 and is currently held by member Scott Zeidman, who has served two full terms and, as per the Culver City Municipal Code § 3.03.015 (Term Limits), has reached his term limit.
Five (5) eligible applications were received from:
Crystal Alexander
Denton Fisch* (CAC, PRCS)
Howard Jacobowitz
Margaret Peters
Blake Silvers
Planning Commission (Planning) - There is one position available Seat No. 1 for a full term through June 30, 2027 and is currently held by member Ed Ogosta, who has served two full terms and, as per the Culver City Municipal Code § 3.03.015 (Term Limits), has reached his term limit.
A total of four (4) eligible applications were received from:
Jackson Brissette* (LTMB, FLB, PC)
Andrew Flores
Darrel Menthe
Karim Sahli* (PC, BPAC, FLB)
Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles County West Vector and Vector-Borne Disease Control District - There is one position that is appointed to the outside body. Appointment is considered during the annual process for position which serves a January-December calendar year. Jay Garacochea currently serves as the City’s representative, is eligible for re-appointment, and has applied to be considered for re-appointment. Please note that Mr. Garacochea has been appointed annually. However, according to the California Health and Safety Code, Executive Director of the Board, Aaron Arugay, has relayed that the term of office for a Member of the Board of Trustees shall be for a term of two or four years, at the discretion of the appointing authority and that cities mostly reappoint their Trustee to a two-year term. In addition to making the appointment to the Trustee seat, City Council should also provide direction as to whether it wishes to appoint the Trustee to a two-year or four-year term.
A total of two (2) applications were received from:
Jocelyn Chavez* (District, CSC, CAC)
Jay Garacochea (Current Member)
Landlord Tenant Mediation Board (LTMB) - Three seats are available for appointment to full terms. The Tenant 4, Landlord 4, and Member At-Large 4 seats are each for a term of four years, expiring on June 30, 2027.
Tenant Members shall be tenants of residential rental property located within the City of Culver City, and neither the applicant nor the applicant’s spouse or dependents shall have any financial interest in residential income-producing property in Culver City. Landlord Representatives shall either own, manage, or have residential income property interest within Culver City and preferably be residents of Culver City. Members At-Large shall be residents of Culver City and shall not be tenants nor shall they own or have an ownership interest in any residential income-producing property in Culver City.
Tenant Seat No. 4 - One seat is available for appointment. This seat was held by Selena Cuffe who resigned on August 21, 2022. Seat No. 4 is available for a full term expiring on June 30, 2027.
A total of one (1) eligible application was received from:
Wyatt Gray
Landlord Seat No. 4 - One seat is available for appointment. This seat is currently held by member Gary Duboff who has served a partial term and one full-term on the board, is eligible for re-appointment, and has applied to be considered for re-appointment.
A total of three (3) eligible applications were received from:
Gary Duboff (Current Member)
Debi Lee
Miles Millstone
Member At-Large Seat No. 4 - One seat is available for appointment. This seat is currently held by member Janice Ginther who did not reapply.
A total of one (1) eligible application was received from:
Jackson Brissette* (LTMB, FLB, PC)
Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness (ACOHH) - There are two positions available Seat No.5 and Seat No. 7. Seat No. 5 is available for a full term through June 30, 2027. This seat is currently held by member Bubba Fish who has served a full term, is eligible for re-appointment, and has applied to be considered for re-appointment. Seat No. 7 was held by Lizbeth Mendez who resigned on December 18, 2022. This seat is available for a full-term expiring on June 30, 2026.
A total of nineteen (19) applications were received from:
( NR Denotes Non Culver City Resident)
Keeshawn Andrew
Jeanne Black
Manya Boyd NR
Daniel Burnett
Franklin Carvajal
Vincent Ciano NR
Jonathon Dilworth
Bubba Fish (Current Member)
Robert Gagnier
Eunice Joshua Clarke
Matrecha Mcqueen
Jonathan Melvin
Sunyoung (sunny) Pae
Carol Sales
Haimanot Shimeles NR
Robert D. Smith NR
Ketsha Thompson NR* (ACOHH, DAC)
Cassandra Young NR
Robert Zirgulis
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) - No Term Limits
A total of three positions are available - Resident Disability Representative, Resident 1, and Resident 2 are for two-year terms that expire on June 30, 2025. The Resident Disability Representative seat is currently held by Robyn Tenensap who has been a member for 3 terms, is eligible for reappointment and has applied. The Resident 1 seat is currently held by member Art Nomura who did not reapply. The Resident 2 seat was held by Zirwat Chowdhury who resigned on March 24, 2023 and the seat would be for a two-year term.
To be eligible, Resident positions must be residents of Culver City.
A total of six (6) eligible applications were received from the following individuals.
Joel Falter (Resident Position)
Jack Galanty (Resident Disability Representative)
Edward Rudolph (Resident Position)
Dorothy Sadd (Resident Position)
Karim Sahli* (Resident Position) (PC, BPAC, FLB)
Robyn Tenensap (Resident Disability Representative) (Current Member)
There is one position available for the Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD) Representative Seat. The CCUSD Representative is selected by the Culver City Unified School District (by either the Board of Education or the Superintendent’s Office, as determined by the CCUSD). CCUSD has recommended that Greg Maron be approved as the Culver City Unified School District Representative to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The CCUSD representative position has a term of two years (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2025) and shall be subject to final approval of the City Council.
Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) - A total of four positions are available. There are no term limits for the DAC. Seat Nos. 3, 8, and 9 are available for appointments to full terms ending June 30, 2027. Seat No. 3 is currently held by member Marcy Sookne. Member Sookne served one term, is eligible for re-appointment, and has applied to be considered for re-appointment. Seat No. 8 is currently held by member Carmen Ibarra who did not reapply. Seat No. 9 is currently held by member Janice Goldhaber. Member Goldhaber served one term, is eligible for re-appointment, and has applied to be considered for re-appointment. Seat No. 7 was for forfeited by Jorge Sandoval on September 17, 2022. This seat is available for appointment to a partial term ending June 30, 2024.
A total of six (6) eligible applications were received from:
Janice Goldhaber (Current Member)
Shellena Leftridge
Ifunanyachukwu Nweke* (EHRAC, DAC)
Marcy Sookne (Current Member)
Sean Sullivan
Ketsha Thompson* (ACOHH, DAC)
Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (EHRAC) - There are six positions available. Seat Nos. 1, 3, 5, and 7 are available for appointments to full terms ending June 30, 2027. Seat No. 1 is currently held by member Michelle Dennis who did not reapply. Seat No. 3 is available for a full term, is currently held by member Haifaa Moammar, who has served a full term, is eligible for re-appointment, and has applied to be considered for re-appointment. Seat No. 5 is currently held by member Jared Morgan who did not reapply. Seat No. 7 is available for a full term, is currently held by member London McBride, who has served a full term, is eligible for re-appointment, and has applied to be considered for re-appointment. The Youth Seat appointment is for a one-year term ending on June 30, 2024, is currently held by Raven Bradley who did not reapply. The Labor seat is available for appointment to a full term ending June 30, 2024, is currently held by Anissa Di Vincente, who is opting out of the seat because she was nominated for the Finance Advisory Committee Labor representative seat.
A total of eight (8) eligible applications were received from:
Jezenia Aguirre (Labor Seat)
London McBride (Current Member)
Haifaa Moammar (Current Member)
Dalynna Moser (Labor Seat)
Ayla Moses (Youth Seat)
Ifunanyachukwu Nweke* (EHRAC, DAC)
Denice Renteria
Menelik Tafari
Fiesta la Ballona Committee - This body advises and makes recommendations to the Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department on policies and issues related to the City’s annual Fiesta La Ballona event as defined in the body’s bylaws. Members sit on this committee from November 1- October 31 of each year to allow for the same members to advise from the beginning of the planning through the wrap-up of the event.
There are four positions available (Seats 2, 3, 4, and 5). Seat No. 2 was held by Selena Cuffe who resigned on August 21, 2022. Seat No. 2 is available for a full term expiring on October 31, 2027. Seat No. 3 was held by Lila Swenson who resigned on June 12, 2023. Seat No. 3 is available for a full term expiring on October 31, 2027. Seat No. 4 was held by Colleen Jones who resigned on February 2, 2023. Seat No. 4 is available for a full term expiring on October 31, 2027. Seat No. 5 was held by Andrew Horwitz who resigned on February 12, 2023. This uncompleted term is considered a full term, as it is in excess of two years. It is available for a term expiring on October 31, 2026.
A total of three (3) applications received from:
Jackson Brissette* (LTMB, FLB, PC)
Karim Sahli* (PC, BPAC, FLB)
Samantha Zullo
Finance Advisory Committee (FAC) - There is one position available for the FAC Labor Representative Seat. One of the labor representatives may be from one of the three nonmanagement bargaining groups, and one of the representatives from one of the three management bargaining groups. The current vacant seat is the non-management seat. This seat was held by Alec DeMattos who resigned on April 6, 2023. Specifically, Section II.A.c.i. of the FAC Bylaws states as follows:
One (1) member may be appointed from either the Culver City Employee’s Association, the Culver City Firefighter’s, or the Culver City Police Officer’s Association. The three groups shall reach a consensus and recommend one individual belonging to any of the groups for the initial term. Individuals put forth for City Council approval shall serve a minimum of two years, or as long as a majority of the groups are in agreement. Subsequent appointees may belong to any of the groups and shall be recommended based on majority consensus of the groups for City Council approval.
In accordance with the Bylaws, the bargaining groups have reached consensus to
recommend Anissa Di Vincente as the Labor Representative with no set term limit.
LAX Area Advisory Committee - There are three seats available for appointment. Representative seats are for an outside board (not an official City body). Kevin Klowden, and Luciano Nocera currently serve as the City’s representatives, are eligible for re-appointment, and have submitted applications to be considered for re-appointment. The third seat is currently held by member John Wahlert who did not reapply.
These positions are annually appointed to serve a January-December calendar year.
A total of three (3) eligible applications were received from:
Jorge Alvarez (Currently a member on the DAC)
Kevin Klowden (Current Member)
Luciano Nocera (Current Member)
Redacted copies of the applications are available by request at the City Clerk’s Office and are available on the Commissions, Boards, and Committees website: www.culvercity.org/City-Hall/Boards-Commissions/Apply-Now-to-CBCs <http://www.culvercity.org/City-Hall/Boards-Commissions/Apply-Now-to-CBCs>. Please call (310) 253-5851, or email city.clerk@culvercity.org <mailto:city.clerk@culvercity.org>.
Mandatory Training
A mandatory AB 1234 Ethics and Brown Act training has been scheduled for appointees on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Training on diversity, equity and inclusion will also be scheduled. All new applicants must complete these trainings within one year of appointment.
Commission, Board and Committee Interaction with the City Council
In accordance with City Council Policy 3002 City Commissions, Board and Committees; Appointed Representatives to Outside Agencies and Boards (Attached), adopted by Resolution No: 2021-R040, all CBCs shall periodically report to City Council regarding their activities. Section V of the policy states:
“In an effort to facilitate regular communications between the City Council and its Commissions, joint meetings between the City Council and each of the Commissions shall be scheduled on an annual basis. Periodically, but no less than quarterly, each CBC shall submit to the City Council a written report on their respective activities. Nothing in this Policy shall preclude the City Council from requesting a report from any CBC at any time.”
New Commission members will be informed of this requirement during their orientation.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Costs for advertising the vacancies in the newspaper and on social media totaled approximately $900. Future costs will include the following: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training for members may cost up to $1,300, Sexual Harassment training may cost up to $1,250, and new appointees to the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board will need 30 hours of professional mediation training at a cost of up to $625. Sufficient funding to support these costs has been included in the Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year.
ATTACHMENT
1. City Council Policy 3002 (City Commissions, Board and Committees; Appointed Representatives to Outside Agencies and Boards)
MOTION
That the City Council make the following appointments as desired:
1. Appoint ______________ to Seat No. 1 for a full term expiring on June 30, 2027; _________________ to Seat No. 4 for a full term expiring on June 30, 2027; and __________________to Seat No.5 for a full term expiring on June 30, 2027, to the Civil Service Commission;
2. Appoint _____________to Seat No. 4 to the Cultural Affairs Commission for a full-term expiring June 30, 2027;
3. Appoint _____________to Seat No. 2 to the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission for a full-term expiring June 30, 2027;
4. Appoint _____________to Seat No. 1 to the Planning Commission for a full-term expiring June 30, 2027;
5. Appoint _____________to the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles County West Vector and Vector-Borne Disease Control for a term expiring on______________;
6. Appoint ______________ to fill Tenant - Seat No. 4, ______________ to fill Landlord - Seat No. 4, and ______________ to fill Member At-Large - Seat No. 4 to the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board for full terms expiring on June 30, 2027;
7. Appoint _____________to Seat No. 5 for a full term expiring June 30, 2027; and ______________to Seat No. 7 for a full term exceeding two years expiring June 30, 2026, to the Advisory Committee on Housing and Homelessness;
8. Appoint ______________ to Resident Disability Representative, _____________ to Resident Seat No. 1, ______________ to Resident Seat No. 2, and ______________to CCUSD Representative Seat for two-year terms expiring on June 30, 2025, and to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee;
9. Appoint ______________ to Seat No. 1, ______________ to Seat No. 3, ______________ to Seat No. 5, and ____________ to Seat No. 7 to full terms expiring on June 30, 2027 as well as ___________ to Youth Seat and _______________ to Labor Seat serving one year terms ending on June 30, 2024 to the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee;
10. Appoint ______________ to Seat No. 2, _____________ to Seat No. 3, and ______________ to Seat No. 4 to full terms expiring on October 31, 2027 as well as_______ _____ to Seat No. 5 expiring on October 31, 2026 to the Fiesta La Ballona Committee;
11. Appoint ______________ to Seat No. 3, ______________ to Seat No. 8, and _________to Seat No. 9, to full terms expiring on June 30, 2027 as well as appoint __________ to Seat No. 7 for a partial term expiring on June 30, 2024, to the Disability Advisory Committee;
12. Appoint ___________to Labor Representative Seat to the Finance Advisory Committee with no set term limit; and
13. Appoint _______________, ____________________ and __________________ to fill the three Representative Seats to the LAX Area Advisory Committee for full one-year terms of January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.