City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council appoint and/or reappoint members to the Civil
Service Commission, Cultural Affairs Commission, Parks, Recreation and
Community Services Commission, Planning Commission, Committee on
Homelessness, Disability Advisory Committee, Fiesta La Ballona Committee,
Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board, Los Angeles Airport Area Advisory Committee,
West Los Angeles Vector Control Board, and Finance Advisory Committee.
BACKGROUND:
At the January 27, 2014 City Council meeting, the City Council approved two
application deadlines, one for current vacancies and one for offices becoming
available on July 1, 2014 (in some cases a different availability date applies) and
directed staff to begin advertising the application period.
Beginning on February 5, 2014, the City Clerk’s Office posted the following items
on the City’s website: a courtesy notification, a fill-in pdf application form (which
can be completed electronically, then e-mailed, printed out and faxed, mailed or
hand delivered), and a Microsoft Word format application (for those who might not
have the capability to complete the application in the pdf format.) All applications
were sent out with a two-page information sheet providing instructions and
additional background to help facilitate successful completion of the application.
Meeting Date: May 12, 2014 Item Number: A-4
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Appointments and/or Reappointments to the Civil
Service Commission, Cultural Affairs Commission, Parks, Recreation and
Community Services Commission, Planning Commission, Committee on
Homelessness, Disability Advisory Committee, Fiesta La Ballona Committee,
Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board, Los Angeles Airport Area Advisory Committee,
West Los Angeles Vector Control Board, and Finance Advisory Committee.
Contact Person/Dept.: Jeremy Green Phone Number: (310) 253-5851
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [ ] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: Applicants (05/07/14); Meetings and Agendas – City Council
(05/07/14).
Department Approval:
Martin R. Cole (05/06/14)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (05/06/14)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (05/06/14)
City Manager Approval:
John Nachbar (05/07/14) City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
The first application deadline on March 11, 2014 applied to the following six (6)
current vacancies: Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS)
Commission (1), Committee on Homelessness (1), Landlord-Tenant Mediation
Board (1 Tenant, 1 Member-at-Large) and the Fiesta La Ballona Committee (2).
There are now a total of 29 openings for this deadline as follows: Civil Service
Commission (1), Cultural Affairs Commission (2), PRCS Commission (2), Planning
Commission (1), Committee on Homelessness (5), Disability Advisory Committee
(3), Fiesta La Ballona Committee (3), Los Angeles Airport Area Advisory Committee
(3), West Los Angeles Vector Control Board (1), Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board
(1 Landlord, 2 Tenant, 1 Member-at-Large and 1 Member-at-Large Alternate) and
Finance Advisory Committee (3).
For the first application process, one application was submitted. At the March 24,
2014 City Council meeting, the City Council appointed Scott Zeidman to the vacant
position on the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission for
approximately a one-year term.
In order to fill vacancies on the various commissions, committees and boards, staff
took the following steps to provide public notice:
• Advertisements ran in the Culver City News on February 6, 20, March 6, 27,
and April 10, 24, 2014.
• Notice was posted on the City’s web site starting on February 5, 2014
• Notice was sent via email through GovDelivery on February 19, 26, March 5,
April 14, 24, 2014.
• Emails and/or phone calls were sent to commission/committee/board members
who were eligible to apply for reappointment.
• Emails were sent to past applicants.
With respect to Commission appointments/reappointments, the Culver City
Municipal Code (CCMC) provides certain general provisions related to members
and those seeing appointment to Commissions. Section 3.03.005 of the CCMC
provides in pertinent part:
“Commissioners shall be residents of the City who are lawfully registered
voters of the City, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in
the City Government. Applicants for appointment to any Commission seat
must have been lawfully registered voters of the City for the thirty (30) days
immediately preceding the filing of their application. No person may serve on
more than one (1) Commission at the same time.”
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Staff has checked the voter registration rolls and found that one applicant, Mr.
Riyaz Kadri, does not appear in said rolls and is, therefore, not currently eligible to
serve on a Commission.
Section 3.03.015 of the Culver City Municipal Code provides the following:
“A. No person shall serve more than two consecutive full terms as
Commissioner on any one (1) Commission. If a person serves a partial term
in excess of two (2) years, it shall be considered a full term for the purpose of
this provision.
B. Nothing in this provision shall act as a bar to service as a Commissioner
on the same Commission after at least two (2) years have elapsed from the
last full term as Commissioner.
C. A Commissioner who has served two (2) consecutive full terms as a
Commissioner on one (1) Commission may serve on a different Commission
without waiting the required two (2) year period provided for in this section.”
Also, the following bodies have provisions in their respective Bylaws that have
similar restrictions on terms and service: Committee on Homelessness; Fiesta La
Ballona Committee, and the Finance Advisory Committee.
As explained in more detail later, the City Clerk’s Office staff has reviewed 10+
years of records to confirm in what instances term limits may apply to the various
applicants and bodies.
DISCUSSION:
Consideration of Appointments: (individuals marked by an asterisk (*) have applied
for multiple bodies and those whose applications who were receive late are so
indicated):
1. Civil Service Commission – One seat is available for appointment. Office No.
1, currently held by Michael Whitaker, expires on June 30, 2014. Mr. Whitaker has
served two terms on the Commission and is not eligible to reapply at this time. A
total of three (3) people submitted applications indicating an interest in serving on
the Civil Service Commission as follows:
*Michel Chaghouri
John Kuechle
Riyaz Kadri (Late and Unsigned) – Not eligible for this Commission.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
2. Cultural Affairs Commission – Two seats are available for appointment.
Office No. 5, currently held by Michelle Bernardin, expires on June 30, 2014.
Commissioner Bernardin has served one term on the Commission and is eligible to
reapply but did not submit an application for reappointment. Office No. 2 was held
by Susan B. Anderson, who resigned in April. A total of eight (8) people submitted
applications indicating an interest in serving on the Cultural Affairs Commission:
Joyce Dallal
Len Dickter
Thomas Small
Vicky Pearlson
*Celeste Anlauf
*Elena Sweda Neff
Hope Parrish (Late)
*Andrew Lachman (Late)
3. Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission – Two seats are
available for appointment. Office No. 3, currently held by Marianne Kim, expires on
June 30, 2014. Commissioner Kim was appointed in 2010. Commissioner Kim did
not submit a new application. Commissioner Mary Ann Greene (Office No. 5),
whose second term was set to expire on June 30, 2017, has submitted her
resignation. As stated earlier in the report, Office No. 2, which was vacant after
former Commissioner Catherine Yanda resigned from the Commission, was filled
by Scott Zeidman for the unexpired term (which is a partial term of two years or
less), which expires on June 30, 2015. Commissioner Zeidman will be eligible to
apply for a full term beginning in July 2015 and would be further eligible to be
appointed to a second full term upon the expiration of the first full term, as per
Section 3.03.015.A of the Culver City Municipal Code.
A total of seven (7) people submitted applications indicating an interest in serving
on the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission as follows:
Scott Garland
Kay R. Heineman
Matt Kladnik
*Celeste Anlauf
*Jeanne Min (Late)
*Andrew Lachman (Late)
John A. Lopez (Late)
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
4. Planning Commission – One seat is available for appointment. Office No. 5,
currently held by Dana Amy Sayles, expires on June 30, 2014. Commissioner
Sayles has submitted a new application indicating her interest to be re-appointed.
Please note that Commissioner Sayles, who was appointed on May 28, 2013 to
complete Anthony Pleskow’s unexpired term, will have only completed a partial
term of two years or less and is eligible to apply for a full term beginning in July
2014. Commissioner Sayles would also be eligible to be appointed to a second full
term upon the expiration of the first full term, as per Section 3.03.015.A of the
Culver City Municipal Code.
A total of seven (7) people submitted applications indicating an interest in serving
on the Planning Commission as follows:
Dana Amy Sayles
John Johnson
*Behram Parekh
*Donna M. Le Blanc
Dane Twichell
*Jeanne Min (Late)
*Andrew Lachman (Late)
5. Committee on Homelessness – Five seats are available for appointment.
Office No. 2, currently held by Evlynne B. Householder, Office No. 3, currently held
by Christopher Patrick King, and Office No. 5, currently held by James Wright and
Office No. 7, currently held by Dr. Karen Lamp are available for appointment. Ms.
Householder and Mr. King have submitted applications for re-appointment. Mr.
Wright and Dr. Lamp will be completing their second full terms and are not eligible
for reappointment at this time. Office No. 4 is currently vacant
Offices No. 2, 3, 5, and 7 are for three-year terms, and Office No. 4 is for an
unexpired term until June 30, 2016 (a four year term seat).
A total of four (4) people submitted timely applications indicating an interest in
serving on the Committee on Homelessness:
Evlynne B. Householder
Christopher Patrick King
Daniel Rabiner
*John Walhert
Please note that James Wright submitted a late application for the Committee on
Homelessness. Having served two terms of three years each, he is not eligible for re-
appointment to the Committee on Homelessness at this time. City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
6. Disability Advisory Committee – Three seats are available for appointment.
Both Office No. 1, currently held by Robyn Tenesap, and Office No. 5, currently
held by Dr. Jay Shery, will expire on June 30, 2014. Both Dr. Shery and Ms.
Tenesap have submitted new applications indicating their interest in re-
appointment. Ms. Rhonda Wolf, whose Office No 6 term expires on June 30, 2016,
will resign at the end of this fiscal year, creating an available unexpired term of two
years or less for Office No. 6.
A total of three (3) people submitted applications indicating an interest in serving
on the Disability Advisory Committee:
Robyn Tenesap
Dr. Jay Shery
Dr. Janet Cameron Hoult
7. Fiesta La Ballona Committee - Three seats are available for appointment.
Both Office No. 5, currently held by Steven Fry, and Office No. 6, currently held by
Beth Hyatt, will expire on November 30, 2014. Neither Mr. Fry nor Ms. Hyatt
submitted new applications. Office No. 7 has been vacant since the Committee’s
inception. Ms. Hyatt resigned before the conclusion of her term on November 30,
2014.
A total of three (3) people submitted applications indicating an interest in serving
on the Fiesta La Ballona Committee:
Bob Wayne
*Celeste Anlauf
*Jeanne Min (Late)
Appointment for Office No. 5 would be effective December 1, 2014 for a term
expiring November 30, 2018. Appointment for Offices No. 6 and No. 7 would be
for the unexpired terms until November 30, 2014 and for a term expiring November
30, 2018.
8. Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board – Please note that there are no term limits
for the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board.
Tenant Representative – Two seats are available for appointment as Tenant
Representative. Kyle Jones completes his first term as Tenant Representative and
has submitted his application for a reappointment. There is also a vacancy for an
additional Tenant position. One (1) application was received for the Tenant
Representative positions: City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Kyle W. Jones
The bylaws of the LTMB state that “…All Tenant Members shall be tenants of
residential rental property 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 either in Culver City or elsewhere…”
Landlord Representative – One seat is available for appointment as Landlord
Representative. Judy Scott, whose first term expires on June 30, 2014, has
submitted an application seeking reappointment.
One (1) application was received for Landlord Representative:
Judy Scott
The bylaws of the LTMB state that “…All Landlord Representatives shall either
own, manage, or have a residential income property interest within the City of
Culver City, and shall preferably be residents of the City of Culver City…”
Member-at-Large Representative/Member-at-Large Representative (Alternate) –
One (1) Member-at-Large position and one Member-at-Large Alternate position are
available. Leonardo Wilborn, whose term expires on June 30, 2014 did not submit
a new application. Also, Kenneth Rothschild was appointed as a Member-at-Large
Alternate in 2001 and has not submitted a new application for reappointment.
Two (2) applications were received for the Member-at-Large positions:
*Donna M. Le Blanc
Kelly Kent Martin
The bylaws of the LTMB state that “…Members-at-Large shall neither be tenants
nor shall they own or have an ownership interest in any residential income-
producing property in Culver City. Furthermore, preferably, neither “Member-at-
Large applicants or their spouse or dependents shall have any direct business or
financial relationship with either landlords, property managers, or real estate
professionals within the City of Culver City or elsewhere. “Member-at-Large
applicants shall be residents of the City of Culver City…”
9. Los Angeles Airport Area Advisory Committee - Three seats are available
for appointment. Kevin Klowden has applied for reappointment while Cliff Moser
has moved out of the area and Jeff Renzi did not reapply.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Five (5) applications were received for these positions:
*Michel Chaghouri
Kevin Klowden
*John Wahlert
Jeanne Min (Late)
June Lehrman (Late)
*Riyaz Kadri (Late and unsigned)
Please note that Mr. Wahlert has specifically requested that he be allowed to be
appointed to both this and another Culver City body. Because this is not a Culver
City Committee created by the City Council, the City Council may wish to consider
to allow such service (for Mr. Wahlert or others).
10. LA County West Vector Control District Board of Trustees – The City
Council also appoints one member to the LA County West Vector Control District
Board of Trustees, which is not a City-created body. Elena Sweda Neff currently
holds the position and has submitted her application to be reappointed.
*Elena Sweda Neff
Because this is not a Culver City Committee created by the City Council, the City
Council may wish to consider allowing Ms. Sweda Neff to serve concurrently on a
Culver City body.
11. Finance Advisory Committee - Two seats are available for appointment.
Both Office No. 3, currently held by Resident Steve Reitzfeld, and Office No. 6,
currently held by Business Community Member David Trovato, expire on June 30,
2014. Please note that this is a new committee established in 2013 and the initial
term of the above seats were one-year terms (partial terms). Both Mr. Reitzfeld
and Mr. Trovato have completed applications for reappointment for a full term of
four years. If both were appointed they would also be available for a second full
term, since they have only served a partial term of two years or less. There were a
total of four (4) applicants as follows:
Steven Reitzfeld (Resident)
David Trovato (Business Community Member)
*Behram Parekh (Resident)
*Andrew Lachman (Late) (Resident)
Staff Level Bargaining Group Seat: The Culver City Employees Association
(CCEA), Culver City Firefighters (CCFFA), and Culver City Police Officers City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Association (CCPOA) met and agreed that the Representative for the first rotation
would be Desmond Burns, representing CCEA. Mr. Burns’ term expires on June
30, 2014. It was decided that the CCFFA would take the next rotation and they
have chosen Firefighter Mauricio Blanco for the first year and Firefighter Bryan Sua
for the second year for the two-year appointment. While it is unprecedented to
have two persons be appointed to a single seat, the bylaws do not prohibit this
practice. Therefore, the City Council may wish to make such an appointment.
Management Level Bargaining Group Seat: The Culver City Management Group
(CCMG), Culver City Fire Management Group (CCFM), and Culver City Police
Management Group (CCPM) met and agreed that the representative for the first
rotation would be Allan Azran of CCPM. Mr. Azran’s term expires on June 30,
2014. It was decided that the CCMG would take the next rotation and they have
selected Joe Susca for July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015 and Jane Leonard for July 1,
2015 – June 30, 2016 for the two-year appointment. While it is unprecedented to
have two persons be appointed to a single seat, the bylaws do not prohibit this
practice. Therefore, the City Council may wish to make such an appointment.
CCUSD Seat: CCUSD Superintendent Dave LaRose has indicated Sean Kearney
will remain as the CCUSD recommended representative and requests the City
Council reappoint Mr. Kearney for a full four-year term. This will be his first full
term, having served an initial partial term of two years or less. Mr. Kearney would
be eligible for a second full term after this one, should he be reappointed.
Note from the Assistant City Manager/City Clerk: Historically, each Department
that provides staff support to the various Commissions, Committees, and Boards
may have independently handled their own recruitments and the maintenance of
information regarding such bodies (for example, membership rosters, contact
information, etc.) Based upon concerns regarding accuracy of information and to
ensure the recruitment process for all nine of the City Council created advisory
bodies (and two outside agency bodies to which Culver City has appointments)
was consistent and accurate, in 2013, the advertisement for all Commission,
Committees, and Board vacancies involving approximately 50 members was
consolidated into the City Clerk’s Office. During the past year, the City Clerk’s
Office has found some of the information provided from the various Departments to
be incorrect. A significant amount of research was necessary to ensure that the
information provided to the public and ultimately contained in this report was
accurate and consistent with past actions of the City Council (some of those
actions went back almost 10 years and in one case reached back to 2001). As a
result of that research, I am confident this report fully reflects the past
appointments made by the City Council, the accurate listing of those members
available for re-appointment, and the dates of service for the various members.
Going forward, the City Clerk’s Office will correct any further inaccuracies City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
discovered, maintain the rosters and contact information for the various bodies,
and shall inquire periodically to ensure members’ contact information and re-
appointment status remains up to date.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
Costs for advertising the vacancies totaled $1,856. For new appointees to the
Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board, there will be 30 hours of professional mediation
training at a cost of $625 each. All new applicants also must complete AB 1234
Ethics and Brown Act training. These costs would be absorbed in existing budget
appropriations.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. List of all applicants
2. Copies of all applications (with personal information redacted)
MOTION:
That the City Council:
A. Determine if late applications should be considered; and,
B. Make appointments as desired:
1. Appoint ______________to Office No. 1 of the Civil Service Commission for a
four-year term expiring June 30, 2018.
2. Appoint ______________to Office No. 5 of the Cultural Affairs Commission for
a four year term expiring June 30, 2018 and __________________Office No. 2
to complete an unexpired term through June 30, 2017.
3. Appoint _________________to Office No. 3 of the Parks, Recreation, and
Community Services Commission for a four year term expiring June 30, 2018
and _______________ to Office No. 5 to complete the unexpired term through
June 30, 2017.
4. Appoint/reappoint ________________to Office No. 5 of the Planning
Commission for a four year term expiring June 30, 2018.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
5. (a) Appoint/reappoint _____________to fill Offices No. 2, 3, 5, and 7 of the
Committee on Homelessness for three year terms expiring June 30, 2017 and
Office No. 4 for an unexpired term expiring June 30, 2016 and (b) direct staff to
re-advertise for the remaining vacancy.
6. Appoint ________________to fill Offices No. 1 and 5 to the Disability Advisory
Committee for four year terms expiring June 30, 2018 an Office No. 6 to
complete the unexpired term through June 30, 2016.
7. Appoint________________ to fill Offices No. 5 of the Fiesta La Ballona
Committee for a full four year term from December 1, 2014 to November 20,
2018 and Offices 6 and 7 to complete the unexpired terms to November 30,
2014 and for four year terms expiring November 30, 2018.
8. (a) Appoint _________________to fill a Tenant Representative office for a
term of three years expiring June 30, 2017 and (b) direct staff whether or not to
continue recruitment for the Tenant Representative office.
9. Appoint _________________to fill one Landlord Representative office to serve
a term of three years expiring June 30, 2017.
10. (a) Appoint _________________to fill one Member-at-Large Representative
position on the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board to serve a term of three years
expiring June 30, 2017, and (b) direct staff whether or not to continue
recruitment for the Member-at-Large Alternate position.
11. Reappoint Elena Sweda Neff to fill the LA County West Vector Control District
Board Office for a term from January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2016.
12. Appoint/reappoint __________________to fill three Los Angeles Airport Area
Advisory Committee Offices for a four year term expiring June 30, 2018.
13. Appoint/reappoint ________________to fill Resident Office No. 3 and
____________________Business Community Office No. 6 of the Finance
Advisory Committee to serve a term of four years expiring June 30, 2018.
14. Appoint CCFFA members Mauricio Blanco for a one year partial term from July
1, 2014 – June 30, 2015 and Bryan Sua to a partial term from July 1, 2015 –
June 30, 2016 to fill Office No. 7 on the Finance Advisory Committee.
15. Appoint CCMG members Joe Susca for a one year partial term from July 1,
2014 – June 30, 2015 and Jane Leonard for a one year partial term from July 1,
2015 – June 30, 2016 to fill Office No. 8 on the Finance Advisory Committee.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
16. Appoint Sean Kearney as the CCUSD Representative for a four year term from
July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2018 to fill Office No. 9 on the Finance Advisory
Committee.
MEETING DATE: May 12, 2014
AGENDA ITEM: Appointments and/or Reappointments to the Civil Service
Commission, Cultural Affairs Commission, Parks,
Recreation and Community Services Commission,
Planning Commission, Committee on Homelessness,
Disability Advisory Committee, Fiesta La Ballona
Committee, Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board, Los
Angeles Airport Area Advisory Committee, West Los
Angeles Vector Control Board, and Finance Advisory
Committee.
ATTACHMENTS
Pages
1. List of all applicants 1-2
2. Copies of all applications (with personal information 3-316
redacted)
2014 COMMISSION, COMMITTEE AND BOARD APPLICANTS
LISTED BY BODY
(*) Indicates that applicant has submitted for more than one position
Civil Service Commission (1)
*Michel Chaghouri
John Kuechle
Cultural Affairs Commission (2)
Joyce Dallal
Len Dickter
Thomas Small
Vicky Pearlson
*Celeste Anlauf
*Elena Sweda Neff
Hope Parrish (LATE)
*Andrew Lachman (LATE)
PRCS Commission (2 – now)
Scott Garland
Kay R. Heineman
Matt Kladnik
*Celeste Anlauf
*Jeanne Min (LATE)
*Andrew Lachman (LATE)
John Lopez (LATE)
Planning Commission (1)
*Behram Parekh
Donna M. Le Blanc
Dana Sayles (potential reappointment)
Dane Twichell
John A. Johnson
*Jeanne Min (LATE)
*Andrew Lachman (LATE)
Committee on Homelessness (5)
Evlynne B. Householder (potential reappointment)
Daniel Rabiner
Christopher Patrick King (potential reappointment)
*John Walhert
James Wright (LATE)
Disability Advisory Committee (3)
Dr. Janet Cameron Hoult
Jay Shery (potential reappointment)
Robin Tenensap (potential reappointment)
Fiesta la Ballona Committee (3)
Bob Wayne
*Celeste Anlauf
*Jeanne Min (LATE)
Landlord Tenant Mediation Board (1 LL, 2T, 2MAL)
Kyle W. Jones (Tenant Rep – potential reappointment)
Donna M. Le Blanc (MAL position)
Kelly Kent Marin (MAL position)
Judy Scott (Landlord Rep – potential reappointment)
LAX Advisory Committee (3)
*Michel Chaghouri
Kevin Klowden (potential reappointment)
*John Wahlert
Jeanne Min (LATE)
June Lehrman (LATE)
Riyaz Kadri (LATE and unsigned)
West LA Vector Control Board (1)
*Elena Sweda Neff (potential reappointment)
Finance Advisory Committee (2)
Steven Reitzfeld
David Trovato
*Behram Parekh
*Andrew Lachman (LATE)
David Trovato