That the City Council consider:
A. Appointment of two individuals to the Planning Commission to fill one 4-year term that expired on March 31, 2021, and one unscheduled vacancy with a term expiring on March 31, 2023, and appoint two individuals as alternates;

B. Appointment of up to six individuals to the Community Services Commission to fill six terms as follows: two 3-year terms, two 2-year terms, and two 1-year terms, so the terms are staggered; and appoint two individuals as alternates; and,

C. Provide direction to staff regarding the reduction of the number of Community Services Commission positions from seven to five.

On January 18, 2022, the City Council was notified of the following commission/committee vacancies:

At that time, City Council directed staff to advertise all expiring terms, and to schedule interviews, which were conducted at a Special City Council Meeting held on March 15, 2022.  A Commission opportunity notice was posted at City Hall and the City Council Chamber, and was also advertised on the City's Twitter and Facebook social media sites, the City website, on Channel 3, and in the local newspaper.  A total of 14 applications were received by or before the 5:00 p.m. deadline on February 17, 2022.

COMMISSION OPPORTUNITIES:

PLANNING COMMISSION: One 4-year term, one unscheduled vacancy, and two alternates should a vacancy occur within the next 12 months.  One term was set to expire March 31, 2021, but was postponed one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The second term was an unscheduled vacancy that occurred on February 10, 2022, when the City Council appointed former Planning Commissioner Daren Nigsarian, whose term expires March 31, 2023, to the City Council vacancy left by the resignation of former City Councilmember Shaw. 
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION: Up to six vacancies, including two extended 3-year terms and four 3-year term appointments on the Community Services Commission, as well as two alternates should a vacancy occur within the next 12 months. As an alternative, the City Council could direct staff to amend La Habra Municipal Code Section 2.28.040, which reads, "...The Community Services Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the city council...." to reduce the number of Community Services Commissioners from seven members to five members. By doing so, City Council would be able to set the same number of seats (5) for all of its regular appointed commissions and committees.  If so directed, staff recommends not filling the two 1-year staggered seats, and to direct staff bring back a separate agenda item for City Council's consideration to amend the La Habra Municipal Code at a future date.

BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE: Due to City Council decreasing the number of Beautification Committee from seven members to five members on January 18, 2022, there are currently no vacancies to be filled.  Furthermore, since the two applicants who expressed an interest in being appointed as alternates did not show up for their interviews, the Beautification Committee does not have any eligible applicants available at this time to be assigned as alternates.

 

APPLICATIONS RECEIVED

Applicant	Date Application Received	Planning Commission	Community Services Commission	Beautification Committee
Matthew Matias	1/24/2022	X	X
Gabriela Garcia	1/27/2022		X
Richard LaBounty	2/7/2022	X	X
Christopher Eastridge	2/7/2022	X
Denise Schmidt	2/10/2022		X
Esther Rojas(1)	2/20/2020	X
Peter Cruz(1)	4/18/2021	X	X
Teresa Kempker(1)	2/16/2017		X
Richard Rojas	2/14/2022		X
Maria Mahecha	2/16/2022	X
Carrie Surich	2/16/2022	X	X
John Fei	2/17/2022		X
Pearl Arzate(1)	1/27/2021		X	X
Luis Salazar(1)	2/1/2021			X

(1) In some cases, applicants requested to use applications that they had previously submitted, and that were already on file with the City.

City Ordinance No. 1351 adopted on February 21, 1989, limits Planning Commissioners terms to four years, expiring March 31 and staggered; and the Community Services Commissioners terms to three years, expiring March 31 and staggered.  Term limits were not established by this ordinance.  Since term limits were set by City Council policy and not by ordinance, it is the opinion of the City Attorney that the City Council has the option to reappoint as they so choose.

 

The Planning Commissioners earn a monthly stipend of $100. The Community Services Commissioners earn a monthly stipend of $50. Beautification Committee members do not receive a stipend.