DATE: March 26, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: City Clerk's Office
TITLE: REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION ON INTERVIEW PROCESS FOR PLANNING COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENT WORKSHOP SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 2, 2025
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council provide direction on the interview process for the upcoming Planning Commissioner Appointment Workshop scheduled for April 2, 2025.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
In accordance with Council Policy 100-09, staff has scheduled a workshop on April 2, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. to interview Planning Commission candidates for two upcoming vacancies scheduled to expire on April 15, 2025. In an average year, there are 7 to 10 applications on file for a vacancy on the Planning Commission. As of the time of staff report preparation, the City Clerk’s Office has received 27 applications. Each candidate interview typically lasts approximately 8 minutes. Should the Council want to interview all 27 applicants, the time necessary would amount to around 3.5 hours (not including time for Council deliberation). Given the high number of applicants and start time of workshops, staff is recommending that the City Council provide direction on:
1. Starting the workshop at an earlier time in order to interview all the candidates
AND/OR;
2. Define a process that will take place at the open session workshop meeting(s), where the Council selects a sub-set of the applicants who will be interviewed (e.g. each Councilmember identifies up to three to five applicants from the list to be interviewed.)
The City Clerk intends to publish the workshop agenda packet no later than March 28, 2025. The agenda packet will include all applications on file with the Clerk’s office for public review.
FISCAL IMPACT
Does not apply.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
Does not apply.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The City Council may establish a process for conducting public interviews or limiting the number of interviews so long as that process is consistent with the Brown Act.
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Reviewed by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
Submitted by: Zeb Navarro, City Clerk
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. Council Policy 100-09