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APPROVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the appointment of five (5) members to the Cultural Heritage Board for the terms outlined in the proposed resolution.
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Summary
Stockton Municipal Code (SMC) Section 16.220.040 establishes a Cultural Heritage Board (CHB or Board) consisting of nine (9) members. There are currently six (6) positions available on the CHB due to term expirations, resignations, and removals.
In response to a recruitment effort, a total of eight (8) applications were received by the City Clerk’s Office to fill the vacancies. On January 22, 2026, the Planning Commission considered the applications for appointment to the CHB. Following an interview process, the Planning Commission voted to appoint the following persons to the CHB: Matt Holmes, William Maxwell, Leon Bach, Robert Holzer, and Cynthia Boyd. These five (5) individuals were the only applicants to attend the January 22nd Planning Commission meeting and participate in the interview process on that date. Council is now asked to approve all five (5) appointments, consistent with the requirement in SMC 16.220.040.A.
DISCUSSION
Background
The CHB is a nine-member citizen advisory body charged with the preservation and promotion of the City’s historical, architectural, and cultural resources. Per the CHB Bylaws and the City’s Development Code (SMC Title 16), the Board’s purpose is to work in an advisory capacity to the Planning Commission and Director of Community Development in matters of aesthetic, cultural, architectural, and historical significance for the City of Stockton.
It is the responsibility of the CHB to evaluate and make recommendations on matters pertaining to historic landmarks, historic sites, historic districts, award of excellence, and certificates of appropriateness for proposed alterations to landmarks and properties in historic districts. In the past, the Board has presented an annual Captain Charles M. Weber Award, a Glenn Allen Award, overseen the activities of the Magnolia Historic District Advisory Committee, and advised City officials and the public on matters pertaining to the preservation of cultural and historical resources. The CHB meets, as needed, at 5:30pm on the first Wednesday of every month in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
In accordance with SMC Section 16.220.040, members of the Board, who must be residents of the City, are interviewed, selected, and appointed by the Planning Commission subject to City Council approval. Board members serve staggered four-year terms of office, and those terms expire on October 31st of the fourth year. Vacant positions are filled when any given Board Member’s term expires or when a Board Member resigns or is removed before the end of a term.
Present Situation
There are currently six (6) positions available on the CHB due to term expirations, resignations and removals. However, Board Members whose terms have expired are able, and encouraged, to continue to serve until such time as a subsequent appointment is made. Three (3) of the expired-term Board members are currently continuing to serve.
SMC Section 16.220.040.A.1 provides that, to the extent possible, the Board should have at least one (1) member from each of the following categories:
• A member with extensive real estate experience in the City;
• A member with extensive experience in the construction industry;
• An architect licensed by the State;
• A historian;
• A professional archaeologist; and,
• A resident of the City for over forty (40) years
Planning Commission Action
Eight (8) valid applications were received to fill six (6) positions. All applicants were notified, and seven (7) confirmed their attendance for the January 22, 2026 Planning Commission meeting, however, only five (5) were present at said meeting (Attachment A - Planning Commission Draft Minutes). As per Council Policy Manual Section 3.02.010, the selection process requires applicants to be present for the interview to be ranked and appointed. Following the interview process, the Planning Commission appointed the following members that attended the Planning Commission interview, subject to Council approval: Matt Holmes, William Maxwell, Leon Bach, Robert Holzer, and Cynthia Boyd (Attachment B - Redacted Applications).
SMC Section 16.220.040.A.2 [Term of Office] states that vacancies occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired period of the term in the same manner as the original appointment and that terms shall be staggered to ensure continuity. The six (6) current vacancies will have the following term expiration dates upon appointment:
Number of Vacancies Terms Expire
Two (2) October 31, 2026
Four (4) October 31, 2029
Given that there are six (6) vacancies, with five (5) candidates available to fill, and that CHB members’ four (4)-year terms are staggered, staff recommends the following:
• One (1) appointment to be deemed effective on November 1, 2025, with a one (1)-year term (expires on October 31, 2026).
• Four (4) appointments to be deemed effective on November 1, 2025, with a four (4)-year term (expires on October 31, 2029).
Accordingly, Staff randomly selected Candidates for the following terms by selecting names from a container:
Name Appointment Effective Term Expires
Matt Holmes November 1, 2025 October 31, 2026
Cynthia Boyd November 1, 2025 October 31, 2029
Leon Bach November 1, 2025 October 31, 2029
Robert Holzer November 1, 2025 October 31, 2029
William Maxwell November 1, 2025 October 31, 2029
The City Council may choose to approve the terms differently. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Planning Commission appointments to the Cultural Heritage Board with the term expirations identified in the attached resolution. The member serving the term expiring this year will remain eligible for re-appointment through the same process.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Board members receive no compensation; there is no financial impact to the City’s General Fund or to any other unrestricted fund.
Attachment A - Draft Minutes (Planning Commission - January 22, 2026)
Attachment B - Redacted Applications