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APPROVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the appointment of nine persons 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 consisting of nine members. There are currently nine positions available on the Cultural Heritage Board due to 6 positions with terms expiring and 3 vacancies. In response to a recruitment effort, 14 applications were received to fill the vacancies. On August 23, 2018, the Planning Commission considered the applications. Following an interview and ranking process, the Planning Commission voted to appoint the following persons to the Cultural Heritage Board: Anthony Corradi, Thomas Groom, Robert Holzer, Lourdes Jaurigue, Phillip Merlo, Dale Nichols, Wesley Swanson, Melanie Vieux, and Douglas Vigil. Council is now asked to approve these appointments, consistent with the requirement in SMC 16.220.040(A).
DISCUSSION
Background
The Cultural Heritage Board is a nine-member citizen advisory body charged with the preservation and promotion of the City’s historical, architectural and cultural resources. In accordance with SMC section 16.220.040, members of the Cultural Heritage Board, who must be residents of the City, are interviewed, selected and appointed by the Planning Commission subject to City Council approval. Cultural Heritage Board members serve staggered four-year terms of office. Vacant positions are filled when the members’ terms expire or when a board member resigns before the end of a term.
It is the responsibility of the Cultural Heritage Board 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 Cultural Heritage Board 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 Cultural Heritage Board meets on the first Wednesday of every month in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Present Situation
The Cultural Heritage Board is a 9 member body. 6 members with 4-year terms have terms that expired on October 31, 2017. However, these 6 members continue to serve until the positions are filled by the Planning Commission and approved by the City Council in accordance with SMC section 16.220.040(A)(2). There are also 3 vacancies on the board for a total of 9 positions that available for approval by the city council.
SMC section 16.220.040(A) provides that the 9 members of the Cultural Heritage Board be selected and appointed by the Planning Commission, with the approval of the City Council. SMC §16.220.040(A)(1) provides that, to the maximum extent possible, the Cultural Heritage Board shall have at least one member from each of the following categories: one member with extensive real estate experience in the City, one 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 years. The appointments by the Planning Commission have fulfilled all experience recommendations except for a professional archeologist.
In response to the City’s recruitment for the open positions, 14 individuals, including 4 incumbents, submitted applications for appointment.
Planning Commission Action
Fourteen valid applications were received to fill 9 positions, and 8 applicants were present for interviews by the Planning Commission at its regularly-scheduled meeting of August 23, 2018. The selection process did not require being present for the interview to be ranked and appointed. Following the interview and ranking process, the Planning Commission appointed the following members subject to Council approval: Anthony Corradi, Thomas Groom, Robert Holzer, Lourdes Jaurigue, Phillip Merlo, Dale Nichols, Wesley Swanson, Melanie Vieux, and Douglas Vigil (Attachment A - Applications for Recommended Appointments).
Staff randomly selected four candidates to serve three-year terms to comply with SMC §16.550.040(A)(2), which requires that terms be staggered to ensure continuity. The City Council may choose to approve the terms differently. Therefore, as proposed, Anthony Corradi, Thomas Groom, Robert Holzer, and Lourdes Jaurigue, will serve three-year terms that will expire on October 31, 2021; and Phillip Merlo, Dale Nichols, Wesley Swanson, Melanie Vieux, and Douglas Vigil will serve four-year terms that will expire on October 31, 2022.
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.
Financial Summary
Members of the Cultural Heritage Board receive no compensation, so there is no financial impact to the City for this action with the exception of staff resources needed to staff the board.
Attachment A - Applications for Recommended Appointments