Personnel and Public Employees Committee Meeting - March 14, 2017

The Personnel and Public Employees Committee of the Sacramento City Council met on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 915 I Street, 1st Floor. Chair Larry Carr (District 8) called the meeting to order at 1:33 p.m., with members Angelique Ashby (District 1) and Vice-Chair Steve Hansen (District 4) present. Allen Warren (District 2) was absent. The committee conducted interviews for three board/commission vacancies and made nominations for several seats. The meeting adjourned at 2:23 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Approval of Meeting Minutes (February 14, 2017) — Motion by Angelique Ashby; passed unanimously (Yes: Carr, Ashby, Hansen; Absent: Warren). The committee approved the minutes from the February 14, 2017 meeting.

Discussion Items

Item 2: Interviews for the Natomas Basin Conservancy Board of Directors (Seats A, B, and D)

Nine applicants were considered for the three seats. Interviewees included:

• An applicant who discussed their background in pollinator-friendly conservation and habitat restoration, holding a bachelor of science in environmental science.
• Alyssa Ochita, a Sacramento native and geography major working for Senator Pan, who expressed personal passion for the burrowing owl and climate change research.
• Glenn Snyder, a sheet metal worker since 1990 and Sacramento resident for over 30 years, who expressed support for guiding smart, sustainable growth in the Natomas Basin.
• John Shirey, former Sacramento City Manager, who expressed support for the Conservancy's mission as a balance between development and habitat preservation. He cited the Conservancy's 4,100 acres and approximately $60 million in assets, and stated he could help ensure the endowment is managed so the Conservancy can operate in perpetuity.
• Michael Kevin McRae, the incumbent for Seat C, who has served two three-year terms, holds a UC Davis degree in agriculture (agronomy specialization) and is a CPA of nearly 35 years. He currently chairs the audit committee and expressed concern about the loss of institutional memory on the board.
• Marlon Lara, who was unable to attend due to illness but wished to remain under consideration.
• Noah Painter, who was in Washington, D.C., but still wished to be considered.
• Ray Trethaway, former city council member and South Natomas resident of nearly 40 years, who served on the original Conservancy Board from 1998 to 2001 and resigned upon becoming a council member. He praised the Conservancy as a model program for the nation, noting it manages over 28 reserves.
• Robert Carlson, who holds a bachelor's degree in terrestrial ecology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and has 12 years of state service, expressed interest in using his ecological expertise to ensure meaningful mitigation for urban development.
• Steve Cohn, former council member, was unable to attend but still wished to be considered.

Action: Motion by Ashby, seconded by Hansen, to nominate John Shirey to Seat A (replacing Bill Edgar, also a former city manager) and continue the remaining appointments to the next meeting. Passed unanimously. Ashby stated that Shirey's experience as former city manager would preserve the same type of expertise that Bill Edgar had provided. Nominations for Seats B and D were continued to the next meeting.

Item 3: Interviews for a Non-Advisory Board, Hearing Examiners (Seats D, E, and F)

Four candidates applied for three vacancies. Interviewees included:

• Gerald Krause, an attorney for 30 years who wrote disability decisions for the Social Security Administration and currently works for the Department of Healthcare Services, stated he has read many hearing transcripts and knows how to write opinions.
• Ramon Gibbons, a former city employee, was unable to attend interviews but wished to remain under consideration.
• Sandra Betancourt, a lifelong Sacramento resident (40 years in District 2) and retired state employee, cited experience in civil rights investigations and presentations to hearing officers for state reinstatement cases.
• Wendy Justinich, who has 40 years of civil service for the state of California, cited experience as an analyst and manager at the State Controller's Office, DMV, Department of Child Support Services, and California Department of Public Health.

Carl Simpson, Code and Housing Enforcement Chief, stated there was no urgent need to fill the seats immediately. Vice-Chair Hansen and Member Ashby expressed preference to hold all candidates until the next meeting when Seat G would also be heard, so the committee could consider the full applicant pool. The committee voted to continue the item to the next meeting in April, when Seat G would also be considered.

Item 4: Interviews for the Sacramento Heritage Inc. Board of Directors (Seats D and E)

Two candidates applied:

• Dan Herrick, an architectural historian and cultural resources planner at Paige & Turnbull's Sacramento office, holds a master's in heritage conservation from USC. He described experience with the SurveyLA project in Los Angeles, Hollywood Heritage, and the Getty Conservation Institute. He applied for Seat E (construction/development/architecture).
• Jose Esparza, a native Sacramentan born in 1965, works as a library assistant at the Sacramento Public Library in three historic buildings including the Alakie McClatchy Library. He holds a master's in history specializing in the California Gold Rush and applied for Seat D (preservation).

During discussion, the committee clarified that Seat B was not being brought forward due to lack of qualified applications. Carson Anderson, the board contact, confirmed the applicants' eligibility for their respective seats. The committee noted that Herrick was clearly overqualified for nearly every category and his qualifications could be appropriately stretched to fit the seat.

Action: Motion by Hansen, seconded by Ashby, to nominate Dan Herrick to Seat E and Jose Esparza to Seat D. Passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made on matters not on the agenda.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the February 14, 2017 meeting minutes (unanimous).
• Nominated and forwarded to the Mayor for appointment: John Shirey to Seat A of the Natomas Basin Conservancy Board of Directors (unanimous).
• Continued Natomas Basin Conservancy Seats B and D nominations to the next meeting (unanimous).
• Continued Hearing Examiners interviews to the April meeting, when Seat G will also be heard (unanimous).
• Nominated and forwarded to the Mayor for appointment: Dan Herrick to Seat E and Jose Esparza to Seat D of the Sacramento Heritage Inc. Board of Directors (unanimous).
• The committee encouraged applicants who were not selected to apply for other future board or commission openings.