Personnel and Public Employees Committee Meeting - August 8, 2017

The Personnel and Public Employees Committee met on Tuesday, August 8, 2017, at 1:37 p.m. in the Sacramento City Council Chamber. Vice-Chair Steve Hansen presided in the absence of Chair Larry Carr, with members Allen Warren and Angelique Ashby present. The committee conducted interviews for the Parks and Recreation Commission and Utilities Rate Advisory Commission, and made nominations to the Sacramento Disabilities Advisory Commission and the Sacramento Youth Commission. All votes were unanimous (3-0, with Chair Carr absent). The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Item 01 - Meeting Minutes of July 18, 2017: Approved unanimously via motion by Allen Warren, seconded by Angelique Ashby. The motion carried with Vice-Chair Hansen, Member Warren, and Member Ashby voting yes; Chair Carr was absent.

Discussion Items

• Item 02 - Interviews for the Parks and Recreation Commission (Seat J): The committee interviewed 13 candidates for one vacancy (a member from the public at large). Three applicants withdrew: Edith Hannigan, Larry Glover Mead, and Noosh Movasaji. Candidates included incumbent Dave O'Toole, who highlighted his eight years of service and experience with Measure U spending plans and tree appeals; Anna Cortez, who cited her consulting work with San Francisco parks and procurement for West Sacramento trails; Isaac Gonzalez, who founded an Adopt-a-Park program in Tahoe Park and submitted over 200 signatures of support; and others such as Christopher Skidmore, Mildred Wani, Jason Law, Jose Goris, JP Sherry, Robert Sumner, and Steven Stenzler. No action was taken; nominations were continued to the next meeting.

• Item 03 - Interviews for the Utilities Rate Advisory Commission (Seats B, D, F): Six candidates applied for three vacancies. Incumbent Andrew Day (Seat D) reapplied, citing his legal expertise and experience with water rate proceedings. Eliseo Garcia brought over 40 years of energy experience, including work as a chemical engineer at PG&E and as a deputy at the California Energy Commission. Another candidate (Mr. Orta) highlighted his 11 years at the California Energy Commission, an MBA from UC Davis, and his work overseeing $40 million annually in state and federal funds for the CalWorks program. Timothy Horner, the incumbent chair, was unable to attend due to fieldwork. No action was taken; nominations continued to the next meeting.

• Item 04 - Nominations to the Sacramento Disabilities Advisory Commission: The committee reviewed applications for Seats B and G. Staff recommended Will Cannady, James Bilotti, or Tim Haley, as the incumbent Ray Deredbiji withdrew because he was moving to Southern California. The committee nominated Will Cannady for Seat B and Tim Haley for Seat G. Motion by Angelique Ashby, seconded by Allen Warren, passed unanimously.

• Item 05 - Nominations to the Sacramento Youth Commission: The committee selected nominees for Seats S, T, and U. Councilmember Ashby offered to use her two discretionary appointments for Sophie and Nazak (who were not named in the transcript), and the committee nominated Emily Kawada for Seat S, Juliet Tochterman for Seat T, and Madeline Neill for Seat U. They also agreed to recommend Karina Vasquez to the Mayor for one of his appointments. Motion by Angelique Ashby, seconded by Allen Warren, passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the July 18, 2017 meeting minutes (3-0).
• Conducted interviews for Parks and Recreation Commission (Seat J) and Utilities Rate Advisory Commission (Seats B, D, F); nominations deferred to the next meeting.
• Nominated Will Cannady and Tim Haley to the Disabilities Advisory Commission (Seats B and G) (3-0).
• Nominated Emily Kawada, Juliet Tochterman, and Madeline Neill to the Youth Commission (Seats S, T, U) (3-0).
• Agreed to recommend Karina Vasquez to the Mayor for a Youth Commission appointment.

Committee Comments

• No committee comments were made before adjournment at 2:30 p.m.