Personnel and Public Employees Committee Special Meeting – November 9, 2021
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Personnel and Public Employees Committee Special Meeting – November 9, 2021
The Personnel and Public Employees Committee (PMPE) held a special teleconference meeting on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, beginning at 5:06 p.m. and adjourning at 7:53 p.m. The committee, chaired by Councilmember Angelique Ashby with members Jeff Harris and Sean Loloee (Councilmember Katie Valenzuela absent), conducted a lengthy agenda focused on interviews and appointments to eight city commissions and boards, as well as approving several consent calendar items. The meeting was held virtually due to the COVID-19 state of emergency.
Consent Calendar
The committee unanimously approved the consent calendar in one motion (3-0), which included:
- Approval of meeting minutes from six prior meetings dating from October 27, 2020, through August 31, 2021.
- Receive and file a report on teleconferencing meetings during the COVID-19 state of emergency.
- Review and forward to the City Council a proposed process for developing and leading annual performance metrics and evaluations for City Council appointive officers.
- Receive and file a proposed model for city commission oversight, facilitation, and staffing responsibilities, along with policy updates to Sacramento City Code Chapter 2.40 (Boards and Commissions).
Discussion Items
Interviews for the Sacramento Environmental Commission – The committee interviewed seven applicants for three open seats (A, B, C). Candidates included Benjamin Davis, Anthony DeRiggi (retired pediatrician, former commission member), Alan Gordon (former state environmental attorney and deputy treasurer), Stephanie Holstege (environmental scientist), Neil Matouka (Air Resources Board liaison), Kayla Rabey (high school student with environmental leadership), and Jacqueline Todak (environmental planner). After deliberation, the committee nominated Stephanie Holstege for Seat A, Anthony DeRiggi for Seat B, and Kayla Rabey for Seat C, forwarding them to the Mayor for appointment.
Interviews for the Administration, Investment, and Fiscal Management Board – Only one candidate, David Bach (former CalPERS investment officer), was available after another withdrew. Initially absent from the call, Mr. Bach joined later after staff contact. The committee interviewed him and voted to appoint him to Seat D.
Interviews for the Compensation Commission – The committee interviewed three candidates for three seats: Seat A (retired judicial officer) – incumbent Judge Arthur Scotland was reappointed unanimously; Seats C and D (public at large) – incumbent David Kawada and new applicant Marlon Lara (former city employee, current state analyst) were both appointed.
Interviews for the Housing Code Advisory and Appeals Board – Three candidates: incumbents Barry Boyd and Barry Chamberlain (both reappointed to Seats D and E), and new applicant Keith Ellis (Los Rios employee). Staff recommended reappointment of both incumbents, which the committee approved, while encouraging Mr. Ellis to apply again.
Interviews for the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission – Two candidates interviewed: Niki Kangas (communications specialist, parent involved in city programs) and Max Slavkin (artist collective director, parks advocate). Committee appointed Niki Kangas to Seat J, citing her connection to Sac City Unified and community engagement.
Interviews for the Preservation Commission – Four candidates applied for Seats D (licensed contractor) and E (landscape architect/historian). Daniel Herrick (historic preservation planner) clearly qualified for Seat E; Max Slavkin and Justin Wisely (archaeologist) were considered for either seat but qualifications were unclear. Eugene Willis (attorney, real estate licensee) was deemed ineligible. The committee continued this item to the next meeting to allow staff to clarify qualifications.
Interviews for the Sacramento Disabilities Advisory Commission – Four candidates interviewed for Seats E and H: Zachary Bonney (law student with cerebral palsy), Tiffany Fink (CEO of Paratransit Inc.), incumbent Alan McMillan (Pride Industries executive), and Safiya Neal (parent advocate). The committee continued this item to the next meeting for selection.
Interviews for the Sacramento Ethics Commission – Five candidates for Seat C: Eugene Willis (attorney – interviewed earlier), Nicole Velasquez (HR/internal affairs investigator), Albert Balingit (former ethics officer for Department of Consumer Affairs), Ilyas Hussein (state admin chief), and Steven Taxman (attorney). After discussion, the committee nominated Albert Balingit, citing his experience in ethics training and education.
Nominations for Youth Appointments to City Boards and Commissions – The committee selected three young appointees for Seat L (ages 14-22): Samuel Makarczyk to the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission, Akshai Mehta to the Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission, and Xochimilco Salazar to the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: All four items approved unanimously (3-0).
- Environmental Commission: Appointed Stephanie Holstege (Seat A), Anthony DeRiggi (Seat B), Kayla Rabey (Seat C) – motion passed 3-0.
- Administration, Investment, and Fiscal Management Board: Appointed David Bach (Seat D) – motion passed 3-0.
- Compensation Commission: Reappointed Arthur Scotland (Seat A) and David Kawada (Seat C), appointed Marlon Lara (Seat D) – all motions passed 3-0.
- Housing Code Advisory and Appeals Board: Reappointed Barry Boyd (Seat D) and Barry Chamberlain (Seat E) – motion passed 3-0.
- Parks and Community Enrichment Commission: Appointed Niki Kangas (Seat J) – motion passed 3-0.
- Preservation Commission: Continued to next meeting for staff clarification.
- Disabilities Advisory Commission: Continued to next meeting.
- Ethics Commission: Appointed Albert Balingit (Seat C) – motion passed 3-0.
- Youth Appointments: Appointed Samuel Makarczyk (Parks), Akshai Mehta (Arts), Xochimilco Salazar (Police Review) – all motions passed 3-0.
- Next Steps: Remaining appointments (Preservation, Disabilities) will be addressed at the next PMPE meeting in January 2022. Successful applicants will be forwarded to the Mayor for final appointment.
Meeting Transcript
I'm sorry. What did you say there? We're on our 30 second countdown until we go. Okay, great. Great. Florida, Jeff. Sean, you're on your mic is live. I've also sufficiently warned my eight-year-old daughter, but I should warn all of you. My mic is live and she is right next to me, so I have no control. Um Councilmember Leloy, Councilmember Harris, welcome. Madam Clerk, would you please help us start the meeting? We're ready. Shall I call the roll? Yes, that'd be great, and then give us some directives here, and then we'll get going. All right. Member Lilowy. Here. Member Harris. Here. Member Valenzuela. And Chair Ashby. Here. We have a quorum and we have a robust agenda tonight. We apologize for that. But we can start when you're ready with the consent calendar. Yes, let's do it. Do my colleagues have anything they need to hear? Anything further about on that consent calendar. I know you both probably read thoroughly the reports, and I know it was a long agenda for tonight. I'm sorry about that. Lots to get done. Councilmember Laloy or Harris, anything? Chair Ashby, I'll move consent. Thank you. I second. All right. Thank you, gentlemen. Madam Clerk, that's moved and seconded. Thank you. Member Lilowy. Hi. Member Harris. Hi. Ashby. Yes. Great. Sure. Um, can I just can I just make a comment? Yeah, I'm glad you're going to, because I think one of us should go ahead. Well, I just really like to congratulate our city clerk, Mindy Cupy, and of course Wendy Clark Johnson as well for their amazing and hard work and also just taking on a lot of extra burden with the two items that we just passed.
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