Agenda Item Wording:
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Reappointment of Lisa Walsh to a two-year term and authorization to open recruitment for one vacant position on the Parks and Recreation Commission.
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Deadline for Action: 6/30/2021
Submitting Department: Community Services
Contact Name and Phone Number: Laurissa Roggenkamp, Recreation Manager 713-4336
Department Recommendation:
It is recommended that City Council provide direction to staff regarding filling the upcoming positions on the Parks and Recreation Commission. The options include:
1. Reappoint Commissioner Lisa Walsh to serve a second two-year term beginning July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024 and open recruitment for one vacant position on the commission.
2. Recruit for both positions
Given that the remaining three Commissioners have less one year of experience on the Commission, and Commissioner Walsh has been a consistent and involved member, staff is recommending that she be appointed. Her history and stability on the Commission will be helpful as a fairly new Commission acclimates to the workings of the Commission.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia’s Charter enables City Council to appointment five commission members to serve on the Parks and Recreation Commission. The commission is to act in an advisory capacity to Council and City Manager in all matters pertaining to parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers.
The City’s Committee and Commission Guidelines provides information pertaining to the appointment, eligibility, term limits, and replacement process. Each Parks and Recreation Commissioner may serve four (4) two-year terms, for a total of eight years. Each term length has a standardized term to begin on July 1st and end on June 30th. When a member is eligible for another term a request for recommendation will be presented to City Council for the reappointment.
There will be one vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Commission due to Steven Woods completing his current term on June 30, 2022 and becoming ineligible for reappointment due to relocating to another community later this year. Staff is requesting that to fill this vacancy City Council open recruitment, host interviews, and make an appointment to the commission. Until City Council can make the appointment of a new Commissioner, the City’s Committees and Commissions Guidelines provides a provision allowing a current member of a commission to have their term be temporarily extended for up to an additional six months by the Commission. Commissioner Woods has indicated that he will continue to remain on the Commission until his seat is filled.
Commissioner Walsh is currently the Vice-Chair, prior to her appointment onto the Commission in July 2020, she served as an Alternate Commissioner starting in July 2017. Attached is Commissioner Walsh’s June 2020 application for review. Lisa Walsh has served one term of two years on the Commission and has requested to serve a second term. Commissioners can serve a total of four terms or 8 years.
Fiscal Impact:
None, per City Charter Commissioners are not compensated for their service.
Prior Council Action:
06/15/2020 City Council appointed Lisa Walsh to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
06/21/2021 City Council appointed three commissioners: Edgardo Monroy, Samantha Wagner, and Veronica Barajas.
Other: N/A
Alternatives: To not reappoint Commissioner Walsh and open recruitment, host interviews and make appointments for two positions.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
Move to reappoint Lisa Walsh to a second two-year term on the Parks and Recreation Commission and to open recruitment for one vacancy position on the commission.
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: 2020 Application for Appointment to City Board, Committee or Commission - Lisa Walsh