City Council - Special Meeting

RECORDING IN PROGRESS. RECORDING IN PROGRESS.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING THIS MONDAY EVENING JUNE 15TH. THIS MONDAY EVENING JUNE 15TH. CITY CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL CITY CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?

THE ROLE? CERTAINLY, MAYOR LORRAINE.

CERTAINLY, MAYOR LORRAINE.

CONSULT MEMBER NEWSOM? CONSULT MEMBER NEWSOM? HERE. HERE. CONSULT MEMBER DEAS NASH? CONSULT MEMBER DEAS NASH? HERE. HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR FERNANDEZ AND DEPUTY MAYOR FERNANDEZ AND MAYOR LORRAINE.

MAYOR LORRAINE. We're excited to be here in person with options for those who choose not to be in person to still participate virtually. Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us maintain an efficient and accessible meeting environment. There are several ways to participate. For those attending in person, you may complete a yellow request to speak slip. If you wish to give public comment on any particular item, you may hand it to the city court. If you're participating remotely, you may use the raise your hand feature in Zoom and you'll be called on at the appropriate time. If you're calling in via phone, you may press star nine to raise your hand. And when you're called upon, you may press star six to unmute yourself. These options for public comment will remain available until I close public comment periods for each specific item. For members of the public who are watching us on YouTube tonight, Please note that we don't currently have a live public comment option on YouTube. If you wish to give public comment, you would please join our Zoom webinar instead. Information for that is listed on our agenda, which can be found on our website, www.cityofsanmateo.org. Thank you, and we'll begin with item one, a study session. ITEM ONE IS A PLANNING COMMISSION UNSCHEDULED VACANCY, ASKING FOR DIRECTION. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM OUR CITY COURT, MARTIN MCTAGGART.

Thank you. Good evening, Mayor Lorraine and members of the City Council. The item before you tonight concerns an unscheduled vacancy on the Planning Commission following the recent resignation of Commissioner James Horstman. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the City Council's adopted rules and procedures for boards and commission appointments as they relate to filling unscheduled vacancies. Outline the options available to the Council and ultimately seek direction regarding how you would like to proceed. TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND, ON JUNE 1, 2026, THE CITY CONSUL CONDUCTED ITS ANNUAL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENT PROCESS AND APPOINTED JAMES HORSEMAN TO A FULL FOUR-YEAR TERM ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION BEGINNING JUNE 10, 2026 AND ENDING ON JUNE 10, 2030. AS PART OF THAT SAME APPOINTMENT PROCESS, THE CONSUL ALSO ESTABLISHED A SIX-MONTH ELIGIBILITY LIST FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE VACANCIES. The council ranked Seema Patel as the first priority candidate and Thomas Braham as the second order priority candidate on that eligibility list. On June 10, 2026, prior to participating in any planning commission meetings, Mr. Horstman submitted his resignation due to a new conflict with his employment schedule. His resignation created an unscheduled vacancy on the planning commission, which is subject to tonight's discussion. Staff is seeking council direction regarding how the vacancy should be filled in accordance with the council's adopted rules and procedures for boards and commissions appointments. The city council's adopted rules and procedures provide a clear process for addressing unscheduled vacancies on boards and commissions. Specifically, Chapter 11, Section 2.J.1 provides that subject to the requirements of the MATI Act, the council may fill an unscheduled vacancy in one of two ways. The council may either appoint an individual from an existing eligibility list, if one is available, or direct staff to conduct a new recruitment process. Additionally, Chapter 11, Section 2.J.2 provides that announcements for non-routine vacancies should be made as soon as possible in order to maintain viable memberships on the city's boards and commissions, and that all appointments occur during an open public meeting. In this case, the Council recently, currently has an active six-month eligibility list that was established through the 2026 Boards and Commission recruitment process. That eligibility list includes, as was mentioned, Seema Patel and Thomas Braham. That list will remain in effect through December 1st, 2026. Before the Council considers the options available, I'd like to provide a little additional context regarding the purpose and the use of the eligibility list. The eligibility list was originally established to provide the city council with flexibility in the event that an unscheduled vacancy occurs on a board or commission rather than requiring a new recruitment and interview process every time a vacancy arise. The list provides a pool of recently interviewed and qualified candidates that the Council may consider. In addition to addressing unscheduled vacancies, the eligibility list has served more recently an administrative purpose during an annual recruitment process. For example, when a candidate applies for multiple commissions and is ultimately selected for one position, the eligibility list allows the Council to identify alternative candidates who are interviewed and deemed qualified. In those situations, the eligibility list often comes into play before the console takes final action on appointments. Historically, the eligibility list has not been utilized frequently in more recent times, and more often than not, the list expires without being used, and no appointments are made from the list during its active period. And as you can see on your screen, I gathered a couple of examples of use cases of the eligibility list. As you can see, in November 27, 2021, the then Senior Citizens Commission, now Senior Advisory Commission, experienced a vacancy due to the passing of Irene Bluth. and the consul utilized an eligibility list to appoint John Wu to the partial term through June 10, 2025. However, Commissioner Wu stepped on to no longer meeting the residency requirement, and the consul opted to move forward with running a new recruitment. On the personnel board on May 3, 2021, an unscheduled vacancy occurred, and consul utilized the existing eligibility list to appoint Deborah Kaiser to fill the unscheduled vacancy on the board. More recently, Community Relations Commission, Sherry overall resigned from the Community Relations Commission due to moving from San Mateo, and the council utilized an existing eligibility list to appoint Allie Fitzgerald to a partial term. Before moving forward, I wanted to just do a brief note regarding the Mattie Act, Government Section 54974. This section governs unscheduled vacancy, some noticing requirements as it relates to taking action on appointments in the event of an unscheduled vacancy. And just to briefly note, there are some noticing requirements that are required as it relates to filling unscheduled vacancies. as noted on the slide the consulate may not take action earlier than 20 days before or not later than 20 days after the vacancy occurs and final appointment to the board commissioner committee shall not be made by the legislative body for at least 10 working days after the posting of the notice in the clerk's office So to that point, we'll just note for the council that what's before the council tonight is mainly just general direction. We will not be able to make formal direction as it relates to making an appointment through tonight's process. However, if council should give direction to move forward with an appointment recommendation, that will come before the council at our next regularly scheduled meeting on the consent calendar. And just to close out, at this time, staff is seeking direction from council regarding the process to fill one unscheduled vacancy on the planning commission. And as was mentioned earlier, the council has two options, appoint an individual from the existing eligibility list containing Seema Patel and Thomas Bram, or option two, direct staff to conduct a new recruitment process. And just a brief note regarding the recruitment process, as it relates to the timeline, we generally within the clerk's office run a recruitment period for anywhere between four to six weeks where we receive applications, deem whether they're qualified or not. Those go before the full console or the appointment subcommittee for selection. And then that recommendation comes before the console at the next scheduled regular meeting. And that concludes staff presentation. We recommend taking public comment at this time. And we will seek council direction.

Thank you for the presentation. And indeed, let us open public comment on this item. If you're in council chambers and you wish to comment, you can fill out a yellow request to speak slip. If you're on Zoom or on the phone, you may indicate by raising your hand that you wish to speak. The city clerk will tally number of speakers.

Thank you, Mayor Lorraine. If you wish to speak on this item, please provide us with a request to speak slip at this time. We will be closing the request to speak period, after which point we will not be accepting any additional requests to speak. Mayor Lorraine, we have received a total of 36 requests to speak on this item for a council adopted rules and procedures that would set the timer at one minute per speaker. Thank you. And our final speaker in chambers will be Alexis Lewis. And in our virtual environment, our final speaker will be Mike Swire. So we'll begin with our speakers in chambers first. If I call your name, if you could please line up to my right, that'll help us make sure we receive all of your comments expeditiously. So our first three speakers will be Ashley Zerpa, followed by Steve Weiss and Vigosh B.

Good evening. I'm here tonight because I'm concerned about the confidence in the process itself. When appointments are made, residents need to believe the process is fair, transparent, and based on complete information. Clearly the process is broken, hence why we're here tonight. So public appointments work best when we all have complete and accurate information. So before making a final appointment, I urge the council to reevaluate the candidates you have to ensure that they meet the obligations that this role entails. i choose if you choose not to reevaluate i recommend that you elect thomas brahim and he offers a level of professional accomplishment and perspective that would be an asset to this commission thank you for your time and consideration thank you our next three speakers will be steve weiss followed by fakash b and kevin simpson

GOOD EVENING.

THE ISSUE I'M BRINGING UP IS NOT ABOUT ONE CANDIDATE. IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE PROCESS USED IN SELECTING CANDIDATES FOR OPEN POSITIONS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. WHEN APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE, RESIDENTS NEED TO BELIEVE THE PROCESS WAS TRANSPARENT, FAIR AND BASED ON COMPLETE INFORMATION. WHEN THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT SCHEDULING CONFLICTS, DISCLOSURES OR WHETHER ALL RELEVANT FACTS WERE KNOWN AT THE TIME OF INTERVIEWS, A LACK OF CONFIDENCE RESULTS. BASED ON THE ABOVE, I REQUEST THAT THE INTERVIEWS BE REOPENED. ALLOW THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL TO PARTICIPATE. THE COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSURANCE THAT ALL CANDIDATES ARE BEING EVALUATED IN A FAIR AND OPEN MANNER. When a conclusion is reached using the equitable process, it will carry much more weight than one made using a flawed method, which leaves many questions unanswered. I appreciate you listening to my concerns.

Thank you. Our next three speakers will be Vikash, followed by Kevin Simpson and Michael Reagan. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. I AM REQUESTING THAT THE FORMER I AM REQUESTING THAT THE FORMER I AM REQUESTING THAT THE FORMER PLANNING COMMISSIONER PATEL BE PLANNING COMMISSIONER PATEL BE PLANNING COMMISSIONER PATEL BE DISQUALIFIED FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO DISQUALIFIED FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO DISQUALIFIED FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION DUE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION DUE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION DUE TO POOR PERFORMANCE, INCOMPETENCE, POOR PERFORMANCE, INCOMPETENCE, POOR PERFORMANCE, INCOMPETENCE, AND ALLEGED FRAUD. AND ALLEGED FRAUD. AND ALLEGED AND STATE-FUNDED GRANTS WHICH DISENFRANCHISED AN EQUITY AND STATE-FUNDED GRANTS WHICH DISENFRANCHISED AN EQUITY PRIORITY COMMUNITY. PRIORITY COMMUNITY. SHE ADVOCATED FOR GERRYMANDERING SHE ADVOCATED FOR GERRYMANDERING OF ALL THREE MAJOR ACCESS OF ALL THREE MAJOR ACCESS POINTS IN DISTRICT 4, A LAND LOCK POINTS IN DISTRICT 4, A LAND LOCK COMMUNITY WITH NO TRANSIT COMMUNITY WITH NO TRANSIT CORRIDOR INTO MEASURE T, ALSO AN CORRIDOR INTO MEASURE T, ALSO AN EQUITY PRIORITY COMMUNITY. EQUITY PRIORITY COMMUNITY. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE FORMER IT IS CLEAR THAT THE FORMER PLANNING COMM THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK

You picked a hot one to start with. So the knives are out. You all considered the candidates. You voted. You ranked an alternate. You followed a process. And everybody sees an opportunity to continue this campaign of disinformation and character assassination. You should follow your process, follow good order, and appoint the candidate that you all see fit to put as the number one alternate for the person that you elected to choose over her. I don't see why this is even controversial other than people trying to get things after the fact. So I respectfully request that you move forward with the logical choice. Thank you.

Thank you. Our next three speakers will be Michael Reagan, followed by Rick Sakuda and Doug DeAnna.

Good evening. I was at the meeting that you had the interviews, and I thought that the process was somewhat difficult to understand. I do believe that you picked the right choice in a sense, but there is too many questions about the outcome, the quick THE QUICK AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THIS GENTLEMAN WALKED AWAY FROM HIS CHOICES TO BE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. I THOUGHT THOMAS DID AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU NEED TO, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, TO RE-EXAMINE THIS POSITION. I THINK IT WOULD HELP CURE A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MISTRUST OF HOW THIS PROCESS WAS and where we're at today i'm sure none of you want to be up here i'm sure none of us want to be up there but i think it's time that we we do the right job thank you and go back and reevaluate it thank you our next speaker will be rick sakuta followed by doug deanna and lisa tanner

GOOD EVENING. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, I KNOW YOU'VE ALL HAD HUNDREDS OF EMAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES AND CALLS AND PEOPLE SPEAKING IN PUBLIC ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE. THIS BY ITSELF TELLS US THAT THIS IS A CONTROVERSIAL APPOINTMENT AND EXTREMELY DIVISIVE. NO PERSPECTIVE COMMISSIONER SHOULD HAVE HAD OR HAVE HUNDREDS OF SUPPORTERS AND DETRACTORS. WE DO NOT NEED MORE POLARIZATION OF OUR CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS. THE PUBLIC HAS TO FEEL THAT THE COMMISSIONS ARE FAIR, TRANSPARENT, AND UNBIASED. WHEN WE SPEAK AT A COMMISSION MEETING, IT ALWAYS FEELS LIKE IT'S A DONE DEAL. BECAUSE OF PERSONAL AGENDAS AND PREDETERMINED OUTCOMES THIS CONSUL NEEDS TO SEEK OUT FAIR EVEN-MINDED COMMISSIONERS THAT WILL STUDY ALL SIDES OF AN ISSUE AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY OF SAN MATELE AND NOT BLINDLY FOCUS ON PERSONAL AGENDAS AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AND DEVELOPERS THANK YOU THANK YOU OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS WILL BE DOUG DIANA FOLLOWED BY LISA TANNER AND LISA MALLY

I WANT TO SECOND WHAT RICK HAD TO I WANT TO SECOND WHAT RICK HAD TO SAY. SAY. BUT TODAY'S DECISION COMES REALLY BUT TODAY'S DECISION COMES REALLY DOWN TO TWO DECISIONS. DOWN TO TWO DECISIONS. WHO FILLS THE SEAT AND HOW THAT WHO FILLS THE SEAT AND HOW THAT DECISION GETS MADE. DECISION GETS MADE. BECAUSE THE SECOND SHAPES WHETHER BECAUSE THE SECOND SHAPES WHETHER THE FIRST IS TRUSTED. THE FIRST IS TRUSTED. THREE WEEKS AGO WE PLACED TWO THREE WEEKS AGO WE PLACED TWO CANDIDATES ON A SIX MONTH CANDIDATES ON A SIX MONTH ELIGIBILITY LIST FOR FUTURE ELIGIBILITY LIST FOR FUTURE VACANCIES. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THIS I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THIS SITUATION WAS BUILT FOR. SITUATION WAS BUILT FOR. AND UNDER THE RULES, I READ THAT ANYBODY FROM THAT ELIGIBILITY LIST NOT THAT YOU MUST CHOOSE ANYBODY FROM THAT ELIGIBILITY LIST NOT THAT YOU MUST CHOOSE ANYONE AND THERE'S SO MANY ANYONE AND THERE'S SO MANY QUESTIONS AROUND IT ESPECIALLY THE QUESTIONS AROUND IT ESPECIALLY THE FACT THAT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER FACT THAT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER WASN'T THERE FOR THE JUNE FIRST WASN'T THERE FOR THE JUNE FIRST INTERVIEWS SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS INTERVIEWS SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS MOMENT DESERVES MORE SCRUTINY THAN MOMENT DESERVES MORE SCRUTINY THAN LESS SCRUTINY AND I WOULD ASK THAT LESS SCRUTINY AND I WOULD ASK THAT THEY YOU DELIBERATE ON THE RECORD THEY YOU DELIBERATE ON THE RECORD THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND

Good evening, my name is Lisa Tanner and I'm not paid to speak tonight. I promised I'd never return here unless it was really important or a great person was being honored. Well, no one's being honored here tonight. For most of you, I point to the mutual yearning for better times than recent years with our representatives, both elected and appointed. and to take strong action to shun strife, frustration, and worse, and indifference to and discounting, disregard, and dismissal of your constituents. We need no one like that ever again and must choose wisely. The special interests can no longer rule the day. Please begin a new interview and give us a new planning commissioner we can respect. Thank you.

Thank you. Our next three speakers will be Lisa Malley, followed by Tom Lease and Carol Eldridge.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LISA MAYLEY. MY NAME IS LISA MAYLEY. I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO RESTART THE PLANNING COMMISSION RESTART THE PLANNING COMMISSION INTERVIEW PROCESS. INTERVIEW PROCESS. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THIS APPOINTMENT WILL BE MADE THIS APPOINTMENT WILL BE MADE FAIRLY AND WITH THE RELEVANT FAIRLY AND WITH THE RELEVANT INFORMATION BEFORE YOU. INFORMATION BEFORE YOU. FIRST, THERE WAS SERIOUS FIRST, THERE WAS SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER COUNCIL KNEW THE TOP-RANKED COUNCIL KNEW THE TOP-RANKED CANDIDATE WAS AVAILABLE TO and if the council had the full picture the outcome could have been very different planning commissioners hold a position of trust and the selection process should be above question and right now it is not for these reasons i urge the council to reopen the process and consider all relevant information and make this appointment through a transparent process the public can trust thank you

Thank you. Our next three speakers will be Tom Lease followed by Carol Eldridge and Lori Watanuki.

Welcome to the city of San Mateo to our new assistant manager. IS ONLY THE BEGINNING BASED ON THE STRANGE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FIRST CHOICE CANDIDATE WHO SOMEHOW WAS UNAWARE THAT HIS JOB WOULD REQUIRE HIM TO WORK THE SECOND AND FOUR TUESDAYS OF EVERY MONTH I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENS AND THE CLOUD HANGING OVER THE DECISION I ENCOURAGE THE RE-INTERVIEW OF THE TOP TWO CANDIDATES BY THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL WITH SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE THE CHARACTER, CAPABILITY, AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE WAYS TO GET THE THE CHARACTER, CAPABILITY, AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE WAYS TO GET THE BEST PROJECTS FOR THIS CITY, BEST PROJECTS FOR THIS CITY, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF ARCHITECTURAL ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY AND PUSHBACK AGAINST QUALITY AND PUSHBACK AGAINST EXCESSIVE WAIVERS GIVEN TO EXCESSIVE WAIVERS GIVEN TO DEVELOPERS BY THE CITY. DEVELOPERS BY THE CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS WILL OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS WILL BE CAROL ELDRIDGE, FOLLOWED BY

Good evening. My name is Carol Eldridge. I speak this evening as a member of One San Mateo. I believe it would be a travesty if the council were to make any other decision than to advance Seema Patel to the vacant seat. I was present three weeks ago when James was appointed and four council members decided that Seema would be first in line in the event of a vacancy. there would be no justification for not adhering to this decision. She's highly qualified. She distinguished herself as a planning commission member. And for the council to decide to do anything other than to advance her would have a very poor complexion to it. It would feel like something that was starkly political to me. So I trust that you will not reverse course on the decision that you made less than three weeks ago I THINK IT WOULD BE HEARTBREAKING IF YOU DID. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS WILL BE LORI WATANUKI FOLLOWED BY PETER AND SUSAN MANHEIMER.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR LORRAINE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY CONCERN IS NOT ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR CANDIDATE FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION. IT'S ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS. Public appointments work best when both decision makers and the public have complete and accurate information. And when significant new information emerges after these interviews, it's reasonable to pause and reassess. I hope you will support a candidate who's highly qualified with an architectural and design education background, a neutral point of view, and not a controversial one, one who's interested in serving for the next four years without a conflict of interest. I respectfully ask the council to reopen the interviews and ensure the process is fully transparent before moving forward.

Thank you. Thank you. Our next three speakers will be Peter, followed by Susan Manheimer and Michael Arruza-Cruz.

you mayor lorraine um team council members um i'm actually here on behalf of two on behalf of two people you have to imagine my wife is next to me she got stuck sick about an hour ago so i'm speaking i have two people um we request that the city council address two critical issues number one restart the interview process the 11th hour renovation of mr hossman's employment obligations exposes a flawed screening process TO PREVENT ANY APPEARANCE OF BACKGROUND DEALS, THE COUNCIL MUST RESTART THE PROCESS, PROVIDE FULL CANDIDATE DATA TO THE PUBLIC IN THE FULL COUNCIL AND ENSURE ABSOLUTE TRANSPARENCY. NUMBER TWO, WE REQUEST THAT YOU CONSIDER THE CANDIDATE'S TEMPERAMENT. DURING A PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SEEMA PATEL HURLED UNPROFESSIONAL PERSONAL INSULTS AT MARIANNE AND ME FOR HOLDING A DIFFERENT OPINION WE EXPECT THE COUNCIL TO VET CANDIDATES BASED ON THEIR PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT THANK YOU AND ABILITY TO HANDLE THANK YOU OUR NEXT RESPONSIBILITIES THANK YOU OUR NEXT SPEAKER THANK YOU SUSAN MANHEIMER FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL ARREAZ CRUZ AND MONTAS KUMAR

hi thank you so much mayor city council man it's not a long time what i want to share with you is a personal experience i had appearing before the planning commission as part of the fish market project our hoa herbert town had been one of those hoas that did actually support endorse this project met with the developer came up with reasonable accommodations as the security expert as a 20-year police chief here we had several recommendations i brought those we brought those to the planning commission one involved closing off the park that was going to be created at night so that we didn't see bleed over from the homeless encampments underneath the underpass i had been warned that there was one commissioner that was hostile DEMEANING TO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. DEMEANING TO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WHEN I APPEARED AND I IDENTIFIED WHEN I APPEARED AND I IDENTIFIED MYSELF, THERE WAS NOT ONLY MYSELF, THERE WAS NOT ONLY SHAMING AND BLAMING, BUT THIS SHAMING AND BLAMING, BUT THIS COMMISSIONER SAID, WELL, I COMMISSIONER SAID, WELL, I HOPE ALL THE HOMELESS USE THIS HOPE ALL THE HOMELESS USE THIS PARK. PARK. I WAS STUNNED, I WAS SHOCKED. I WAS STUNNED, I WAS SHOCKED. THESE APPOINTEES TO COMMISSIONS THESE APPOINTEES TO COMMISSIONS ARE A REFLECTION OF YOU. ARE A REFLECTION OF YOU.

Thank you. Our next three speakers will be Michael Arruza-Cruz followed by Montosh Kumar and Jordan Grimes.

Hello. My name is Michael Arruza. I'm a volunteer for Peninsula for Everyone. I'm here to speak in support of appointing Seema Patel to Planning Commission. I was present a few weeks ago at the council interviews and they were very thorough. Every candidate was interviewed and their background was DISCUSSED AND COUNCIL DETERMINED AT THE TIME THAT GIVEN THAT THERE WERE TWO CANDIDATES WITH PRIOR PLAN COMMISSION EXPERIENCE JAMES ARLINGTON AND SEEMA PATEL HERE IN SAN MATEO THAT THAT WAS THE RANKED LIST UM JAMES AS THE FIRST CHOICE AND SEEMA PATEL IS THE FIRST UM ALTERNATE CHOICE GIVEN THAT IT'S ONLY BEEN TWO WEEKS AND IT WAS A VERY WELL ATTENDED MEETING IT WAS A VERY THOROUGH MEETING not very much has changed Seema Patel remains the only remaining candidate with planning commission experience and the most qualified and I urge the council to simply stick to the choice that they already made a few weeks ago thank you Montage this item will be brought up during our regular meeting so this is not for this particular item so we'll move move forward for our next speaker will be Jordan Grimes followed by Robert Zhao and Diane Whitaker

So tonight we get to find out if we still have a city with norms and decorum, or we have a farcical pony show where the end result of any action taken will always be in favor of what a small cabal of affluent homeowners in this city want, regardless of facts, evidence, data, and process. THERE ARE AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. THERE ARE AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. THEY ARE AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN THE THEY ARE AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN THE ULTIMATE SPECIAL INTEREST. ULTIMATE SPECIAL INTEREST. WE HAVE AN EXISTING PROCESS FOR WE HAVE AN EXISTING PROCESS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF PLANNING THE REPLACEMENT OF PLANNING COMMISSIONERS IN THE CASE OF THIS COMMISSIONERS IN THE CASE OF THIS EXACT SITUATION FOR THIS EXACT EXACT SITUATION FOR THIS EXACT REASON. REASON. THAT EXISTING PROCESS DEMANDS THAT EXISTING PROCESS DEMANDS YOU REAPPOINT SIMA. YOU REAPPOINT SIMA. HER REMOVAL FROM THE PLANNING HER REMOVAL FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION A COUPLE WEEKS AGO COMMISSION A COUP that in that instance, competence, experience, and policy acumen no longer mattered to this council. All that did was rank partisanship, specifically opposition to 21st century policy prescriptions. Do the right thing. Reappoint SEMA.

Thank you. Our next three speakers will be Robert, followed by Diane Whitaker and Tasso Zagrofas.

Hello, my name is Robert. I speak not just for myself, but for other Samitans I know in this community who are concerned about this process, concerned that the decision made a few weeks ago will be reconsidered when it was made fairly. We believe We all considered that Seema Patel was qualified and deserved to serve, and that there's a lot of resources that may be unnecessarily spent in the process of reappointing. And so I'm here to ask the council to appoint Seema Patel, as she is already the first alternate, and to appoint another alternate afterwards. Thank you.

Thank you. Our next three speakers will be Diane Whitaker, followed by Tasso Zagrafas and Gary Germano.

Good evening. Diane Whitaker speaking on my own behalf. As background, I served nine years on the San Mateo Planning Commission from 2010 to 2019. In addition, I also served on the City Civic Arts Committee, now the Commission, from its inception in 2008 through 2024. Seema Patel joined the Civic Arts Commission in 2022 as the representative from the Planning Commission. Seema attended all of the meetings, the Civic Arts Commission meetings, and always was well prepared. However, that said, I and perhaps others on the commission often felt overwhelmed and hesitant to challenge her strong beliefs and opinions. I urge you to consider two options at tonight's meeting.

Thank you. Our next speaker will be Tasso Zagrafas, followed by Gary Germano and Alexis Lewis.

Seema follows her mentor Amma Lee's style of politics. Division, personal attacks, false narratives, and demonizing. Falsehoods and lies have no place in governance. They are just wrong. Samiteans are not racist. People in cars are not the enemy. No one shoved or punched Corso. It's wrong to mock and disparage minorities and working families struggling financially on Humboldt Street just because they want their parking restored. It's wrong to exploit the tragic death of a woman on 19th and El Camino Real to make a campaign video. It's wrong for a commissioner's spouse to threaten a fellow resident in these very chambers. And it's wrong and offensive to attack and disparage Catholics and people of faith in order to get your candidate, Adam Lorraine, elected. Public service requires judgment, humility, maturity. Seema's record is just the opposite. I URGE COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO THE BEST FOR SAN MATEO AND REOPEN THIS PROCESS AND LOOK FOR SOMEONE THAT CAN MOVE SAN MATEO THANK YOU THANK YOU OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE GARY GERMANO FOLLOWED BY ALEXIS LEWIS

My name is Gary Germano. I'm speaking for myself. My wife and I were at that planning commission session where they elected the new planning commissioner. And it was very obvious the vote came up for the person who won and also was dismissed. But the issue kind of was at the end, I was very surprised by something that happened. I believe it was Adam Lorraine got up and said, okay, we're going to make two and three, and you want to make Seema Patel number, excuse me, one and two replacements, Seema Patel one and the other person two. And it was kind of like, well, where did that, how did that get in that order? And then it comes up and people just said, well, okay. And now at that point, I'm thinking, I guess they just want to leave or something because there was no discussion on it really or anything. They just did it. So I'm here to say we need to start the process over and have listened to the candidates again. And at this time, we'll have five council people instead of four. So I think it's a better deal.

Thank you. And our final speaker in chambers will be Alexis Lewis.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPOINT THE CURRENT PLANNING APPOINT THE CURRENT PLANNING COMMISSION ALTERNATE SEEMA COMMISSION ALTERNATE SEEMA PATEL TO FILL THE BACONCY PATEL TO FILL THE BACONCY CREATED BY THE RECENT CREATED BY THE RECENT RESIGNATION OF A PLANNING RESIGNATION OF A PLANNING COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER. SEEMA PATEL WAS SELECTED SEEMA PATEL WAS SELECTED THROUGH THE SAME PUBLIC THROUGH THE SAME PUBLIC APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS AS THE OTHER COMMISSION APPOINTING SEEMA WILL PROVIDE CONTINUITY, PRESERVE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND ENSURE THE PLANNING COMMISSION CAN CONTINUE THE IMPORTANT WORK WITHOUT UNNECESSARY DELAY. I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO PROMOTE STABILITY, CONSISTENCY AND TRANSPARENCY BY APPOINTING THE CURRENT ALTERNATE SEEMA PATEL TO THE VACANT PLANNING COMMISSION SEAT AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

thank you moving to our virtual environment where our first speaker will be caller with the number ending 779 please unmute your mic caller with the number ending 779 please go ahead and speak we'll give you just a few more moments to yep yep good evening can everybody hear me okay yes we can

Okay, wonderful. I'm calling in tonight because I'm so disappointed in this process. Just weeks ago, real residents sent in real letters, not form letters, outlining why Ms. Patel was and will continue to be the worst choice for our city. It seems very coincidental that she is now back in the running to be chosen. I, along with many others who have watched this play out, urge you as our representatives to go back to the drawing board, begin this process over, re-interview people, and come up with a commissioner we can all be proud of. And I'll end with a quote. There's no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics, but there is perfect in justice, and we know it when we see it. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Our next speaker will be Rich Kranz. Rich, please unmute your mic. Rich, we've lost you. If you wouldn't mind just raising your hand again. Go ahead, Rich.

There it goes. Check one, check two. How about now?

We can hear you.

Oh, perfect. Well, good evening, everyone. Just weeks ago, many San Mateo residents came before you asking for a new direction for the Planning Commission. The Council appeared to listen and made a new appointment. Now, only days and maybe hours later, the process failed, and it creates an opportunity to ask a really important question. What kind of expertise do we need guiding San Mateo into the future? We're at a critical crossroads. State housing mandates, growth pressures, infrastructure limits, and budget realities will shape this city for the next 30 or more years. This is the time to appoint a commissioner with real world experience, critical thinking skills, urban planning knowledge, and balanced understanding of how successful modern cities actually function. This goes for new city council members as well. We need thoughtful leadership, not ideology or ethical relativism. The city manager is holding roadshows outlining the current financial shortfalls of San Mateo. Growth decisions must consider traffic, utilities, public service, infrastructure. Thank you, Rich.

Thank you. Our next speaker will be Bruce Eaton. Bruce, please unmute your mic.

This is actually Ronnie Eaton speaking. I would like to urge the council to direct a new recruitment process for a number of reasons. primarily because I think that it's important to not have entrenchment on any commissions. I'd like to see a lot more turnover on commissions in San Mateo in general. And there are doubtless lots of people with great ideas, fresh new voices, because there's a lot of changes coming to San Mateo and we need new people to put their voices in. I'm also concerned about the comments regarding Ms. Patel's behavior as commissioner. I urge the council to enforce standards of behavior in any commission. And I don't care what your background is. If you think that you can talk that way to people, you have no business serving on a commission in San Mateo. Thank you.

Thank you. Our next speaker will be Connie Weiss. Connie, please unmute your mic.

Good evening. I have been personally defamed by Seema Patel twice. She called me and my neighbors racist because we fought to save a historic home. I had no idea at the time the family is black. She also claimed I was a homophobe when she herself outed a child. On her social media, there is a veiled attack on a Black landlord who was cleared of any wrongdoing. She claims she is a victim of discrimination when, in fact, she is a perpetrator of discrimination. The city clerk has documentation of these attacks. the city council rules and procedures state that residents should be treated with dignity on or off the day as so she has failed to follow article 3 in the key governance principles had mr horseman disclosed he might accept a job that would prevent him from attending planning commission meetings i truly believe rankings would have been different so this admission is materially affected the committee's evaluation please restart the interview

process with the full thank you the goal thank you thank you our next speaker will be rick ballard

Thank you, Mayor Lorraine and City Council. Can you hear me? Thank you. Yes, we can. Thank you, Mayor Lorraine. Yes, and City Council. This should be a straightforward situation. During Planning Commission interviews, the panel agreed that Seema Patel would be the first alternate in the event of a vacancy. I attended that meeting, which was open to the public and well attended. In that meeting, there was consensus that Seema be first alternate. More explicitly, that Thomas be added to the alternate process, and I can quote explicitly, for Seema to be put in front. Rob Newsome said in response that, I quote, we have consensus on that. So it will be Seema number two and Thomas number three. There was no question about ordering a process. So now we have an unexpectedly fast vacancy. Nothing has changed. Her appointment should simply be on the consent calendar. She's superbly qualified, an exemplary public servant, and frankly, a personal role model who inspires me to do more myself. caring, hardworking, dedicated to her community with self-sacrifice. She has the talent and dedication. Thank you.

Thank you. Our next speaker will be Frank Elliott. Go ahead, Frank.

Can you hear me?

Yes, we can.

Good evening, everybody. I'm just kind of dumbfounded by the comments that are being made. I know Seema personally and This feels like a witch hunt to me. There's a process that's been established. It's pretty clear what the council should do. It should be obvious to you. The one thing that goes through this is everybody, most people talking, I know these people. They uniformly are against new housing. They're uniformly for blocking progress. It's amazing that we've got this witch hunt going. Council do the right thing. It'll be a very bad look if you do something different. This is a woman of color that's very talented. Don't disappoint me. Don't pivot at the last remark, the last moment, just because you don't like the result. I've already watched that happen at the May 18th meeting. When you pivoted at the last minute on the historic ordinance stuff, let's not repeat that mistake. It's not a good look. You can do better than this.

Thank you. Our next speaker will be Dave Cohen.

Really? Is this really happening? Do you all really believe that this was accidental? Way too many moving parts for all of this to have been coincidental. The dirty fingerprints of ghosts of the past are all over this. Don't let them succeed. Please don't yield to false narratives that will result in continued toxicity. Redo the process properly and in accordance with the rules. There are no priorities regarding candidates. They're either qualified or not. That's the law. The fact that the council may have been bullied or vote traded into making alternates, that doesn't exist. This city cannot become a Game of Thrones or Hunger Games.

put a stop to it now please thank you thank you our next speaker will be maria maria please unmute your mic good evening city council sandman for the seat to be appointed a different way we need the interview process to be restarted um we need a candidate that can provide leadership that respects san matins San Mateo and its values without the strong army that has been happening to San Mateo led by the Planet Commissioner Seema Patel and her supporters. Thank you.

Thank you. Our next speaker will be Alexandra. Alexandra, please unmute your mic.

Hi, all. You can hear me?

Yes, we can.

Great. Hi. I came to the last meeting where you all heard from the various candidates. You made a decision. You followed the rule of law as set up by your governance. Now, this has been an unexpected situation that has occurred. And as such, you should be following along the rule of governance of what you had established at your previous meeting. That was agreed upon, public. all the things that make our government function, that make people have faith and trust in their government. So I'm urging you to follow in the agreements that were established, and that would be going to your next candidate, Seema Patel, as she has shown. There's a reason you chose her to be your next candidate, because she has experience, she has a background, she has done a wonderful job and would continue to do so. And it is important for people to have faith in their government and have a government follow the rules of law. Your rule of law is to follow the next candidate as you agreed upon. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Our next speaker will be David Long. David, please unmute your mic. Oh, yes. JUST ONE MOMENT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND JUST ONE MOMENT.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS AGO, MANY JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS AGO, MANY RESIDENTS WROTE OR APPEARED RESIDENTS WROTE OR APPEARED BEFORE YOU AND ASKED THE BEFORE YOU AND ASKED THE COMMISSIONER SEEMA PATEL NOT BE COMMISSIONER SEEMA PATEL NOT BE REAPPOINTED TO THE PLANNING REAPPOINTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. COMMISSION. AFTER HEARING THOSE CONCERNS, AFTER HEARING THOSE CONCERNS, THIS COUNCIL WISELY SELECTED THIS COUNCIL WISELY SELECTED ANOTHER CANDIDATE FOR THE SEAT. ANOTHER CANDIDATE FOR I SPENT SEVERAL YEARS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN NEIGHBORING BELMONT. MANY PEOPLE WHO APPEAR BEFORE A PLANNING COMMISSION ARE SPEAKING TO A PUBLIC BODY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES. THEY MAY BE HOMEOWNERS WITH MOST OF THEIR SAVINGS INVESTED IN A PROJECT OR BUSINESS OWNERS WHOSE LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON THE OUTCOME. THEY DESERVE COMMISSIONERS WHO LISTEN CAREFULLY WHO TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT AND WHO TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT AND EVALUATE PROPOSALS BASED ON EVALUATE PROPOSALS BASED ON ADOPTED POLICIES AND FACTS NOT ADOPTED POLICIES AND FACTS NOT PERSONAL AGENDAS NOT ACTIVIST PERSONAL AGENDAS NOT ACTIVIST CAUSES IF A CANDIDATE'S PRIMARY CAUSES IF A CANDIDATE'S PRIMARY FOCUS IS SERVING ON THE CITY FOCUS IS SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL THE COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER COUNCIL THE COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER WHETHER THE SEAT WOULD BE BETTER WHETHER THE SEAT WOULD BE BETTER FILLED BY SOMEONE WHOSE INTENTION FILLED BY SOMEONE WHOSE INTENTION IS TO SERVE A FULL TER

Hi, good evening, council members. Can you hear me?

Yes, we can.

I believe that service on the Planning Commission is a significant responsibility. Commissioners prepare for and attend many lengthy meetings and review complex development proposals and most importantly, make decisions that will shape the future of our city. Because this role is so important, the council should have the confidence that an appointee can fully commit to the position and consistently take part in the meetings. Recent developments would suggest that there is an uncertainty regarding the top-ranked candidate scheduling and availability. That uncertainty should have come to light before the interview committee decided which of the candidates to select for the position. Before making a final appointment, I believe the Council owes it to the public to ensure that all the candidates can fully meet the obligations of the role. Reopening this process will allow those questions to be addressed openly and fairly. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Our next speaker will be Lori. Lori, please unmute your mic.

Hi. Thank you for re-addressing this process. Seema Patel, as you have heard, has denigrated many of our city residences, and that just does not work for a planning commissioner. Her demeanor is not the San Mateo way and it's not just people from Baywood that she's integrated, it's people from many different areas of San Mateo. She is biased as evidenced by her YIMBY affiliation And I think we really need more balance on the Planning Commission. We've recently, the city's recently appointed two self-avowed YIMBYs to the commission. And I think Thomas Brahman as an architect would be a much better addition. We shouldn't have a planning commissioner that has caused so much rancor in the community. Thank you. Thank you.

Our next speaker will be Mike Swire. Mike, please unmute your mic.

Yeah, hi, can you hear me?

Yes, we can.

Awesome. Thanks, Mayor Lurie and members of the council. I am calling in to ask the city council to do the right thing tonight and appoint first alternate Seema Patel back to the Planning Commission. She is first alternate, first priority, next in line. It's obvious you can do what you want, but not appointing Seema as the first alternate would be a gross violation of civic norms and detrimental to the city of San Mateo and the public's faith in the council. In 2016, Senator Mitch McConnell refused to process Merrick Garland's Supreme Court nomination. Why? because it was politically expedient for him not to, and no hard laws required him to. He was not required to follow democratic norms, regardless of the long-term impact on the rule of law in the United States. Since that time, our country has devolved into political chaos. Democratic norms have been thrown out the window. The new norm is to get away with whatever you can short of getting thrown in jail. I hope that you honor your previous decision with Ms. Patala as a backup, and we don't follow the route set by Mr. McConnell. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker will be Max Montner. Max, please unmute your mic. We have two additional speakers.

OK, you previously said Max or Mike Swire was the last one.

Correct. We had individuals lower and then re-raise their hands. So Max, please go ahead and unmute your mic.

Yeah. Hello. I followed this city's politics for several years and I have to speak plainly tonight. Seema Patel chaired this planning commission. She led it through the general plan and the housing element which is the hardest work the city does. And she is the top ranked alternate before you tonight. By every measure of qualification this is an easy yes. So why is it in doubt. Because she has been the target of the sustained effort to smear and harass her out of public service. Not for anything she did but because some residents don't like how she votes. Let that succeed and every volunteer watching learns the same lesson. Give the city your time for free and the moment your views become inconvenient you'll be attacked until you walk away. That is how a city runs out of people willing to serve. I can't stomach that, and I hope you can't either. Appoint Seema Patel. Thanks.

Thank you. And our final speaker will be Vee. Please unmute your mic. Vee, please go ahead and unmute your mic at this time. We'll give you just a couple more moments to unmute your mic. MAYOR LORRAINE THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. MAYOR LORRAINE THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY THANK YOU I WILL CLOSE OKAY THANK YOU I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME AND PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL BUT I BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL BUT I WOULD LIKE TO START AND I'LL WOULD LIKE TO START AND I'LL JUST BE BRIEF BECAUSE WE DO HAVE JUST BE BRIEF BECAUSE WE DO HAVE OTHER ITEMS AND I WANT TO ADDRESS OTHER ITEMS AND I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF WHAT I HEARD IN PUBLIC SOME OF WHAT I HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT my advocacy for putting SEMA on the eligibility list in the first place, I feel fairly clear during that meeting that the idea behind my advocacy for that was in the event that another commissioner were to leave the planning commission during the time of the eligibility list, we would lose more experience and more institutional knowledge than we have already lost. And over the last calendar year, we've lost about 20 years combined overall experience and service on the planning commission and we we have one commissioner who has served more than two years at this time so that was my idea behind asking for sema to be placed on the eligibility list first because i felt that if we had a uh A VACANCY OF THAT SORT THAT A VACANCY OF THAT SORT THAT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAD EXPERIENCE TO SOMEBODY WHO HAD EXPERIENCE TO RETURN AND BRING STABILITY. RETURN AND BRING STABILITY. I ACTUALLY MADE THE SAME I ACTUALLY MADE THE SAME RECOMMENDATION LAST YEAR FOR DIANE RECOMMENDATION LAST YEAR FOR DIANE WHITAKER FOR SIMILAR REASONS. A different circumstance has arisen, one that was not known during our meeting. I promise you, I did not know that. And yet, you know, I think during the meeting, our understanding was that those who applied for the commission seat were interested in the position, and if picked, would serve a term of up to four years without any issues. The circumstances happened to have changed fairly rapidly. However, we have a process to deal with that, and that's partly why we're here today. And we got a presentation from the city clerk that outlines options for council members. You can choose who you know, how you would like to move ahead. We can choose as a council, as indicated by Martin. You can choose a member of the eligibility list. You can pick SEMA. You can pick Thomas. So I want people to make the choice they want to make. And I you also can choose to indicate your interest in restarting the process and going ahead with another interview. So I just want folks to know the reasoning behind my advocacy and that people have options today. I would also just humbly ask if we could please try not to go back into everything related to the last meeting. I think four of us were there. And rather than rehash things, I believe we have an item in front of us. And I would just like to hear questions or comments related to that. Deputy Mayor Fernandez.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate it. And thank you all for coming out and being so passionate about our commissions. We don't usually get this much attention on our commissions, so it's great. So for me, coming into this meeting, this is about the process for me. This isn't about the individual commissioner. We have a vacancy while... we have a vacancy while the eligibility list is active and current city clerk mctaggart spoke about the precedent of using eligibility lists when there have been unexpected vacancies We are the Council of Good Governance. When we were elected, we all, we've put a code of conduct in, we have worked well together, we have done our best to be the Council of Good Governance. And for that, I think it's really important that we honor that title that I think we've all adopted for ourselves. No, there's no conspiracy here. The subcommittee did do its due diligence with this process, as we do with all commissioner appointments. We did not know that Mr. Horstman was going to be leaving. And from my perspective, another round of interviews would cost us staff time and expense unnecessarily when we have two very qualified candidates before us. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT DURING A TIME WHEN SAN MATEO HAS RECEIVED MORE PROJECT APPLICATIONS AND THE NEED TO REVIEW THOSE APPLICATIONS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER LEVEL MORE THAN EVER BEFORE. A MAJORITY OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS RANKED ONE OF THOSE CANDIDATES AS OUR PRIMARY ALTERNATE AND WE SHOULDN'T RESTART THE GAME JUST BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE NEXT AT BAT. LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING AND APPOINT THE FIRST OPTION ON THE EXISTING ELIGIBILITY LIST.

I'm happy to take, go ahead. Council Member Diaz-Nash.

Thank you, through the mayor. And just so everybody here is clear, I was the council member who was not at the interview. I was without internet, without cell phone, in the middle of the mountains. So I have not, I wasn't able to watch the video, because there was no video, at least officially recorded. I have not looked at the applications. So I just wanted everyone to sort of see where my position was. So I have a couple questions, Mr. Mayor, if I could ask. And I don't know who this is, how to do this, but maybe to the city clerk. I'm very confused about how Mr. Horstman got to this position, we got to this position. One of the questions that typically is on our interview list for any commission is, are you able to attend the meeting at this date? And I'm assuming that was asked at the Planning Commission AM I CORRECT? AM I CORRECT?

NOT DURING THE INTERVIEW NOT DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, HOWEVER, OUR PROCESS, HOWEVER, OUR APPLICATION FOR ALL OF OUR APPLICATION FOR ALL OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS CONTAINS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS CONTAINS LANGUAGE THAT ATTENDANCE IS LANGUAGE THAT ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY AND OUTLINES THE MANDATORY AND OUTLINES THE MEETING SCHEDULE. MEETING SCHEDULE. SO THAT INFORMATION WAS KNOWN TO SO THAT INFORMATION WAS KNOWN TO ALL OF THE APPLICANTS DURING ALL OF THE APPLICANTS DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

OK, because I know in the couple of commissions that I interviewed on this year, that was one of the questions. So that's good information for me to know that that was not actually asked, but it was on the application. So after Mr. Horstman told, was it you, that he could not?

That's correct.

Did you have a conversation with him as to how this confusion happened?

The information that I received from former Commissioner Horstman was that he had recently accepted a new employment opportunity and recently learned through that process that he had a conflict with the planning commission schedule.

So he learned about it after he was appointed a commissioner? Correct. So he didn't know about that before?

That's correct.

I find that, okay, I find that difficult, but thank you for giving me that information. So do our regulations, and you sort of said this before, do our, they're not regulations, it's sort of process for how we do this, yes?

Rules and procedures.

Thank you for the terminology. Does it say we must or that we may? I mean, is this a, we have to follow this or?

The language, as was contained within the staff report for this item, as outlined, it is a may rather than a shall. So the council has mentioned during the staff presentation and the staff report, the council has options before you tonight. You can either appoint from the existing eligibility list or you can direct staff to begin a new recruitment process.

Right. And if we choose to appoint, we can do either way. And if we choose to appoint from the eligibility list, then we wouldn't be able to make a final decision until our next meeting.

That's correct. As mentioned during the presentation, the MADI Act requires some noticing actions and next steps. Unfortunately, that would require that this action would come before the consul at our next regularly scheduled meeting on July 20th.

Okay. And once again, I wasn't at the meeting, but the eligibility is you presented as, as the mayor shared with us, that's not a requirement that we rank. It's just, that's what happened at the meeting.

It's kind of become more of a common practice as throughout the deliberation phase of the interview cycle, uh, council members go through their, um, top three, top four, as it were, and try to find commonalities and reasons for ranking them in a consensus.

Okay. And if we did choose to reopen, all the previous candidates can reapply. They can just say here's my application, ditto.

That's correct.

Is that right? Okay. And then my last question before my comments, how do we prevent this from happening? Because in future, this just seems the fact that someone was appointed and sworn in and then whoops, I discovered something that I didn't know about. And it may have happened in all fairness, but that just seems like something we have to do something about so it doesn't happen again because it's created a lot of question. So I would just ask as you think about the process, THAT WE SEE IF THERE'S ANY OPTION AROUND THAT.

WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE FEEDBACK ON OUR RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND IMPLEMENT PROCESS APPROVEMENTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

YOU WILL KNOW MORE THAN I, BUT THAT JUST SEEMS TO BE AN AREA WHERE WE ALL HAVE TO TALK. I GUESS FIRST OFF, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR SORT OF SAYING WHAT YOU SAID AND GIVING US THE OPTIONS BECAUSE I FEEL A LITTLE BIT LIKE I'M THE DUCK OUT OF WATER. EVERYBODY ELSE WAS PART OF IT. I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE MEETING. I'VE READ A LOT ABOUT THE MEETING. But I guess I'm seeing so much Clear division and pretty passionate division in the room And I myself was not there. So I didn't have a chance to weigh in if I had been there if I had Selected mr. Horseman. I would have felt really let down that he's so soon after for whatever reason chose to resign. And that points again to the process. So I think I would, given all that and given the questions, I think I would recommend we reopen, that we invite all the candidates who last time to apply again that we record the process so that it is something that every there is a record and that we go through it and it may just be the two candidates who are on the eligibility list and it may be others but I don't feel confident enough and I certainly can't speak to the eligibility list because I wasn't there so thank you

THANK YOU FOR THAT INPUT. COUNCIL MEMBER NEWSOM.

SURE. I THINK MY FIRST TAKEAWAY IS THAT THE QUESTION OF SCHEDULING SHOULDN'T BE WAIVED. IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE ASKED IN PERSON IN THE INTERVIEW. LESSON LEARNED, NUMBER ONE. LESSON NUMBER TWO IS The question for me is the idea of reopening versus following the designated alternate number one. I did and am on record as saying that she would be the alternate number one. I AM CONCERNED, OBVIOUSLY, ABOUT ALL THAT I'VE HEARD, BUT I THINK WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR THAT. SO IF WE MAKE ALTERNATE NUMBER ONE THE ACTUAL COMMISSIONER AND THERE IS BAD FAITH EFFORT IN THE FUTURE, SHE'LL BE REMOVED OR HE WOULD BE REMOVED, WHOEVER THAT WOULD BE. SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M LEANING TOWARDS FOLLOWING THE PROCESS AND MAKING THE NUMBER ONE ALTERNATE THE ACTUAL COMMISSIONER. THAT'S IT. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT MY I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY.

SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M NOT QUITE SURE YET. I'M NOT QUITE SURE YET.

I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR PERSPECTIVE. PERSPECTIVE. SURE. SURE.

WELL, I FEEL LIKE I OUTLINED WELL, I FEEL LIKE I OUTLINED SOME OF IT. SOME OF IT. I DO FEEL THAT MY INTEREST IN I DO FEEL THAT MY INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT CEMA, I MEAN, OF MAKING SURE THAT CEMA, I MEAN, OF COURSE, I ALSO FELT THAT CEMA COURSE, I ALSO FELT THAT CEMA WAS THE TOP CANDIDATE IN because of her experience. I advocated for her to be put on the eligibility list first because of what I just mentioned. I do think it was for a situation that has not yet come before us. And I think one thing we're experiencing here, another point I feel like WANT TO MAKE IS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE RULES AND PROCEDURES RELATED TO THE APPOINTMENT OF BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS HAS NOT CHANGED OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO IN IN A MEANINGFUL WAY RELATED TO WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT BUT WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY HAD THIS SITUATION COME BEFORE US BEFORE AND I ASKED THE CITY COURT BEFORE THE MEETING ABOUT THAT HE MENTIONED TO ME THAT IF WE HAD A SUBCOMMITTEE OF FEWER THAN THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHICH HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, AND WE HAD AN UNSCHEDULED VACANCY, AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE SUBCOMMITTEE WOULD BE PRESENTED WITH SIMILAR OPTIONS. And so I just want to make it clear that, you know, because we have happened to go with the first alternate in the past does not necessarily mean that we have to, that it says we have to in the rules and procedures, and that anything has changed tonight as a result of the fact that we're being presented with options. I'll also just submit that I think in this particular situation, it's okay to have two different people in an eligibility list who may have different qualities for appointment. As I just mentioned, I felt like if we needed experience, Seema would be someone I wanted to return so that that experience could be brought to the commission. We actually had the same. We haven't we haven't had a single meeting with James Horseman yet. Right. So we are effectively in the same position that we were when we were interviewing everybody for this. So we have not lost any more experience. And so, in my opinion, I think you have options. You if you feel that YOU PREFERRED THOMAS IN THE PREVIOUS PROCESS AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOTE FOR THOMAS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO THAT. BUT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE FOR SEEMA BECAUSE I VOTED FOR SEEMA LAST TIME. NOT BECAUSE I FEEL FORCED TO BECAUSE SHE'S FIRST ALTERNATE, BUT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SHE'S THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON TO SERVE ON PLANNING COMMISSION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT, MR. MAYOR. IS IT TRUE THAT ONE OF OUR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS IS ABOUT ETHICS?

THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY. OKAY. SO I'M JUST GOING TO SPEAK FROM SO I'M JUST GOING TO SPEAK FROM MY HEART. MY HEART. I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO COME IN I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO COME IN HERE AND SAY ONE LINE BUT I'M HERE AND SAY ONE LINE BUT I'M GOING TO SPEAK FROM MY HEART. GOING TO SPEAK FROM MY HEART. I'M A LIFELONG SAMHITAIAN AND I'M A LIFELONG SAMHITAIAN AND I'M REALLY, REALLY STRUGGLING WITH I'M REALLY, REALLY STRUGGLING WITH THIS DECISION BECAUSE IT IS TRUE THIS DECISION BECAUSE IT IS TRUE THAT MS. PATEL IS VERY QUALIFIED. THAT MS. PATEL IS VERY QUALIFIED. SHE HAS FROM A POLICY SHE HAS FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE DONE A FANTASTIC PERSPECTIVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MOMENTS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MOMENTS WHERE I WAS AGHAST ABOUT COMMENTS WHERE I WAS AGHAST ABOUT COMMENTS MADE ABOUT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MADE ABOUT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND IN THE WORDS OF OUR CITY AND IN THE WORDS OF OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR SHAREHOLDERS. And it really hurts me because I grew up in this city and I have a lot of pride in the city. And the thing that, you know, one person mentioned it today, there is something called the San Mateo way. And maybe that way is changing. And I'm not saying I'm not okay, not okay with change, but You know, the San Mateo way is to treat residents and neighbors and friends with dignity and respect. And that is actually in our code of conduct. There is a whole chapter, chapter three, about on or off the dais, treat residents with respect. AND I HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RESIDENTS. RESIDENTS. I HAVE A CONSTITUENT IN MY I HAVE A CONSTITUENT IN MY DISTRICT WHO IS AFRAID TO COME TO DISTRICT WHO IS AFRAID TO COME TO CITY HALL FOR THE LAST TWO CITY HALL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS WAS IN HER WORDS DEFAMED YEARS WAS IN HER WORDS DEFAMED BY MS. PATEL AND HAS NEVER BY MS. PATEL AND HAS NEVER RECEIVED AN APOLOGY AND MS. PATEL RECEIVED AN APOLOGY AND MS. PATEL HAS NEVER TAKEN ACCOUNTABILITY HAS NEVER TAKEN ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT. FOR THAT. THERE ARE RESIDENTS THAT SPOKE THERE ARE RESIDENTS THAT SPOKE TONIGHT THAT TALKED ABOUT BEING TONIGHT THAT TALKED ABOUT BEING ALLEGEDLY CAL That sets all marginalized groups back. And we as a council should be willing to say, here is the line. This is not OK. This is not dignity, decorum, or respect for our community members. And it would be different if in the last four years, Commissioner Patel took the opportunity to take accountability and apologize and say, mea culpa, I made a mistake. But she isn't willing to do that. She has not done that. And so I had come in here with the intention to say, you know, we should go with Brahman. He was my alternate. So I just want to set the record straight. I picked Horseman and Brahman. There were three others. I'm going to respect due process tonight that there have been three that said they want to follow due process. But know i agree with lisa that we should be reopening this because there are no other commissioners in the city where we have this kind of division and we have this kind of rhetoric being thrown around at our residents taxpayers voters shareholders and all of you should go home tonight and look in the mirror and say who are you here for are you here to represent one group or another or are you here to represent the people in this community THAT'S WHO YOU REPRESENT. I HAD A COUNCIL MEMBER SAY TO ME A FEW DAYS AGO, Wow, Danielle, it must be hard for you because you read every constituent email and you care what the community thinks. Hell yeah, I care. That's why I'm here. That's why I do this. I don't get paid for this. I chose not to take a paycheck. I do this. I spend my weekends, my weekdays. I care about every resident, whether they agree with me or not. And I treat them all fairly with respect. And I spend hours battling what is the right decision. And this floors me that you have tons of residents and community members coming out here and talking about unethical conduct. And we're just, we had a process, oh well. So that's my piece. and you know to miss patel i see you're here in the audience i'm sure you have a perspective too and i would be willing to sit down with you and hear that perspective but i do hope that you take accountability and apologize to some of these residents that you have said or alleged that to make them feel that way thank you okay thank you anyone else

uh staff city clerk do you have what you need i'm just looking for just general consensus and direction what i've heard is that from everyone's um discussion this evening that we would bring back a recommendation to appoint seema patel as planning commissioner at the july 20th meeting do i have nodding heads i'm a no i would like to reopen

so i guess deputy mayor yes or no mayor yes councilmember newsom all right we'll move forward we got the direction we need thank you thank you that concludes item one and my understanding city clerk please correct me is uh given that we're already beyond the time that would start our regular meeting uh that these closed items would probably go to the back. And so at this time, yes, city attorney.

Yes.

Well, go ahead. Yes. Please, please.

exit quietly if you could please thank you so what i would recommend is that you pause the special meeting we'll continue on to the regular meeting and then we'll reconvene after the regular meeting with the closed session items uh again that's after the regular meeting okay yes i would like to do that so we will pause the special meeting at this time we will um

begin the regular meeting, and then return to the special meeting after the regular meeting has commenced. In about five minutes, we'll begin the regular meeting. Thank you, everyone.