P.C. Traditions Are Being Superseded at City Hall

P.C., pre-Clarke, the City Hall tradition has been to treat commission appointees as a burp after a hefty meal.

With rare exceptions, newspapers accorded the loyal but obscure persons just enough space not to draw attention.

Early in the one-year term of Mayor Jim Clarke, traditions have been put on notice. They are subject to editing.

One of Mayor Clarke’s main motivations is to shine a light on ordinary people deserving of community commendation.

And so it has been with appointees to the assortment of commissions that serve in alert-and-advise roles to the City Council.

Following Mayor Clarke’s first-ever mass interview a couple weeks ago in Council Chambers of almost all of the men and women who sought appointments, herewith a complete list of those who were chosen at Monday evening’s Council meeting.

Even though there were twice as many volunteers as available seats on commissions – about 65 to 33 – two chairs have been left TBF’d, to be filled.

There were four openings on the Fiesta La Ballona Committee, and only three people raised their hands.

The other vacancy is on the freshly formed Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Council told city staffers to consult with the Disability Advisory Committee to identify a volunteer.

Appointees to commissions, committees and boards by the City Council:

1. Appointed Albert Vera to seat No. 3 on the Civil Service Commission for a four-year term, expiring June 30, 2020.
2. Appointed Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin to seat No. 5 on the Cultural Affairs Commission for a four year term, expiring June 30, 2020. Appointed Zoltan Pali to fill the unexpired term for seat No. 2, expiring June 30, 2018.
3. Reappointed William Rickards to seat No. 1 on the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission for a four year term, expiring June 30, 2020.
4. Reappointed Kevin Lachoff to seat No. 4 on the Planning Commission for a four year term, expiring June 30, 2020.
5. Reappointed Ira Diamond to seat No. 1, Deborah Wallace to seat No. 6, and appointed Karlo Silbiger to seat No. 4, on the Committee on Homelessness for four-year terms, expiring June 30, 2020.
6. Reappointed Robert Montgomery, Barbara Effros-Schwartz, and Janet Hoult, to fill seats Nos. 7, 2, and 6 respectively and appointed Koko Naing to fill seat No. 4 on the Disability Advisory Committee for four year terms, expiring June 30, 2020.
7. Reappointed Taria Lewis to fill Tenant Representative seat No. 1 on the Landlord Tenant Mediation Board for a four-year term, ending June 30, 2020.
8. Reappointed Justin Lescoulie to fill Landlord Representative seat No. 1 on the Landlord Tenant Mediation Board for a four-year term, ending June 30, 2020.
9. Reappointed Michael Berlin to fill Member-at-Large Representative seat No. 1 on the Landlord Tenant Mediation Board for a four-year term, ending June 30, 2020.
10. Appointed Frank Dolce to the LAX Area Advisory Board to fill the unexpired term of the vacated third seat, expiring June 30, 2018.
11. Reappointed Ronnie Jayne to seat No. 2 and Marcus Tiggs to seat No. 4, and appointed Carrie Karney to seat No. 3 on the Fiesta La Ballona Committee. Council directed staff to reach out to the Culver City community for applicants to fill seat No. 4.
12. Reappointed Crystal Alexander and Alejandro Lara to seats Nos. 1 and 2 (resident seats), respectively, and appointed Jose Casarez and Gustavo Rendon to seats Nos. 4 and 5 (business seats) of the Finance Advisory Committee for four-year terms, ending June 30, 2020. Council extended the terms of appointed bargaining group members Bryan Sua and Jane Leonard by one year, ending on June 30, 2017, to fulfill a request by the Finance Advisory Committee to allow a full two year term for the bargaining seat members.
13. Appointed Patricia Bijvoet, Joel Falter, and Kristen Torres Pawling to resident seats (Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively); Michelle Weiner to resident senior seat No 4; Andrew Leist to seat No. 6 (changed from a business seat); Dane Twichell to the Chamber of Commerce seat (seat No. 9); Ted Ronchetti to the School District seat (No. 7); approved a blanket appointment by the School District for the student seat (No. 8) to be named and seated in September on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Council directed staff to reach out to the Disability Advisory Committee for appropriate candidates for resident-ADA (seat No. 5).
14. Reappointed Jay Garacochea as the city’s representative to the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles County West Vector and Vector-Borne Disease Control District for a term from Jan. 1, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2017.