San Ramon council names Max Zhang to Planning Commission; names Abhijit Banerjee to one-person wait list

The San Ramon City Council appointed Max Zhang to the Planning Commission and set a one-person wait list on Aug. 14, 2025.

The council voted 5-0 to appoint Zhang to the Planning Commission for a term through June 2029. The council also approved a motion to create one wait-listed candidate slot; after a follow-up ballot the council placed Abhijit Banerjee on that wait list, to be valid until the next regular planning commission selection cycle in June 2027.

Council members debated how many wait-listed candidates to keep and for how long. Some members said one candidate was sufficient as a near-term backup; others argued for a shorter limit (one year) so the city could recast the pool before a full term elapsed. The council adopted the single-seat wait-list approach and set the wait-list expiration to align with the next round of regular interviews.

Max Zhang, a Windermere Ranch resident who described his background as a researcher and data analyst focused on affordable housing and planning, told council members he has “a really strong passion for urban planning.” In his interview he cited experience presenting housing research to officials and working on local housing policy as part of his professional background.

Abhijit Banerjee, who attended San Ramon planning and police academies and serves on an architecture review board and an HOA, was selected for the single-person wait list. The council discussed candidates’ familiarity with the city’s General Plan and state housing obligations — including RHNA targets — as a key qualification for sitting on the Planning Commission.

The meeting also noted that Bruce Alls was unable to attend and asked council members to consider his application by paper only. Don Yaculis (application spelled variably in the public record) and others were discussed as finalists for either the regular seat or the wait-listed slot.

Council members directed the city clerk’s office to notify applicants of the decisions and to proceed with the appointment paperwork. No formal amendments or appeals were recorded at the meeting.

Votes at a glance - Appointment of Max Zhang to the Planning Commission (term through June 2029): Passed, recorded tally 5-0 in favor. - Creation of one-person wait list and selection of wait-listed candidate: Passed; tally on selection round recorded as three votes for Abhijit Banerjee and one vote for Don Yaculis (one ballot left blank). The council set the wait-list term to expire at the next selection cycle (June 2027).

Background The special meeting’s sole order of business was to interview applicants and make a regular appointment and a wait-list selection for the Planning Commission. Council members emphasized that planning commissioners must be prepared to “hit the ground running,” understand the General Plan and state housing mandates, and balance technical planning standards with community input.

Notification The council directed that appointment and wait-list notifications be issued through the city clerk’s office.