Council names five members to new fairgrounds advisory committee amid questions about proximity rule

The City Council on May 20 approved five mayoral appointments to a newly formed Fairgrounds Advisory Committee and discussed the legal limits on eligibility that excluded applicants living within a 1,000-foot proximity to the fairgrounds.

Mayor Williams presented five nominees for the seven-member advisory panel: David Gates, Karen Jensen, Shane Pavitt, William (Bill) Squire and Hal Taylor. Several of the nominees spoke briefly to explain their interest and background in fairgrounds activities; Hal Taylor said he is an architect who has taken part in volunteer projects at the fairgrounds, and Bill Squire said he has decades of local service including school-board and fair-board experience.

Councilmember Gift proposed an amendment to replace nominee Shane Pavitt with Tim Riley, a resident recommended by Gift who previously submitted extensive proposals for the fairgrounds. The mayor and a majority of council members said they had interviewed nominees and sought a balanced slate of perspectives; the council did not adopt Giftrecommendation. The motion to confirm the mayorappointments passed by roll-call vote with Councilmember Gift recorded in dissent.

City staff and counsel explained that the 1,000-foot exclusion is intended to avoid potential Brown Act and conflict issues when the subject matter concerns a specific property; the rule is narrower than other advisory committees because the fairgrounds committee will advise on a particular parcel. Staff said 36 residents applied and that seven applicants were excluded by the proximity rule. Councilmembers expressed appreciation for the number and quality of applicants and asked staff to move forward with the committee's work.

The resolution confirming the appointments passed 4-1 (Gift opposed); the council did not change the eligibility rule at tonight's meeting.