Calistoga council confirms planning, housing advisory appointments; one council member votes no on initial slate

Calistoga — The City Council on Dec. 9 approved multiple appointments to city boards and commissions after a period of council debate about experience and incumbency.

Council member Gift recommended Steve Pinsky, Clyde Long and Michael Vaughn for the Planning Commission, emphasizing legal and infrastructure experience. Mayor Williams described a series of half‑hour interviews with applicants and nominated incumbents, saying the conversations help match applicants’ skills to committee needs. After discussion and several endorsements from council members, the council approved the slate by roll call. The action also created a vacancy on the Housing Advisory Committee, which the council filled by appointing Juan Pablo De Cesare, the remaining applicant for that panel.

During discussion, Gift and other council members argued for matching application skills to the demands of implementing Calistoga’s housing element, infrastructure constraints and code changes. Other members urged balance and noted opportunities to cultivate new commissioners’ experience. The roll call approved the appointments; one earlier procedural vote recorded a dissent on the resolution as presented but subsequent individual confirmations were approved.

The city did not specify term lengths in the meeting record.