Encinitas council appoints volunteers to fill dozens of advisory commission seats
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Summary
After hearing more than 80 applicants, the council appointed commissioners across planning, mobility and traffic, public health and safety, environment, arts, parks and other advisory bodies; several votes were unanimous and some appointments were decided after substitute motions and narrow votes.
The Encinitas City Council spent much of its Feb. 11 meeting interviewing applicants and approving appointments to advisory commissions that advise council policy. Council members praised the high number of qualified applicants and emphasized selection criteria including experience, geographic balance and ability to collaborate. Highlights of the evening’s appointments include:
- Planning Commission: Bridget Kimball (Lucadia), Michael Quinn (New Encinitas) and Robert Prendergast (Olivenhain) were appointed after council deliberation. "That motion carries unanimously," the clerk recorded during the initial planning appointments.
- Mobility and Traffic Safety Commission (MTSC): council approved nominees including John Eldon, Lee Ratcliffe and Molly Hintlien to fill district seats.
- Public Health and Safety Commission: incumbents Steve Chesnauskas, Sergio Mora and Harriet Selden were reappointed and Donette Poole was added to the panel. Council members said the commission has "righted the ship" in recent months.
- Environmental Commission and UFAC: after multiple substitute motions and a close roll call, Carol Parker and Costa Calamaris were appointed to the Environmental Commission; Urban Forest Advisory Committee reappointments and new members were also approved.
- Arts, Parks & Recreation, Senior Commission: the council approved a slate of arts commissioners (including incumbents Vicki Campbell and Jennifer Marikovitz and new appointees), multiple Parks & Rec members including Dave Dean and Jeffrey Horton, and a Senior Citizens Commission slate.
Several items required substitute motions or split votes. For example, the Environmental Commission nominations produced rounds of substitute motions that failed and passed on 3–2 and 2–3 margins before a final slate was approved. The mayor extended the meeting to complete appointments.