San Gabriel City Council unanimously approves multiple commission appointments after candidate interviews

The San Gabriel City Council on May 12 interviewed applicants and unanimously approved a slate of commission appointments to fill vacancies across five city advisory bodies.

Council voted 5-0 to appoint Mark Ramos and reappoint Deborah Saitto to the Civil Service Commission after staff asked that one new commissioner’s effective start be deferred so ongoing employment hearings would not be disrupted. “We’re right in the middle of that … it just seems to be better suited to defer the new commissioner’s appointment until the second hearing is convened,” Human Resources/Risk Management Director MSAS told the council during the meeting.

The council also approved three Community Services Commission nominees — Ethan ("E") Shing, Myro Placencia and Darren Rodriguez — and assigned each a two‑year term to preserve staggered seats. Shing, who said he has lived in the city more than a decade, urged outreach to immigrant residents and highlighted cultural programming and a county Measure A grant of about $500,000 intended for Smith Park improvements.

Councilmembers conducted interviews for Planning Commission openings and appointed the recommended candidates by unanimous vote. During those public exchanges, applicants described priorities including improving advance distribution of staff materials, additional community outreach for non‑English speakers, and using planning work to support sustainability goals.

The council confirmed two nominees to the Design Review Commission after candidates described professional backgrounds in architecture and landscape design and said they would prioritize designs that respect the city’s mission‑era character while permitting appropriate infill. The Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Commission reappointments and new appointees were also approved 5-0 after the commission chair and members urged more frequent meetings, training on the Secretary of the Interior standards and pursuit of Certified Local Government status so the city can apply for state preservation grants. “Having funds to be able to pursue the districts… would be very useful,” Historic Preservation Commission Chair Lupisich said.

All appointment motions recorded in the public meeting passed unanimously. The council concluded the special meeting and noted the next regular council session is scheduled for May 19, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.

What happened and why it matters: The appointments fill volunteer seats that advise the city on personnel hearings, parks and recreation programming, land use and design standards, and historic resources. Council’s choice to stagger terms and to defer certain start dates aimed to avoid procedural conflicts with active hearings and to preserve continuity on multi‑member panels.

Who said what: Among the excerpts from the record, MSAS recommended staggering a start date for logistical reasons; Mark Ramos summarized his local ties and experience, saying, “I’ve been living here for 26 years and I would just love to help our city.” Candidate Ethan Shing told the council he “love[s] our city’s cultural programs especially AAPI related projects.” Historic Preservation Chair Lupisich said the commission needs tools and resources to move from inventories to preservation action: “There’s a tremendous amount of work to write a nomination… Certified Local Government status would allow us to apply for grants.”

Next steps: Appointees will assume the seats and the city will proceed with onboarding and scheduling. Council and staff signaled interest in improved outreach and more regular meetings for the historic commission, and staff will open recruitment if additional vacancies arise.