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Council names Rent Stabilization Board member, interviews planning commission candidates
Summary
Council appointed Vanessa Smith to a full seat on the Rent Stabilization Board and named Devin Taylor as an alternate; multiple candidates were interviewed for Planning Commission seats, with final appointments to be announced after staff follows up with applicants who were not notified in time.
The council filled a key vacancy on the Rent Stabilization Board on May 20, voting Vanessa Smith to a full regular seat and appointing Devin Taylor as an alternate. The city clerk read ballots aloud before the appointment: Vanessa Smith received votes from Mayor Barragan, Councilmember Bridal and Councilmember Romero, while Devin Taylor also received support and was later confirmed by acclamation for the alternate seat.
Council members emphasized the need for clear communication about the board's scope and strong outreach to both tenants and property owners. Vanessa Smith, who said she had served four years on the rent board, told the council she would focus on language access and clearer public information: "I'm committed to working collaboratively with staff to improve how information is communicated to both tenants and property owners," she said.
The meeting included interviews with multiple planning commission applicants (Chris Cowell, Elena Sava, Elena Kogan, Maria Rocha, Elizabeth Pulido, Gail Dixon and others). Candidates described priorities such as long-term zoning updates (Ravenswood Specific Plan), walkability, climate resilience, anti-displacement measures and increased community outreach. Several council members agreed to reschedule or complete selections for planning seats after confirming that two incumbents had not received notice for this meeting; staff had acknowledged a SurveyMonkey notification error and promised follow-up.
