Report Prepared by: Alejandra Medina, Deputy City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office
Title
SUBJECT: Annual Appointments to the Regional Airport Authority (3 Seats)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Accept nominations to fill three vacancies on the Regional Airport Authority.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting nominations and appointing individuals to serve as members of the Regional Airport Authority (3 seats); or,
B. Accepting nominations and appointing as many members as Council sees appropriate and directing staff to continue the recruitment of applicants.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Direct the Clerk’s Office to continue recruitment for the vacancies.
AUTHORITY
Merced Municipal Code, Section 3.38.050.
DISCUSSION
Regional Airport Authority Roles
The Regional Airport Authority was created for the provision and maintenance of public airports and landing places for the use of the public. Members can be selected from areas outside of the city limits to line up with the regional nature of the airport.
Past Council Actions
At the Council meeting of March 21, 2022, staff was directed to return to a yearly appointment process for the reappointment of eligible members and the appointment of new applicants to vacant board or commission seats.
Appointments - Terms
Members appointed to a Board or Commission shall serve a term of four years. When members resign or leave the Board or Commission in which they serve, the term dates remain the same. Per the Municipal Code, Sections 702 and 702.1, a "term" shall be defined to include serving fifty percent plus one day of a term as a board member or commissioner on a particular board or commission. Members who are appointed to a term that is less than fifty percent, are considered to serve partial terms. Additionally, partial terms begin once the member has been officially appointed to a Board or Commission by the City Council.
Recruitment
The Clerk’s office began a recruitment campaign that consisted of a social media push over several weeks coordinated with the Public Information Officer to alert citizens of the vacancies and expiring terms, a series of emails for each board or commission sent to over 5,000 recipients notifying them of the recruitment, and public notices sent to Merced County Times.
Applications
The terms of Cheryl Hirsch and Travis Colby ended on July 1, 2023. Additionally, a member seat became vacant with the resignation of Alwin Acuna in August 2024. Mr. Colby has graciously served two full terms in the Regional Airport Authority and is not eligible to re-apply. Ms. Hirsch has shown interest in being re-appointed and is eligible for her second full-term. Two applicants will serve a full term ending on July 1, 2029, and one applicant will serve a partial term ending on July 1, 2026.
In addition to Ms. Hirsch’s application, the Clerk’s Office also received eligible applications from Caroline Meraz, Delvina Johnson, and Shahid Sohail.
The matter of appointment to fill three seats to the Regional Airport Authority is now before the Council.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Regional Airport Authority Applications
2. Current Roster