To: Board of Supervisors
From: Internal Operations Committee
Report Title: RECOMMENDATION FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE PUBLIC LAW LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
☐Recommendation of the County Administrator ☒ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
REAPPOINT Stephen Piser to the Member of the Bar seat on the Public Law Library Board of Trustees to a new one-year term from January 1 through December 31, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact to the County.
BACKGROUND:
Board Resolution No. 2020/1 directs that applicants for At Large/Non Agency-Specific seats on specified bodies are to be interviewed by a Board subcommittee. The Resolution further permits a Board Committee to select a screening committee to assist in interviewing applicants for appointment. Upon review of the eligible seats, the IOC decided that it would conduct interviews for the Member of the Bar seat of the Law Library Board of Trustees, among other seats.
The Public Law Library Board of Trustees was established by State law and County Ordinance to maintain a law library in Martinez. The Board of Trustees is the governing body for the Law Library with the authority to determine personnel, fiscal, and administrative policies to fulfill the legal information needs of the community.
The Board of Trustees comprises five judicial appointees of the Superior Court and two County appointees: one representing the Board of Supervisors Chair and one representing a Member of the Bar. The Internal Operations Committee annually reviews the appointment to the Member of the Bar seat, which term expires each December 31. Following recruitment for the Member of the Bar seat (see attached media release), one qualifying application was received from Stephen Piser (incumbent, Berkeley). While Mr. Piser does not reside in Contra Costa County, he provides legal services within the County. Mr. Piser’s application is attached.
As a valued member of the Board of Trustees, the IOC considered Mr. Piser’s application at its regular meeting on November 24, 2025 and recommends his reappointment to a new one-year term.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Should the recommendation not be approved, the County would not be fully represented on the Public Law Library Board of Trustees.