To: Board of Supervisors
From: Internal Operations Committee
Report Title: RECOMMENDATION FOR APPOINTMENTS TO THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ADVISORY FIRE COMMISSION
☐Recommendation of the County Administrator ☒ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
REAPPOINT Michael Egan and Mark DeMarce to the At Large #1 and At Large Alternate #1 seats, respectively; and APPOINT Madhan Guna to the At Large Alternate #2 seat on the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Advisory Fire Commission to terms beginning July 1, 2024 and ending on June 30, 2028.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
BACKGROUND:
On December 12, 2000, the Board of Supervisors approved a policy on the process for recruiting applicants for selected advisory bodies of the Board. This policy requires open recruitment for all vacancies in At Large seats appointed by the Board. The Board also directed that the IOC personally conduct interviews of applicants for At Large seats on several boards, committees, and commissions including the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Advisory Commission.
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Advisory Fire Commission includes ten (10) seats that are appointed by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors: Five (5) Supervisors District seats, Two (2) At-Large seats (one representing the area formerly served by the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District and the other representing the remainder of the District), and Three (3) Alternate seats that are filled in the same manner as At Large seats.
The Advisory Fire Commission's purpose is to confirm cost of abatement reports; conduct weed abatement appeal hearings; approve surplus equipment declarations; and advise the Fire Chief on District service matters. The Commission also serves as a liaison between the Board of Directors and the community and may be asked to perform other duties by the Board of Directors.
The Internal Operations Committee recruited to fill current and future vacancies in the At Large #1, At Large Alternate #1 and At Large Alternate #2 seats for terms beginning July 1, 2024 and ending on June 30, 2028. Five applications (attached) were received for the three seats and their applications are attached for reference:
• AlZaher, Raed (El Cerrito)
• Bowles, Robert Archie (Danville) (determined to be ineligible due to residency outside the District)
• DeMarce, Mark (Clayton) (At Large Alternate #1 incumbent)
• Egan, Michael (Walnut Creek) (At Large #1 incumbent)
• Guna, Madhan (Brentwood)
Also attached is a current Commission roster, the press announcement of the vacancies, and the attendance records of the two incumbent applicants.
The Internal Operations Committee, at its regular meeting on May 13, interviewed all applicants except Raed AlZaher, who did not attend, and recommends the reappointment of Michael Egan and Mark DeMarce to the At Large 1 and At Large Alternate #1 seats, respectively; and Madhan Guna to the At Large Alternate #2 seat to terms beginning July 1, 2024 and ending on June 30, 2028.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Should the Board not approve the recommendation, a new recruitment would need to be conducted and the public at large would not be fully represented until appointments could be made.