The Committee, which is comprised of at least five residents, is designed to include individuals with business experience, senior citizens, and knowledgeable professionals in the fields of construction, finance, law, and accounting. Members must be registered voters in San Juan Capistrano. City officials, employees, contractors, and commission or committee members are prohibited from serving on the committee.

The Citizens’ Bond Oversight Ad-Hoc Committee will not have decision-making authority, but will review recommendations to the City Council for expenditure of bonds proceeds, and will report on whether such expenditures conform to the purposes stated in Ordinance 940 (Open Space Measure Y – 2008 Election), adopted by the City Council on August 19, 2009. The Committee will also review the audits and reports of expenditures of bond proceeds and will inform the public concerning the same.

On December 2, 2019, the City Council approved the appointment of five Committee Members that will serve until December 31, 2021.

Members:

• Gerry Gamble, Chair
• John R. Harper, Vice-Chair
• EJ Constantine
• Alan Fenning
• John Alpay

Ken Al-Imam, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer & Committee Secretary

The Cultural Heritage Commission acts as an advisory body to the City Council, Planning Commission, City Manager, and other groups in matters related the culture, heritage and history of the City.

Duties of the Cultural Heritage Commission include 1) Promote awareness and appreciation for the City's cultural and historical significance through preservation and promotion of traditional folkways associated with the community, 2) Encourage sponsorship of community events promoting knowledge of history, culture and traditional folkways of the community and assist organizations to undertake such tasks, 3) Compile and maintain lists of property, persons, events and landmarks of cultural or historical significance for City Council review and notify property owners of applicable City requirements, 4) Implement studies related to historical, cultural, paleontological, or archaeological matters and make recommendations on related districts, 5) Recommend an annual budget including financing of Commission activities and capital projects designed to protect the cultural heritage of the community, 6) Investigate availability of funding programs through State and Federal agencies; and, 7) Other duties as may be assigned by the City Council.

Commission Members are required to be registered voters of the City and are required by State law to file Fair Political Practices Commission Conflict of Interest Statements upon appointment, annually, and upon leaving office.

Current appointees will serve a term from April 1, 2021, through March 31, 2023.

Members:

• Jan Siegel, Chair
• Ann Ronan, Vice-Chair
• Anna Dickinson
• Lorie Porter
• Paul Lopez

Sergio Klotz, Assistant Development Services Director and Commission Secretary

Meetings: 4th Tuesday - 4:30 p.m., Council Chamber

The Design Review Committee shall undertake and have the following duties, responsibilities, and functions, together with the power incidental thereto:

To review and make recommendation to development applicants on the design of projects for compliance with the goals and policies of the City's General Plan Community Design Element and architectural design guidelines and other policies regarding the design of projects that are processed in accordance with Title 9, Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 9-2.313 of the municipal code; and to undertake such other duties as may be assigned by the City Council.

Committee Members are required to be registered voters of the City and are required by State law to file Fair Political Practices Commission Conflict of Interest Statements upon appointment, annually, and upon leaving office.

Current appointees will serve a term from April 1, 2021, through March 31, 2023.

Members:

• Stan Braden, Planning Commissioner Member
• Harrison Taylor, Planning Commissioner Member-Alternate
• Nate Franklin, At Large Member
• Geoff Sumich, At Large Member
• Daniele Smith, At Large Member-Alternate

David Contreras, Principal Planner and Commission Secretary

Meetings: 2nd & 4th Thursdays monthly at 4:30 PM in the City Council Chamber

At their meeting of March 16, 2021, the City Council dissolved the Housing Advisory Committee and given the ability of the Planning Commission to handle the infrequent review of the proposal mobile home park rent increases.  For questions, please contact the Development Services department at (949) 443-6331.

The Parks, Equestrian and Community Services Commission shall undertake and have the following duties, responsibilities, and functions, together with the powers incidental thereto:

(a) To review and make recommendations to the Planning Commission concerning tentative maps with regard to their relationship to the City's Open Space, and Recreation Plans as identified in the Conservation and Open Space, and Parks and Recreation Elements of the General Plan of the City;

(b) To study and make recommendations to the City Council or Planning Commission on proposed amendments to the Conservation and Open Space, and Parks and Recreation Element of the City's General Plan;

(c) To review and make recommendations to the City Council on preservation and/or acquiring additional open space, including identifying areas to be acquired and funding strategies for acquisition;

(d) To make recommendations to the City Council on strategies for how future planning for land use and infrastructure should be accomplished, including funding strategies for future planning and environmental work affecting open space in the City;

(e) To study and make recommendations to the City Council on the management of the City’s open space and ways to ensure long-term financial return to maintain and enhance the City’s open space;

(f) To review and make recommendations to the Planning Commission concerning tentative maps with regard to their relationship to the City's Parks Programs;

(g) To review and make recommendations to the Planning Commission on capital improvement plans for parks which are developed to implement the Parks and Recreation Element of the City's General Plan;

(h) To study and make recommendations to the Planning Commission on proposed design standards for private and public parks;

(i) To study and make recommendations to the Community Services Department on existing and proposed recreational programs and services for the City's residents, including youth and senior citizens; and

(j) To undertake such other duties as may be assigned by the City Council.

The Parks, Equestrain and Community Services Commission shall consist of a total of seven (7) members.

Appointees will serve a term from April 1, 2021, through March 31, 2023.

Members:

• Tom Ostensen
• Steve Behmerwohld
• Ronald Denman
• Maureen Gebelein
• Stephanie Heredia
• Cody Martin
• Ted Rosenfeldt

Meetings: 3rd Monday, monthly at 5:30pm in the City Council Chamber.

Commission Secretary: Tina Comontofski, Administrative Coordinator & Commission Secretary

Duties of the Planning Commission include:

1. To study and make recommendations to the City Council on amendments to the City’s General Plan;

2. To develop and make recommendations to the City Council on specific plans designed to implement portions of the City’s General Plan;

3. To review the City’s Capital Improvement Program for consistency with the City’s General Plan and forward recommendations to the City Council;

4. To make recommendations to the City Council to effectuate changes to the land use pro-visions set forth in Title 9 of this Code, consistent with provisions of the General Plan;

5. To approve, deny, or approve with modifications or conditions, development proposals, or parts thereof, in accordance with the land use provisions set forth in Title 9 of this Code;

6. To appoint members of the Planning Commission to serve on the Design Review Committee to review and make recommendations to the Planning Commission on development proposals processed in accordance with Title 9, Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 9-2.313;

7. To appoint members of the Planning Commission to serve on the Transportation Committee to review and make recommendations to the Planning Commission on matters related to projects that are designed to implement a multi-modal transportation system, State planning programs that are transportation-related, site development plans and tentative maps with regard to impacts to the City’s circulation system, and on matters related to public transportation, traffic regulations and standards for parking, vehicular and public safety; and,

8. To undertake such other duties as may be assigned by the City Council.

The Planning Commission appoints one Planning Commissioner to serve on the Design Review Committee with one Planning Commission alternate to serve in the absence of the appointed regular Design Review Committee member.

Commission Members are required to be registered voters of the City and are required by State law to file Fair Political Practices Commission Conflict of Interest Statements upon appointment, annually, and upon leaving office.

Current appointees will serve a term from April 1, 2021, through March 31, 2023.

Members:

• Harrison Taylor, Chair
• Tami Wilhelm, Vice-Chair
• Stan Braden
• Matt Gaffney
• Darren Fancher

Elizabeth Hull, Deputy City Attorney (Best Best & Krieger)
Sergio Klotz, Assistant Development Services Director & Commission Secretary

Meetings: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, monthly - 5:00 p.m., City Council Chamber

At their meeting of April 6, 2021, the City Council dissolved the Utilities Commission due to the proposed annexation of the City's water and sewer systems.  For questions, contact the Utilities department at (949) 234-4400.

At their meeting of March 16, 2021, the City Council dissolved the Youth Advisory Board as a formal City Commission.  The Youth Advisory Board will continue to be an active group supported by the Community Services Department with the same benefits and services opportunities.  For more information regarding the Youth Advisory Board, please contact the Community Services Department at (949) 443-6388.