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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-28 (Special Meeting) 310 SPECIAL MEETING CYPRESS CITY COUNCIL November 28, 2025 4:00 P.M. A special meeting of the Cypress City Council was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Mayor Burke in the Executive Board Room at Cypress City Hall, 5275 Orange Avenue, Cypress, California. ROLL CALL Cypress City Council, also acting as the Ex-Officio Governing Board of Directors of the Cypress Recreation and Park District were all present. Mayor David Burke Mayor Pro Tern Medrano Council Member Chang Council Member Peat STAFF PRESENT Interim City Manager Sean Joyce City Clerk Lisa Berglund City Attorney Fred Galante ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON AGENDA ITEMS The Mayor asked questions of the City Attorney regarding a special election. The City Attorney provided legal guidance regarding the California Elections Code, the City's CVRA settlement agreement, timelines, and procedural options available to the City Council. Mayor Burke opened oral communications. Anne Mallari, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. Jon Peat, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. Pearl Boelter, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. David Skorupinski, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. Ed Kraemer, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. Nancy Johnson, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. Rob Johnson, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. Carol Erbe, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. Rachel Strong Carnahan, Cypress, current City Council applicant, spoke regarding her skills, qualifications, and commitment to the Cypress community. Jaime Needham, Cypress, spoke in support of Rachel Strong Carnahan. Brooke Nafarrette, Cypress, spoke on behalf of applicant Bill Wostenberg, who withdrew his application, and read a statement into the record on his behalf. Robin Itzler, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. Jennie Lee, Cypress, spoke in support of City Council applicant, Rachel Strong Carnahan. 311 Gina Martinez, Cypress, spoke in support of City Council applicant, Rachel Strong Carnahan. Dr. Frances Marquez, Cypress, spoke to the City Council as an applicant, regarding her prior City Council service, public service experience, and qualifications to serve. Jose Trinidad Castaneda, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. The City Attorney provided clarification regarding prior legal commentary related to the City's vacancy appointment process. Glenn Button, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1 and spoke in support of applicant Anne Malari. Kelly Kay, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1 and expressed opposition to the appointment of Dr. Frances Marquez. Beth Culver, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. Harumi Lucak, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. Claudia Necessary, Cypress, spoke to the City Council as an applicant, spoke regarding her community involvement, business experience, and desire to serve. Peter Korody, Cypress, spoke in support of Dr. Frances Marquez. Marilyn Reames, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1 and in support of Council Member Peat as future Mayor for 2026. Bruce Mulhearn, Cypress, spoke regarding Agenda Item No. 1. Mayor Burke recessed the meeting at 5:20 p.m. Mayor Burke reconvened the meeting at 5:28 p.m. J.R. Necessary, Cypress, spoke in support of City Council applicant, Claudia Necessary. John West, Cypress, spoke in support of City Council applicant, Claudia Necessary. CONTINUED ITEM Item No. 1: Appoint an Applicant to Fill the City Council Vacancy The City Clerk provided a report on this item. Mayor Burke asked questions to the City Attorney and Interim City Manager. The Interim City Manager responded to questions from the Mayor. The City Attorney clarified that since the withdrawal of the previous applicant, the Council vote would proceed as a clean slate. 11 The Mayor requested that each City Council Member state their top two preferred candidates for discussion purposes. Council Member Peat expressed disagreement with the proposed process. City Council discussion ensued between Council Member Peat and Mayor Burke. Mayor Pro Tem Medrano provided additional comments regarding the applicants and selection process. City Council discussion continued. 312 A discussion ensued between Mayor Pro Tern Medrano, Mayor Burke and Council Member Peat. Anne Mallari, Cypress, intervened and requested clarification from the City Attorney regarding the appointment process. The City Attorney provided procedural guidance. City Council discussion ensued. Each City Council Member stated their top two preferred applicants. Council Member Chang identified Rachel Strong Carnahan and Dr. Frances Marquez as his preferred applicants. Mayor Burke identified Rachel Strong Carnahan and Candi Kern as his preferred applicants. Mayor Pro Tem Medrano identified Rachel Strong Carnahan and Claudia Necessary as his preferred applicants. Council Member Peat identified Anne Mallari and Candi Kern as her preferred applicants. City Council discussion ensued. The City Attorney provided procedural guidance. City Council Members shared comments regarding candidates who were not selected. City Council discussion continued. City Council Members shared comments regarding their selected applicants. City Council discussion ensued. Mayor Burke spoke regarding Rachel Strong Carnahan and her qualifications. Rachel Strong Carnahan, Cypress, addressed the City Council regarding her qualifications and interest in serving. City Council discussion ensued. A motion was made by Council Member Chang, and seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Medrano to nominate Rachel Strong Carnahan. The motion passed by the following roll call vote: AYES: 3 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Burke, Chang, Medrano NOES: 1 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Peat ADJOURNMENT Mayor Burke adjourned the meeting at 6:25 p.m. to an adjourned Regular Meeting, to be held on Monday, December 8, 2025, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Executive Board Room. 6///.-\ lit4 DAVID BURKE, MAYOR ATTEST: LISA A. BERGL D, CITY CLERK