HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2c - Appointment to the Foothill Unity Center Board
DATE: November 21, 2017 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager
By: Michael Bruckner, Assistant to the City Manager SUBJECT: APPOINTMENT OF GARY KOVACIC TO THE FOOTHILL UNITY
CENTER BOARD
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
On October 23, 2017, the City of Arcadia received a letter from the Foothill Unity
Center, Inc. (the “Center”) requesting that Arcadia resident and former Mayor Gary
Kovacic be reappointed as the City’s representative to the Foothill Unity Center Board
(the “Board”) retroactive to April 2016. Mr. Kovacic was term-limited from the City Council in April 2016, but has continued to serve on the Board under the Elected Official
designation instead of as the City Council’s representative for the City’s seat on the
Board. Therefore, the Center is requesting that the City Council reaffirm Mr. Kovacic’s
appointment as its official representative. Due to Mr. Kovacic’s experience with the
Board and current tenure, it is recommended that the City Council affirm Mr. Kovacic’s appointment to the Foothill Unity Board as its designated representative retroactive to
April 2016.
DISCUSSION Foothill Unity Center, Inc. has been serving low-income families and those in crisis
for more than 30 years. Founded in 1980 in a church closet to provide food to a few
hungry families, the Center has become the major source of food, health services and
crisis assistance for at least 4,000 low-income families in the Pasadena, Altadena,
South Pasadena, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Duarte, Azusa, Baldwin Park and Irwindale area. In 1991, the Center was incorporated. In 2008 it was federally
designated the Community Action Agency for the Foothill Area of Los Angeles County.
Appointment of Gary Kovacic to the Foothill Unity Board November 21, 2017
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The State of California Community Services Department requires Community Action
Agencies to form a tripartite Board of Directors equally comprised of directors
representing: 1) the Low Income Sector, 2) Elected Public Officials or their
representatives, and 3) Community Representatives of business, organizations, or private parties. If reappointed, Mr. Kovacic would serve as the City’s representative in the “Elected Public Officials or their representative” category. Mr. Kovacic has served on
the Board since 2009, and was reappointed in 2012 and 2016 to successive four year
terms. Although his term on the Board will not expire until 2020, Mr. Kovacic’s status
has changed due to his being termed out of office, resulting in the Center seeking the City Council’s affirmation that Mr. Kovacic may continue as the City’s representative. The City Council may reaffirm Mr. Kovacic’s appointment as their representative, can
choose a member of the City Council, or select another designee to represent the City.
FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council affirm the appointment of Gary Kovacic to the Foothill Unity Center Board of Directors as its designated representative retroactive to
April 2016.
Attachment: Letter from Foothill Unity Center