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Home My WebLink AboutCC Board of Library Trustees Interviews____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: July 15, 2021 Disposition: Reappointed Jaimi Cortes and appointed Alex Vahdat to fill two four-years terms to the end of April 2025 Special Meeting Agenda Item No: 4 Meeting Date: July 15, 2021 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Department: City Clerk Prepared by: Lindsay Lara, City Clerk City Manager Approval: ___________ TOPIC: BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES INTERVIEWS SUBJECT: INTERVIEW APPLICANTS AND MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO FILL TWO FOUR-YEAR TERMS TO THE END OF APRIL 2025 ON THE BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES DUE TO THE EXPIRATION OF TERMS OF ROBERT ROSS AND JAIMI CORTES RECOMMENDATION: Interview the following applicants and make appointments to fill two four-year terms to the end of April 2025 on the Board of Library Trustees due to the expiration of terms of Robert Ross and Jami Cortes. Name Alexander Vahdat Arlene Sukolsky Braydan Young Jaimi Cortes Reily Urban BACKGROUND: The terms of Jaimi Cortes and Robert Ross expired at the end of April 2021. The City Clerk’s office recruited for applications and received five (5) applications by the deadline of July 7, 2021. The Board of Library Trustees is an advisory board that meets monthly with responsibility to provide support to library administration, work to support the process for a new library, serve as advocates for the Library to the City Council, and help increase the visibility of the Library in the community. Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 ANALYSIS: The deadline for submitting applications was July 7, 2021 and the City Clerk’s Office received five (5) applications. Staff recommends the City Council interview the five (5) eligible applicants and make appointments to fill the two terms. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: The call for applications for the Board of Library Trustees was advertised through mass email notification, Canal Alliance, the City website, Nextdoor and Facebook social media platforms. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Interview the five applicants and make appointments to fill two four-year terms to the end of April 2025 on the Board of Library Trustees. ATTACHMENT: 1. Five (5) Applications 2. Municipal Code Excerpt Boards and Commissions Application 1 / 3 Q1 Contact Information First and Last Name Alexander Vahdat Address City/Town San Rafael State/Province CA ZIP/Postal Code 94903 Email Address Phone Number Q2 What Board would you like to apply to? Board of Library Trustees Q6 How long have you lived in San Rafael? Four years Q7 Business Information Company Keegin Harrison LLP Address 1000 Fourth Street, Suite 600 City/Town San Rafael ZIP/Postal Code 94901 #9#9 COMPLETECOMPLETE Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Tuesday, June 15, 2021 12:00:44 PMTuesday, June 15, 2021 12:00:44 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Tuesday, June 15, 2021 12:07:13 PMTuesday, June 15, 2021 12:07:13 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:06:2800:06:28 IP Address:IP Address: 107.140.70.25107.140.70.25 Page 1 Page 3 District 4 Boards and Commissions Applic ation 2 / 3 Q8 How did you hear about this vac ant position? Other (please s pec ify ): Email Q9 Do you partic ipate in any c iv ic ac tivities? If s o, what are they? I am a member and f ormer political director of the Marin County Young Democ rats . I am also involv ed in the Marin County Bar As sociat ion where I serv e on the Programs Committee and Pro Bono Committ ee. I also c ommit time to pro bono legal serv ic es through Legal Aid of Marin. Through Legal Aid, I have helped indigent tenants during unlawful detainer proc eedings as well as prov ide general advic e to indigent clients. Q10 Lis t any civ ic organizations of which y ou are a m ember: Marin County Young Democrats Marin County Bar As soc iation Q11 Education: B.A. - UC Dav is J .D. - UC Dav is Sc hool of Law Q12 Why are you interested in s erving on a board or c om m iss ion? The library provides such an integral s ervic e for c ommunity members of all ages. Coming out of the pandemic, I would love t o help link the community with t he library more to help our resident s and ens ure San Rafael k nows of this great resource av ailable to them. Q13 Describe pos sible areas in whic h you may have a conflict of interest with the City: N/A Q14 Upload your resume. Vahdat resum e.pdf (218.1KB) Page 4: Demographi cs Boards and Commissions Application 3 / 3 Q15 Ethnicity Q16 To which gender do you most identify? Q17 How old are you? Alexander S. Vahdat , San Rafael, CA 94903 ▪ ▪ Phone: Experience________________________________________________________________________ Keegin Harrison LLP San Rafael, CA Associate March 2019—Present • Conducted bench trial, drafted and argued motion for summary judgment, and prepared other pre-trial motions in multifaceted shareholder dispute concerning $80 million company. • Negotiated settlement on behalf of tax consulting firm with large national bank including analysis of client’s work recovering California sales and use tax credits for bad debts. • Lead attorney defending employment action brought by company’s former sales director involving allegations of unpaid commissions and breach of contract regarding equity stake in company. • Resolved commercial litigation concerning complex marketing and design agreement. Keller Grover LLP San Francisco, CA Associate November 2015—February 2019 • Successfully settled class action lawsuit against major technology company regarding product malfunction; legal and factual analysis directly led to adding nearly 100,000 members to class. • Primary responsibility for discovery to and from search engine company in California JCCP privacy class action that eventually merged into federal MDL action. • Initiated qui tam action against major Northern California medical provider, factual and legal analysis of which led directly to intervention by United States Department of Justice. • Developed and drafted policy and legal arguments for amicus curiae brief on behalf of United States Senator in appellate case regarding qui tam litigation. Carlson Calladine & Peterson LLP San Francisco, CA Associate April 2013—March 2015 • Successfully argued demurrer in Superior Court resulting in dismissal with prejudice of causes of action against client. • Primary drafting responsibility for numerous substantive motions such as summary judgment motions, demurrers and anti-SLAPP motions in state and federal courts. • Deposed person most knowledgeable of company operations which facilitated favorable settlement for client. Professional Affiliations_______________________________________________________________ • State Bar of California, Member, Admitted December 2012. • Bar Association of San Francisco; Marin County Bar Association . Publications_________________________________________________________________________ • Strategy Note regarding Strategic Considerations Cost of Proof Sanctions with Requests for Admission to be published in two CEB guides. Education___________________________________________________________________________ University of California, Davis School of Law Juris Doctor, May 2012 • UC Davis Business Law Journal, Articles Selection Editor; 2011 University of Buffalo Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition; 2012 Fordham University Securities Moot Court Competition • Clerking Experience: o UC Davis Civil Rights Clinic (January—June 2012); York Law Corporation (May— August 2011); San Francisco District Attorney (June—August 2010) University of California, Davis Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, June 2007 Boards and Commissions Application 1 / 2 Q1 Contact Information First and Last Name arlene sukolsky Address Address 2 City/Town San Rafael State/Province Ca ZIP/Postal Code 94901 Email Address Phone Number Q2 What Board would you like to apply to? Board of Library Trustees Q6 How long have you lived in San Rafael? 17 years (in 2 stages) Q7 Business Information Company retired Q8 How did you hear about this vacant position? City Manager's Newsletter #10#10 COMPLETECOMPLETE Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Tuesday, June 15, 2021 1:46:33 PMTuesday, June 15, 2021 1:46:33 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Tuesday, June 15, 2021 1:50:44 PMTuesday, June 15, 2021 1:50:44 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:04:1100:04:11 IP Address:IP Address: 24.5.26.13424.5.26.134 Page 1 Page 3 District 2 Boards and Commissions Application 2 / 2 Q9 Do you participate in any civic activities? If so, what are they? Volunteer at San Rafael Library Book store. See resume for more detailed information Q10 List any civic organizations of which you are a member: See Resume Q11 Education: BA Liberal Arts Q12 Why are you interested in serving on a board or commission? My entire life has been devoted to books and libraries as well as other civic pursuits Q13 Describe possible areas in which you may have a conflict of interest with the City: none Q14 Upload your resume. Respondent skipped this question Q15 Ethnicity Q16 To which gender do you most identify? Q17 How old are you? Page 4: Demographics Boards and Commissions Application 1 / 3 Q1 Contact Information First and Last Name Braydan young Address City/Town San Rafael State/Province CA ZIP/Postal Code 94901 Email Address Phone Number Q2 What Board would you like to apply to? Board of Library Trustees, Design Review Board, Fire Commission, Pickleweed Advisory Committee, Planning Commission, Special Library Parcel Tax Oversight Committee Q6 How long have you lived in San Rafael? 4 years #2#2 COMPLETECOMPLETE Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Tuesday, July 06, 2021 10:27:55 PMTuesday, July 06, 2021 10:27:55 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Tuesday, July 06, 2021 10:30:06 PMTuesday, July 06, 2021 10:30:06 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:02:1000:02:10 IP Address:IP Address: 73.92.87.6273.92.87.62 Page 1 Page 3 Boards and Commissions Applic ation 2 / 3 Q7 Busines s Inform ation Company Sendoso Addres s 114 Bayo Vista Way City/Town San Rafael ZIP/Pos t al Code 94901 Q8 How did you hear about this vac ant position? City Manager's Newsletter Q9 Do you partic ipate in any c iv ic ac tivities? If s o, what are they? I am on t he financial overs ized committee. Q10 Lis t any civ ic organizations of which y ou are a m ember: Sfmoma ov ersite f inanc e committee Q11 Education: College f or bus ines s Q12 Why are you interested in s erving on a board or c om m iss ion? Would love to give back Q13 Describe pos sible areas in whic h you may have a conflict of interest with the City: Na Q14 Upload your resume. Respondent skipped this question Boards and Commissions Application 3 / 3 Q15 Ethnicity Q16 To which gender do you most identify? Q17 How old are you? Page 4: Demographics Boards and Commissions Application 1 / 3 Q1 Contact Information First and Last Name Jaimi Cortes Address City/Town San Rafael State/Province CA ZIP/Postal Code 94903 Email Address Phone Number Q2 What Board would you like to apply to? Board of Library Trustees Q6 How long have you lived in San Rafael? 9 years Q7 Business Information Company Marin Community Foundation Address 5 Hamilton Landing City/Town Novato ZIP/Postal Code 94949 #1#1 COMPLETECOMPLETE Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Monday, June 28, 2021 12:33:27 PMMonday, June 28, 2021 12:33:27 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Monday, June 28, 2021 12:57:38 PMMonday, June 28, 2021 12:57:38 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:24:1000:24:10 IP Address:IP Address: 76.126.110.15376.126.110.153 Page 1 Page 3 District 4 Boards and Commissions Applic ation 2 / 3 Q8 How did you hear about this vac ant position? Other (please s pec ify ): I am current board c hair and term ended; heard from Cit y Clerk Q9 Do you partic ipate in any c iv ic ac tivities? If s o, what are they? Yes , I have been a member of the Library Board of Trustees for the pas t 4 y ears. I am the co-lead of the DEI c ommittee for Vallec ito Elementary s c hool (and have been an activ e sc hool v olunteer in pre-pandemic ). I am a c ertified Red Cros s volunteer s upport ing res idential dis asters . Q10 Lis t any civ ic organizations of which y ou are a m ember: Americ an Red Cros s San Rafael Public Library Vallecito Elementary Q11 Education: BA in Political Science and Women's Studies, UCLA Masters in Bus ines s , Pepperdine Univ ers ity Q12 Why are you interested in s erving on a board or c om m iss ion? I have enjoyed supporting the library, its wonderful staff and muc h-needed services f or the pas t 4 years. I would look forward to s eeing where the nex t 4 y ears leads as we focus on cont inuing div ersity and equity practic es, build more inc lusiv e spac es and engage our c ommunity. I will als o cont inue t o be a champion for the new library (I have als o been on t he s ubcommittee for the work). Q13 Describe pos sible areas in whic h you may have a conflict of interest with the City: Not applicable Q14 Upload your resume. JCortes Resume 062821.pdf (149.4KB) Page 4: Demographi cs Boards and Commissions Application 3 / 3 Q15 Ethnicity Q16 To which gender do you most identify? Q17 How old are you? JAIMI N. CORTES, MBA  San Rafael, CA  94903  PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE MARIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Senior Philanthropic Advisor 2/19-Present • Work closely with over 60 individuals to help them achieve impactful giving through customized research, strategy development, and educational opportunities. • Lead in creating new business offerings including a gender and race equity framework, and integrated services model to BIPOC philanthropists. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR Philanthropy Consultant 5/18-2/19 • Developed and refined new grantmaking systems, workflows, processes and policies for a $130 million startup national foundation. • Project management support for the $29 million investment portfolio of over 80 projects including program evaluation, outcome measurement, budget review and data analysis. THE WOMEN’S FOUNDATION OF CALIFORNIA Senior Program Manager, Oakland, CA 10/14-12/17 • Collaborative strategist fulfilling dual role of Program Officer and Grants Administrator engaging hundreds of nonprofits, over 10 donor advised funds and funder collaboratives, and Board members to award more than $6 million for grants focused on equal rights, policy advocacy, education and community development. • Oversaw entire grantmaking process from proposal development, due diligence, approval and award disbursement, monitoring, and financial requirements to ensure alignment with the Foundation’s mission. • Overhauled and significantly improved grant and program operations including the selection, evaluation, training, migration and initiation of a new grantmaking software system and workflow processes. • Led the Foundation’s largest grantmaking workforce initiative of $1.4 million including program design, budgeting, research and analysis, evaluation and measurement, and technical assistance. Engaged and facilitated a 20-person peer network of nonprofits, funders, policy-makers and private sector partners that came together biannually to focus on capacity building, program delivery improvements and professional development trainings. TAPROOT FOUNDATION Pro Bono Consultant, San Francisco, CA 4/14-11/14 • Project manager and strategic advisor for the United Way of the Bay Area client to identify and strengthen values- based best practices building a robust pathway to employment for low-income and disconnected youth. • Conducted field research and data analysis, interviewed over 20 local businesses and Fortune 500 corporations across multiple industries, and surveyed employers to directly connect the client to new sponsors and partnerships impacting 7,000 youth who were placed in jobs or internships. • Created key messages and positioning platforms for implementation into business development strategies with findings and recommendations presented to executive team and board. FIRST 5 LA Program Officer, Los Angeles, CA 7/08-4/12 • Designed and implemented a community investment initiative that maintained a monthly formal partnership of 200 local leaders, businesses, public officials and nonprofit partners to advance systems and policy change. • Co-writer and interdepartmental liaison on $600 million strategic plan which included best practices, national research, outreach and regional administration to support effective processes and organizational learning. • Created an integrated marketing communications strategy to educate the public about First 5 LA’s efforts which included collateral such as brochures, flyers, formal and informal presentations, and email campaigns. • Managed $8 million evidence-based grantmaking portfolio of school districts and nonprofits which included monitoring grant objectives and fiscal compliance to support early childhood education. • Led a $56 million, 42-project initiative to provide capacity building, technical assistance, sustainability planning, professional development trainings, and comprehensive service integration. PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK Community Outreach Manager, El Segundo, CA 3/07-7/08 • Led outreach and support to Southeastern United States region which resulted in 12 new affiliates and a 70% increase in volunteers which grew a pipeline into designated markets. • Primary relationships manager for over 200+ national volunteers providing partnership development, public relations, and advocacy support. • Increased the regional annual revenue goal by 28% through targeted development and leveraging strategies. PHFE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS Director of Operations (Aztecs Rising program), Los Angeles, CA 12/05-2/07 • Directed daily administrative, programmatic and financial operations including supervision of 22 staff and 6 office sites for one of the organization’s largest clients. • Led the strategic planning process with key stakeholders to produce a three-year final plan to create an effective infrastructure and guide the organization’s growth. EDUCATION Pepperdine University • Master of Business Administration, Leadership Concentration • Global Business Intensive (Shanghai, China) University of California, Los Angeles • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Women’s Studies CURRENT LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT American Red Cross, Certified On-Call Disaster Volunteer Vallecito Elementary School, DEI Committee Co-Lead San Rafael Public Library, Board of Trustees UCLA Alumni Association, Freshman Scholarship Committee National Society of Hispanic MBAs, Member Boards and Commissions Application 1 / 3 Q1 Contact Information First and Last Name Reily H. Urban Address City/Town SAN RAFAEL State/Province California ZIP/Postal Code 94901 Email Address Phone Number Q2 What Board would you like to apply to? Board of Library Trustees Q6 How long have you lived in San Rafael? Over 17 years, first in Sun Valley and now in Glenwood. Q7 Business Information Company Ross Valley School District Address 110 Shaw Drive City/Town San Anselmo ZIP/Postal Code 94960 #1#1 COMPLETECOMPLETE Collector:Collector: Web Link 1 Web Link 1 (Web Link)(Web Link) Started:Started: Thursday, July 01, 2021 12:32:44 PMThursday, July 01, 2021 12:32:44 PM Last Modified:Last Modified: Thursday, July 01, 2021 1:09:51 PMThursday, July 01, 2021 1:09:51 PM Time Spent:Time Spent: 00:37:0700:37:07 IP Address:IP Address: 71.198.122.19771.198.122.197 Page 1 Page 3 District 3 Boards and Commissions Applic ation 2 / 3 Q8 How did you hear about this vac ant position? Friend Q9 Do you partic ipate in any c iv ic ac tivities? If s o, what are they? I was an activ e member of the Madis on, NJ Chamber of Commerc e (www.madisonnjchamber.org), a c o-president of the Marin Parents of Multiples (www.mpomc .org), and a long time ev ent v olunteer and producer f or public radio in So Cal (www.kc rw.org). I would VERY much lik e to be ac tiv e on t he board of trus tees for the SR Library, and am considering applying to the San Rafael Leadership Ins tit ute (through t he SR Chamber of Commerc e) if I am not s elected for the library board. Q10 Lis t any civ ic organizations of which y ou are a m ember: I am an activ e member of the parent-led, nonprofit fundrais ing organization, WeAreSR!, for the San Rafael High School; I s olely manage t he new stadium's commemorativ e bric k program (www.bulldogbrick s .org) for them. In other words , "I'm the Brick Lady!" Q11 Education: I hold a BFA in interior des ign, was an honors graduate, and receiv ed a f ull Cal Grant A, academic s c holars hip. I am c urrent ly applying to graduate programs to s eek my mas ter's degree in Library and Inf ormat ion Scienc es (MLIS). Q12 Why are you interested in s erving on a board or c om m iss ion? I love San Rafael, and I love k nowing about and effec ting positiv e change in ALL the communities I have lived in as an adult . And now that my 16 year old twins are more independent as teens, I have more time with whic h to give back to San Rafael. Als o, my long term goal is to be hired as a Children's Librarian at the San Rafael Public Library - I t hought this volunteer board would allow me to guide this vital civic plac e of learning NOW instead of later, after I f inis h graduate s c hool. Q13 Describe pos sible areas in whic h you may have a conflict of interest with the City: None that I Know of, although my hus band's bus iness (in which he is a partner), is located in the Canal Dis t rict on Lis bon (Urban Painting, Inc .). Q14 Upload your resume. REI LY_URBAN_RESUME.pdf (103.9KB) Page 4: Demographi cs Boards and Commissions Application 3 / 3 Q15 Ethnicity Q16 To which gender do you most identify? Q17 How old are you? R E I L Y H. U R B A N a: San Rafael CA 94901 p: Library Specialist BROOKSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | San Anselmo, CA www.rossvalleyschools.org/brookside Re-vamped the enXre nonficXon collecXon and beginning reader ficXon Xtles in just over two years. Created an engaging, weekly library-class Xme experience for all grades that aligned with Reader’s Workshop curriculum, and with an emphasis on biographies and geography. Invited by the Dean of Students to parXcipate in the district equity training program over the course of 18 months. To date, have added over 2,500 Xtles to the Brookside Library uXlizing a combined state and county, Yes! FoundaXon, and Brookside Parent Club budgets for Brookside. Re-invigorated teaching student library researching skills with a special emphasis on the Dewey Decimal instrucXon, and to improve student confidence visiXng any library they walk in to. January 2017 to present Children’s Book Fair Program Assistant BOOK PASSAGE BOOK STORE | Corte Madera, CA www.bookpassage.com Primary liaison with schools in San Francisco and Marin County hosXng book fairs with Book Passage. Prepped, staged, and set up book fairs on-site at school campuses. Trained volunteers to run registers and place re-orders, and oden stayed upon the fair’s opening to suggest Xtles to parents and young readers. August 2016 to December 2016 Book Fair Chair GLENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | San Rafael, CA glenwood.schoolloop.org Produced four annual book fair events for the Glenwood School FoundaXon in partnership with Book Passage. Created annual themes (i.e. “Splash into Summer, Dive into Books!”), and wrote markeXng copy for posters, flyers, email promos, and morning announcements. Supervised 20+ volunteers throughout set-up, training, sales, and breakdown. Coordinated with authors and speakers to akend special Book Fair evening events and school- wide assemblies. Glenwood Book Fairs conXnually surprised Book Passage by generaXng the highest per capita sales for their book fairs in Marin County. March 2013 to May 2016 Partner SAN FRANCISCO MERCANTILE | Madison, NJ www.facebook.com/San-Francisco-MercanXle Engineered the complete re-launch of our family’s decades-old business – a bouXque for women founded in 1979. We took the store bay down to the studs and transformed the space into an upscale, 1 light-filled gathering spot. Completed the renovaXon (including demoliXon and perminng), in just six weeks, and brought this very complicated project to compleXon without going over budget. Annual sales increased nearly 20% ader our grand reopening, and held at this new level for two straight years. As a very acXve member of the Madison Chamber of Commerce, we successfully parlayed their sponsored events into direct sales for our store, and expanded our customer base for our select mailing list. Produced two annual West Coast holiday trunk shows at private Marin residences. June 2011 to December 2015 Co-President & Event Producer MARIN PARENTS OF MULTIPLES | Marin County, CA www.mpomc.org Co-directed a 501(c)3 nonprofit volunteer-run parents’ support group, focused solely on families with twins and higher order mulXples. Our long-running nonprofit served (and conXnues to serve) over 300 members each year by offering parenXng classes, group playdates, holiday parXes, a monthly newsleker, and a vital, private email group chat that provides much-needed advice to club “rookies.” Re-wrote the MPOMC website and created a brochure to place in pediatric offices. Co-produced two of the famed MPOMC annual Consignment Sale that filled the Marin Catholic gymnasium top to bokom! March 2005 to December 2010 Sales Associate & MarkeCng Manager O OLIVE OIL | Petaluma, CA www.ooliveoil.com Managed O’s independent retailer accounts in the US and Canada. Hired and trained O food demonstrators we placed in regional gourmet food stores. Responsible for producing two naXonal tradeshows each year. Spearheaded several media outreach programs to test kitchens, food editors, and bloggers. Focused on placing O’s gid line in regional winery gid shops. Full and part ?me from 2003 to 2013 Director of CommunicaCons ACTION ENGINE CORP. | Seakle, WA (Acquired by Mobui) Helped launch a wireless plasorm company with three execuXve founders. In just two years, we recruited a former Microsod engineer as CEO, raised $14 million in venture capital funding, and grew our start-up to 48 employees, with offices in both Seakle and London. My over-arching responsibility was to create a unique corporate idenXty and culture, and develop key messaging for a trend-senng, early- adopter demographic. 2000 to 2002 Senior Account ExecuCve TICKETS.COM, INC. | Marina Del Rey, CA www.Xckets.com Recruited specifically by the CEO during the dot com boom (based on my long-running work with a renowned and eccentric public radio staXon), to head up performing arts and family venue clients for Tickets.com. 1998 to 2000 2 Development Associate & Special Events Coordinator KCRW 89.9FM | Santa Monica, CA www.kcrw.org Ader six years of volunteering for special events, was officially hired by KCRW’s development department. Our team’s sole job was to secure funding for this trend-senng and naXonally recognized public radio staXon via corporate sponsorship and underwriXng. 1991 to 1998 NaConal Account Manager BERMAN ROSETTI FURNITURE | Los Angeles, CA www.bermanrosen.com Hired to be the first ambassador of an architect’s burgeoning line of modern, table-craded furniture. Directly handled outside sales in the greater Los Angeles area, and also responsible for visiXng and training showroom staff in major design centers around the country, including Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and Denver. Began a publicity campaign, directly corresponding with décor magazines, and received editorial coverage in such noteworthy publicaXons as House Beau?ful, Home & Garden, and INTERIOR DESIGN. 1993 to 1994 Account RepresentaCve HINSON & CO. | Los Angeles, CA (Acquired by Donghia) Showcased a range of specialty goods from a high-end fabric company by traveling to meet with Southern California’s premier interior designers and architects in their studios. Covered greater Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and Santa Barbara, and visited both commercial design and residenXal design accounts. 1991 to 1993 Awards •Best Re-Launch – awarded unanimously to our family’s bouXque, San Francisco MercanXle, by the Madison Chamber of Commerce in 2012. •Computerworld Smithsonian Award – wrote the white paper that garnered our start-up, AcXon Engine, one of only five naXonal finalist spots (out of 122 companies) for the Business & Related Services category in 2000. •Cal Grant A – awarded a full academic scholarship for college tuiXon fees. EducaCon Bachelor of Fine Arts DESIGN INSTITUTE OF SAN DIEGO | La Jolla, CA www.disd.edu Top honors graduate with an emphasis in the history of architecture and decor. Worked within the design industry part Xme and full Xme throughout my enXre college career. 1989 to 1995 3 From: Reily Urban Date: June 16, 2020 at 6:08:29 AM PDT  To: RVSD Public Comments <comment@rossvalleyschools.org>  Subject: A STORY ABOUT A LIBRARY To the RVSD Board, Dr. R. Bagley, and Ms. M. Trahan - I am aware that many colleagues, parents, and other community members are writing to you on behalf of us - the RVSD Library Specialists - to persuade you to keep our school libraries open for the 2020-21 school year. I have also heard (correctly or incorrectly) that this resolution to eliminate many classiﬁed positions (including ours), is already decided, and that the upcoming board meeting discussing this resolution is more of a formality, versus a true vote to decide whether or not to eliminate certain classiﬁed positions. I was therefore torn about writing my own letter. On one hand, I am an energetic, passionate, involved citizen, so of course I would stand up for what I believe to be a short-sighted decision on behalf of our students’ education and well being! And on the other hand, I felt decidedly like Eeyore: deﬂated and gloomy, muttering, “Why bother?” What good could yet another letter possibly do? Everyone else already seemed to be writing and listing all the reasons I had had in my draft letter about WHY our libraries should be kept open. What more could I add? “Nothing,” I kept telling myself. And then I realized that while I couldn’t add another reason why our libraries should remain open, I could certainly share a story about my library with you - a story about a quiet, powerful, magical moment when my job transcended daily work, and transformed into something truly special. This exchange happened about two years ago, during a ﬁrst grade afternoon class (when everyone feels a bit tired and acts a bit grumpy like Eeyore). I was following around a trio of bored, whip-smart kiddos, hoping to navigate them back to the early reader ﬁction section, when the ring-leader turned to me and asked, “Do you have any books about tornadoes?” Caught off guard, for a split second I stood mouth agape, and then (thankfully) snapped back into reality and replied, “Why, yes I do! Follow me!” The Musketeers (as I fondly called them thereafter) proceeded to check out our entire collection of savage weather books over the next few weeks, and then quickly moved on to another (but related) Dewey range covering natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis. And when they ﬁnished with those books - and were sorely disappointed that there were no more (alas!) - I leaned over with a twinkle in my eye and whispered, “What do you know about mummies?” of 1 2 And this, Dear Reader, is how I came to expand (1) our initially slim weather section to include blizzards, (2) our dated natural disaster collection to include books of ALL levels about volcanos, and (3) the predictable Egyptian mummy books to include mummy traditions from cultures around the world (who knew?) - because of three seven-year old boys. I am not exaggerating when I say that that moment with the Musketeers altered my vision for the library. I decided to create a weird and wonderful book collection to entice and surprise our young readers, especially those reluctant young readers! Fascinating books about the history of trash, about dogs who help scientists count hard-to-ﬁnd endangered species (aptly called “poop detectives”), about jazz musicians and hijabs. These are just a few examples of the diverse titles discovered and purchased these last few years, and it has been pure joy. It has also been a LOT of work to clean out and turn around the Brookside library. But I’m not done, and I don’t intend to abandon an unﬁnished community treasure to which I’ve been given stewardship. I won’t. I urge you all to PLEASE consider the many cost-saving OPTIONS you have before you that might allow the Ross Valley School District libraries to remain open - full time or part time - just OPEN. Our students need this invaluable resource; it is an archive of our times. Sincerely, Ms. Reily Urban Brookside Library Specialist "Books are a uniquely portable magic." ~ Stephen King of 2 2 17656006.1 Hanson Bridgett LLP 1000 4th Street, Suite 700, San Rafael, CA 94901 ALLISON C. SCHUTTE PARTNER DIRECT DIAL (415) 995-5823 DIRECT FAX (415) 995-3490 E-MAIL aschutte@hansonbridgett.com July 6, 2021 VIA E-MAIL AND U.S. MAIL (city.clerk@cityofsanrafael.org) City Council, City of San Rafael C/O Lindsay Lara, City Clerk 1400 Fifth Ave., Rm. 209 San Rafael, CA 94901 Re: Recommendation for Reily H. Urban to the San Rafael Board of Library Trustees Dear Council Members: I write to you with an enthusiastic recommendation for Reily Urban to the Board of Trustees. I first encountered Reily's leadership skills and love of reading during her role producing four book fairs at Glenwood School in partnership with Book Passage. In addition to running the events, Reily also wrote marketing copy for all collateral materials, including flyers, posters, emails and supervised more than 20 volunteers for a week-long program, including set-up, decoration, sales and breakdown. The four-day fair resulted in more than $10,000 in revenue each year, with only 450 students in the school. The success from these individual school book fairs led to Reily's employment with Book Passage to implement book fairs and culminated in Reily's current position as Library Specialist at the Brookside School in San Anselmo. To say that Reily loves books and is committed to the mission of the Library is an understatement. She has founded book clubs, regularly posts on social media with reviews and recommendations for youth and adult books, and has a long history of community engagement and leadership in San Rafael. She was an active member, consignment sale leader and ultimately President of the very active Marin Parents of Multiples Club; is active in her East San Rafael neighborhood; and, is active with the San Rafael High School PTO as leader of the Bulldog Brick fundraising program. Prior to moving to San Rafael, she was a seven-year volunteer at LA's premier public radio station, KCRW. She began answering phones during the pledge drive, and worked her way up to training hundreds of other volunteers, managing the phone room during pledge drives and ultimately being hired by the Development Department. Once engaged, Reily regularly increases her commitment to community organizations to achieve fantastic results. I strongly recommend Reily for the open Trustee position. Regards, Allison C. Schutte Partner SAN RAFAEL CHARTER ARTICLE IX Public Library, Section 1. BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES. There shall be a board of library trustees to be appointed by the council, the exact number of which shall be set by ordinance or resolution of the council, one of whom may be a councilman. The members of the board shall serve for a term of four years and shall be subject to removal by the affirmative vote of three members of the council. The terms of office of members of the board shall be staggered in the manner provided by resolution of the council. The board of library trustees shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed or conferred in this charter or by the ordinances of the city. (Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 121, August 20, 1973: Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 46, May 31, 1967.) 2.16.030 Board of library trustees. A board of library trustees is created. (Ord. 889 § 6, 1967) 2.16.031 Trustee membership--Compensation. The board of library trustees shall consist of five members appointed by the city council, one of whom may be a councilman. All members shall serve without compensation. (Ord. 889 § 7 part), 1967) 2.16.032 Trustee term of office and removal. The members of the board of library trustees shall serve for a term of four years and shall be subject to removal by the affirmative vote of three members of the city council. The terms of office of members of the board of library trustees shall be staggered in the manner provided by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 889 § 7 (part), 1967) 2.16.033 Trustee powers and duties. Subject to the direction and control of the city council, as provided in Section 2.04.030 of this code, the powers and duties of the board of library trustees shall be: To assess and evaluate current and long-range needs of the library; to formulate and adopt policies, rules and regulations with respect to programs and facilities to meet such needs of the community, including recommendations for sites and design of facilities. Such formulations and adoptions shall be made in conjunction with recommendations of the librarian; To review, comment and make recommendations regarding the annual operating budget of the library; To receive, and review periodic reports from the librarian concerning the general operations and functions of the library; To recommend ways to inform the citizens of San Rafael as to the various programs, services, and assistance which the library affords all citizens; To promote intergovernmental cooperation in the development of library services, patronage and usage; To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the city council. Ord. 1131 § 3, 1974: Ord. 889 § 7 (part), 1967).