TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Krishna Namburi, Interim City Manager
FROM: Council Board and Commission Appointments Committee
SUBJECT:
title
Appointments to the Budget Committee, Public Art Commission, and Downtown Advisory Board.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance.
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SUMMARY:
summary
The Council Board and Commission Appointments Committee convened on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, to consider appointments to the Budget Committee, Downtown Advisory Board, and Public Art Commission.
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council appoint those recommended by the Council Board and Commission Appointments Committee (B&C Committee) to the Budget Committee, Downtown Advisory Board, and Public Art Commission?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Appoint those recommended by the Council Board and Commission Appointments Committee (B&C Committee) to the Budget Committee, Downtown Advisory Board, and Public Art Commission.
body
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
At its August 27, 2025, meeting, the Council Board and Commission Appointments Committee recommended the following for appointment without interviews.
Budget Committee
Jennifer Murray: full term representing Ward 3 expiring 6/30/28
Downtown Advisory Board
Scott Hossner: full term representing a Business or Property Owner within the Riverfront-Downtown Urban Renewal Area expiring 12/31/27
Eddie Zapien: partial term representing a Business or Property Owner within the Riverfront-Downtown Urban Renewal Area expiring 12/31/25
Public Art Commission
Jesus Escobar: partial term representing the Community At-Large expiring 12/31/26
BACKGROUND:
Council Rule 18 sets forth procedures for filling vacancies on the City Council, Planning Commission and the Budget Committee. The B&C Committee makes recommendations on these appointments and other board and commission appointments. Subsection (c) of Rule 18 provides that the B&C Committee shall review applications and determine whether the applicants are qualified and otherwise eligible to serve. The Committee shall make recommendations to the Mayor (for mayoral appointments) or Council (for council appointments). Council shall determine if the applicants shall be interviewed, and that any member of council may review all applications submitted and move that an applicant not otherwise recommended by the Committee be considered for appointment.
The B&C Committee is not recommending interviews for any of the applicants, however, Council may determine that interviews for any of the applicants are appropriate. If Council determines to conduct interviews, the date of the interviews shall be set at a date convenient to Council.
Budget Committee
The Budget Committee consists of the entire City Council and nine appointed resident members who analyze and recommend a budget to the City Council. Resident members terms are three years.
Downtown Advisory Board
The 11-member Downtown Advisory Board advises the Urban Renewal Agency on matters related to urban renewal and tax increment fund allocations, and the City Council on matters related to the Downtown Parking District and the Parking Fund.
Public Art Commission
The seven-member Salem Public Art Commission is charged with overseeing the City’s public art collection and recommending the Public Art Fund annual budget to City Council.
Attachments:
1. Application – Jennifer Murray (redacted); Budget Committee
2. Application – Eric Zapien (redacted) Downtown Advisory Board
3. Application – Scott Hossner (redacted) Downtown Advisory Board
4. Application – Jesus Escobar (redacted) Public Arts Commission