TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Krishna Namburi, City Manager
FROM: Council Boards & Commissions Appointments Committee
SUBJECT:
title
Council Boards & Commissions Appointment Committee recommendations to the Citizens Advisory Traffic Commission, Community Police Review Board, Cultural and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board, Salem Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, Salem Public Art Commission, and Salem Public Library Advisory Board.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance
end
SUMMARY:
summary
Salem City Council’s Boards & Commissions Appointments Committee convened on May 29, 2026, to consider applications for appointments to numerous Boards & Commissions, as well as a small number of requests for reappointment. The Committee’s recommendations are listed under the Facts and Findings section of this report. Attached to this report are the redacted applications for all applicants recommended to each Board & Commission.
end
ISSUE:
Shall City Council appoint and reappoint the applicants identified in this report?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Appoint and reappoint the applicants identified in this report.
body
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Citizens Advisory Traffic Commission
Appoint Laura Buhl to a term #1 expiring 12/31/2028.
Appoint Gary Obery to a term #1 expiring 12/31/2028.
Community Police Review Board
Appoint Lora Walker to a term #1 expiring 01/01/2028.
Cultural and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board (Mayor’s recommendation)
Mayor Julie Hoy recommends Theresa Scott be appointed to a term #1 expiring 06/30/2029.
Salem Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
Appoint Marilyn Harbur to a partial term expiring 12/31/26.
Salem Public Art Commission
Appoint Seth Short to a term #1 expiring 12/31/2028.
Salem Public Library Advisory Board
Reappoint Debbie Lockhart to a term #2 expiring 06/30/2029.
Reappoint David Levy to a term #2 expiring 06/30/2029.
Appoint Jonathan Castro Monroy to a partial term ending 06/30/2028.
Appoint Mawadda Amboun to a partial term ending 06/30/2027.
BACKGROUND:
City Council by motion required all members of boards and commissions to successfully pass a criminal background check. That requirement has been implemented and was applied for this round of applicants. All recommended appointees successfully passed the background check.
Citizens Advisory Traffic Commission - Authority: SRC Chapter 5
No special membership requirements.
Community Police Review Board - Authority: SRC 20I
City Council shall consider civic participation within the community, residency within the City of Salem, criminal history, and commitment to the goals of the Board, ethnic and cultural diversity including demonstrated life experiences of training in cultural or ethnic diversity, experience with police officers in general. In addition to making criminal history a mandatory criterion for all boards and commissions, council also approved providing a preference for at least one position on this board for a person that has been a victim of felony crime. The software that administers the application process for these positions is in the process of being replaced and this question will be asked of applicants to the CPRB once the new system is implement, which is expected in July-August of this year.
Cultural and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board - Authority: SRC Chapter 16
Appointment qualifications: Residents or place of business in the City, one member shall be a representative of the for-profit tourism industry.
Salem Parks & Recreation Advisory Board - Authority: SRC Chapter 13
One member shall be an arboricultural expert. Members shall be chosen from among such persons concerned with and interested in the development of public parks and playgrounds and like public places in the city. Members shall be residents of or have their places of business in the City of Salem.
Salem Public Art Commission - Authority: SRC Chapter 15, Ordinance No. 6-10
Two members experienced in the arts, art education or art criticism; two members experienced in museum curation, art restoration or art appraisal; two members experienced in architecture or landscape architecture, real estate development or community foundations; and one representative from the community at-large.
Salem Public Library Advisory Board - Authority: SRC Chapter 18
No special membership requirements.
Attachments:
1. Laura Obery (redacted)
2. Gary Obery (redacted)
3. Lora Walker (redacted
4. Theresa Scott (redacted
5. Marilyn Harbur (redacted)
6. Debbie Lockhart (redacted)
7. David Levy (redacted)
8. Jonathan Castro Monroy (redacted)
9. Mawadda Amboun (redacted)
10. Seth Short (redacted)