To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: M. Christina Rivera 707-565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Approve the Reappointment of Anthony Withington to the Independent Citizens’ Pension Committee for a two-year term beginning September 12, 2025, and ending on September 11, 2027. (Countywide)
End
Executive Summary:
The Board of Supervisors are responsible for appointments to over 75 Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces. Vacancies and upcoming expiring appointments are posted on the County’s list of Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces website: <https://sonoma-county.granicus.com/boards/w/808bd6e42edf8e0f>.
Rule 50 of the Board Rules of Procedures states that the Clerk of the Board shall convene staff to review prospective countywide appointments and make appointment recommendations to the Board. The current item recommends appointment of Anthony Withington to the Independent Citizens’ Pension Committee.
Discussion:
Approve the reappointment of Anthony Withington to the Independent Citizens’ Pension Committee.
Anthony Withington has served on the Committee since September 12, 2017, and he has expressed interest in continuing serving on the Committee. The Board adopted pension reform as one of its key priorities, with a goal of ensuring a fair, equitable, and sustainable pension system for taxpayers and employees. In April 2017, the Board created the new 7-member Committee to represent the best interests of the entire community in a non-partisan manner, and to help improve communication between the County and residents on pension issues. The scope of the Committee is intended to improve accountability and transparency of the County’s pension reporting and provide a way for the County to engage citizens in the process of developing and refining its pension reform strategies. The Board approved Resolution #17-0177 on April 25, 2017, outlining the Committee’s scope and charter.
Mr. Withington has served on the Committee since its inception in September 2017, and he has served as Committee Chair since 2019. Mr. Withington has been a long-standing volunteer in service to Sonoma County Regional Parks, having been a member of the parks Measure M Citizens Oversight committee and the Sonoma County Parks Foundation, and he also serves on Sonoma County’s Civil Service Commission.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
4/22/2025: Approved the re-appointment of Lilo Kangas to an additional 2-year term on the Committee ending on May 9, 2027.
12/3/2024: Approved the re-appointment of Bill Robotka, John Hadzess, and Peter Vranich to an additional 2-year term on the Committee ending on December 6, 2026.
8/22/2023: Approved the re-appointment of Anthony Withington to an additional 2-year term on the Committee ending on September 12, 2025.
5/9/2023: Approved the appointment of Lilo Kangas to a 2-year term on the Committee ending on May 9, 2025.
12/6/2022: Approved the re-appointments of John Hadzess and Bill Robotka, and the initial appointment of Peter Vranich, to a 2-year term on the Committee ending December 6, 2024.
9/21/2021: Approved the re-appointment of Anthony Withington to an additional 2-year term on the Committee ending on September 11, 2023.
12/8/2020: Approved the appointment of Bill Robotka to a 2-year term on the Committee ending on December 9, 2022.
11/17/2020: Approved the re-appointment of John Hadzess and Martin Jones to an additional 2-year term on the Committee ending on September 11, 2022.
3/24/2020: Approved the revised Committee charter.
01/14/2020: Approved the re-appointment of Anthony Withington and Peggy Betchley to an additional 2-year term on the Committee ending on September 11, 2021.
09/12/2017: Appointed seven individuals to serve on the newly created Independent Citizens Pension Committee.
04/25/2017: Adopted Resolution #17-0177 to establish an ongoing Independent Citizens Pension Committee and approved its charter.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Committee members receive a $75 stipend for attending each Independent Citizens Pension Committee meeting.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
N/A
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board: