Title
Board/Commission Appointment - Parks & Recreation Board
Recommended Action
I nominate Paula Knepper, Lahni Zollinger, Karen Williams, and Kathleen Gauss to fill three vacancies on the Parks and Recreation Board and move that Council appoint three nominees to the vacant positions as follows:
By roll call vote, Councilors will vote for three nominees. The three nominees receiving the highest vote totals of four or more votes will be appointed to terms beginning December 1, 2026, and ending November 30, 2028.
Body
The purpose of this item is to fill three (3) vacancies on the Parks & Recreation Board. This vacancy represents Paula Knepper, an incumbent seeking reappointment. The remaining two vacancies result from George Marsden completing two two-year terms and Jacob AlderseBaes electing not to seek reappointment following a one-year term.
Applications were received from:
• Lahni Zollinger (DTS)
• Kathleen Gauss (D)
• Paula Knepper (D)
• Karen Williams (D), and
• John Key. [Note: Mr. Key subsequently withdrew his application following his appointment to the Environmental Sustainability Board.]
Interviews were held on September 11, October 21, and October 23, 2026. The interview panel consisted of Council Liaison Theresa Cull; Parks and Recreation Board Chair Brian Watkins; Vice Chair Jerry Cowan; and Staff Liaisons Wendy Parker and Katherine Hudspeth.
The interview panel recommends appointing Paula Knepper, Lahni Zollinger, and Kathleen Gauss to the Parks and Recreation Board for terms beginning December 1, 2026, and ending November 30, 2028.
Party affiliations are noted as [D] Democrat, [R] Republican, [I] Independent, [G] Green, [L] Libertarian, [DTS] Declined to State, and [N] Not Registered to Vote. Appointing any of these applicants will not violate the County Charter restriction concerning political party majorities on Boards and Commissions. These affiliations have been verified with the Clerk's Office.
This seven (7) member board has two (2) year terms, and the current roster is listed as part of Attachment A.
Attachments
A - PRB Board Roster
B - Application Packet for Kathleen Gauss
C - Application Packet for Paula Knepper
D - Application Packet for Karen Williams
E - Application Packet for Lahni Zollinger
F - Interview Panel Recommendation