Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Ray Mueller, District 3
Subject: Appointment to the San Mateo County Planning Commission
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation for the appointment of Matthew Burrows to the San Mateo County Planning Commission, representing District 3, for an initial partial term through December 31, 2026.
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BACKGROUND:
The Planning Commission serves the County and its communities by preparing, administering, and enforcing land use plans and development regulations that protect public safety, preserve agricultural and environmental resources, address housing and transportation needs, and create healthy and prosperous communities, in a manner that fosters community engagement and provides exceptional levels of service.
Pursuant to the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, a Commissioner shall be appointed to the Planning Commission from each of the County’s five supervisorial Districts. Members are limited to three consecutive full terms of office. For purposes of determining the number of consecutive terms that a member may serve, any person appointed to fill a vacancy on the Commission will be considered to have served a full term if there are two or more years remaining in the term to which appointed, determined as of the date of appointment to fill the vacancy; and any person appointed to fill a vacancy on the Commission with less than two years remaining in the term as of the date of appointment will not be considered to have served a full term.
DISCUSSION:
Pursuant to the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, commissioners serve for a term coinciding with the Supervisor’s term. Matthew Burrows is being recommended as a District 3 representative on the Planning Commission, a seat formerly held by Lisa Ketcham, whose untimely passing brought great loss to the community as a 25+ year resident of the coastside and years of dedicated service since her initial appointment was approved by the Board of Supervisors in December 2018.
With less than two years remaining in the existing term, Matthew Burrow’s term is to be deemed a partial term per Ordinance Code. Approval of this appointment will reflect as an initial partial term coinciding with Supervisor Ray Mueller’s term through December 31, 2026.
Matthew Burrows currently lives in Half Moon Bay, the Third District. Matthew is a Los Altos native and has been a San Mateo County resident since 2004. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree in History from California State University, Hayward (now East Bay), he has been employed in the tire industry, spending the last 25 years with Yokohama Tire Corporation. He has served in a number of executive and account management roles with Yokohama, including 7 years as the Western United States Consumer Sales Director. Outside of his job, since 2006 he has also found time to serve on the Board of the non-profit group Green Foothills, currently serving on the Advisory Board.
Through his work in both the nonprofit and public sectors and a variety of other pursuits, he has developed a diverse mix of skills, from customer service and negotiation to years of experience reviewing development and land use proposals across San Mateo County.
A Coastside CERT graduate, he also currently serves on the Board of the California Tire Dealers Association, the Steering Committee of the Canada Cove COPE (Organized Plan for Emergencies) and is a member of the Half Moon Bay PG&E Action Coalition, a group of business and community leaders working with the City of Half Moon Bay to improve PG&E service in southern Half Moon Bay and San Mateo County.
For the past 41 years, he has also administered the Frank Burrows Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is dedicated to supporting mathematics students and programs in the East Side Union High School District in San Jose.
An avid explorer, Matthew has traversed every back road and hiked every trail in San Mateo County, which has nurtured a deep love for the beauty and quality of life in our county and a desire to serve.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.