Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Jackie Speier, District 1
Subject: Appointment and Reappointment to the Arts Commission
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation for an appointment and a reappointment to the San Mateo County Arts Commission, representing District 1, each for a term ending December 31, 2028:
A) Rachel Aloycius, appointment for an initial term; and
B) Stephen Seymour, reappointment for a second term.
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BACKGROUND:
The Arts Commission was created to promote and encourage the arts, to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors, to prepare and update the County’s strategic and cultural plan, and act as a liaison with arts organizations in order to ensure collaboration and coordination related to culture and art activities in San Mateo County.
DISCUSSION:
Rachel Aloycius and Stephen Seymour are each being recommended to represent District 1 on the Arts Commission for terms ending December 31, 2028, coinciding with District 1 Supervisor Jackie Speier’s first term in office.
Rachel Aloycius’s seat was previously held by Mahdad Nassiri whose appointive term ended December 31, 2024 coinciding with former District 1 Supervisor Dave Pine’s term year-end. Stephen Seymour has served on the Commission for six years since his 2019 appointment under former District 1 Supervisor Dave Pine, and was subsequently reappointed for an inadvertent term end of 2026 instead of coinciding with former Supervisor Dave Pine’s term year-end of December 2024. Upon approval of this reappointment, his term reflects a second full 4-year term for Stephen of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028, coinciding with District 1 Supervisor Jackie Speier.
Rachel Aloycius is the founder and director of Creative Corner, which leads community-based arts programming in collaboration with local schools, libraries, senior centers, and nonprofit organizations, and she serves as a Community Partner at Skyline College, mentoring students through paid internships, job readiness training, and career preparation. She is also a PTA Volunteer Classroom Representative at Franklin Elementary School, supporting arts curriculum development and after-school programming, and a Volunteer Art Instructor at public arts workshops for children, families and underserved youth.
Stephen Seymour is a current San Mateo County Arts Commissioner and San Bruno Arts Commissioner. He has previously served on the San Bruno Traffic Parking and Safety Committee, San Bruno Rotary Club, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Board, United Way of the Bay Area Board, and as President of the San Bruno Lions Club. He has also been a volunteer with the American Legion Post 409, San Bruno Senior Center, Second Harvest, and Burlingame Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Volunteer.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.