Boards and Committees
Application to Serve on City Boards, Committees & Commissions:
The application will be used for considering an appointment to a City board, committee or commission.
Download the application for Adobe Acrobat (PDF)(PDF, 89KB)
The application in MS Word format(DOC, 38KB)
Please return your completed form to:
Office of the Mayor
PO Box 3366
West Palm Beach, FL 33402
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
As a condition of receiving State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds, the City is required to adopt a Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) and submit the Plan to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation for approval. The LHAP is developed for a three-year period and sets forth the local strategies and criteria for administering the SHIP funds. In accordance with statutory requirements, jurisdictions are required to establish an Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) for the purposes of evaluating and/ or identifying affordable and workforce housing incentive strategies. The key role of the Advisory Committee is to prepare the AHAC report and evaluate its implementation at least every three years. The AHAC report identifies incentive strategies and recommendations for implementation by the Mayor and City Commission.
Section 420.9076 of the Florida Statutes outlines AHAC requirements, including the deadlines for assembling a committee, considering specific incentive strategies, and submitting a report.
AHAC members no longer required to be appointed by resolution (unless required by local government Charter).
The committee shall consist of at least eight (8), but no more than 11, members and must consist of one (1) representative from at least six (6) of the 11 categories.
The term of office for each member is three (3) years
Contact: Jennifer Ferriol at (561) 822-1250
Members of this board:
Carol Jones-Gilbert
Claudio Costa
Jordan Davis
Jordan Rathlev
Nicholas Bixler
Nicholas Rojo
Shalonda Warren, City Commissioner, District 2
Suzanne Cabrera
Terri Murray
William Corrente
Artlife WPB Committee
Meets: 1st Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. in the Mayor's Board Room 2FL
Description: Advisory committee, comprised of seven (7) members and two (2) alternate members.
Purpose: Advises Mayor and City Commission on the acquisition, commissioning and maintenance of works of art in public places.
Contact: Sybille Welter at (561) 822-1521
Members of this Board:
Dack Patriatca
Elizabeth Martinez
Jamnea Finlayson
Jessica Ransom
Jill Paschal Harris
John Rawley
Leslie Xavier Francisco
Mabelys Melton
Tacara Chambers
Audit Committee
Meets: Once a quarter, on the 3rd Thursday of the month, at 9 a.m., in the Flagler Gallery.
Description: The Audit Committee is comprised of five (5) members and chaired by the President of the City Commission.
Purpose: It provides oversight and general direction to the internal audit function.
Contact: Beverly Mahaso at (561) 822-1380
Members of this Board:
Carolyn Williams-Smith
David Rosenstein
Cathleen Ward, City Commission President
Seth Lipson
Civil Service Board
Meets: 1st Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. in Human Resources
Description: Comprised of five (5) members and one (1) alternate member
Purpose: Adopts and amends regulations for the selection, examination, qualification, registration, employment and promotion of employees and holds hearings on appeals of disciplinary actions and employee complaints
Contact: Jose Luis Rodriguez at (561) 494-1000
Members of this Board:
Bennett Evans Greene
Darlene Edic-Crawford
Janie O. Peters
Mavis Carroll-Emory
Ryan C. Booker
Community Redevelopment Agency
Meets: 1st Monday of each month in the Commission Chambers, generally at 4 p.m., depending on the size of the agenda.
Description: The West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency was created in 1985 and authorized by Florida's Community Redevelopment Act of 1969 (Florida Statutes 163, Part III), the initial Downtown CRA was joined by the Northwood/Pleasant City CRA in 1993, to guide the city in its redevelopment efforts.
Purpose: Develop and administer the Community Redevelopment Plan that addresses the unique needs of the targeted area.
Contact: Christopher Roog, at (561) 822-1550
Members of this Board:
Mayor Keith James
Commissioner Cathleen Ward
Commissioner Christina Lambert
Commissioner Christy Fox
Commissioner Joseph A. Peduzzi
Commissioner Shalonda Warren
Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board
Meets: 4th Friday of the Month in the Community Room at Fire Station No. 5, 5050 Broadway at
8 a.m.
Description: Comprised of 11 members
Purpose: Liaison between the community within the Northwood / Pleasant City District boundaries and the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board. Recommendations apply to the Northwood Village/Pleasant City/Broadway districts of the CRA. Study, review and provide recommendations, guidance and advice as to matters relevant to the purposes and goals of the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency.
Contact: Christopher Roog, at (561) 822-1550
Members of this Board:
Alyassia Taylor
Angela Ogburn
Craig Glover
Gregory M. Gryczan
John Carpenter
Michael Howe
Robin Galanti
Roger Pisaneschi
T. Denise Williams
Thais R. Sullivan
William Meredith Holland, Jr.
Construction Board Of Adjustments & Appeals
Meets: 3rd Thursday of each month at 2 p.m. in the Commission Chambers
Description: Comprised of seven (7) members
Purpose: Reviews applications for contractor licenses to operate within the city and holds hearings for disciplinary action against such licenses. Hears appeals of decisions of the Building Official and considers variances of the technical codes
Contact: Robert Brown at (561) 805-6652
Members of this Board:
Daniel T. Caravan
Eric Piotke
Everett C. Fennell
Larry B. Rowe
Matthew Marks
Michael J. Stellino
Polly Daugherty
Criminal Justice Advisory Committee
Meets: 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8 a.m. in the Police Department's Community Room - 600 Banyan Blvd.
Description: Comprised of seven (7) members
Purpose: Advises on issues of crime prevention, law, enforcement deployment & community education in criminal justice matters.
Contact: Chief Frank Adderley at (561) 822-1613
Members of this Board:
Ashi Colina
Beverly Elliott Morrison
Clarence D. Williams, III
Ivory Paulk
Jay Nisberg
Kevin Harris
Leon M. Lipstick
Downtown Action Committee (DAC)
Meets: 2nd Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m., City Commission Chambers, City Hall
Description: Comprised of seven (7) members and two (2) alternate members
Purpose: Reviews all applications for appeals, variances and special use permits in the downtown master plan area and acts as the Zoning Board of Appeals for the downtown master plan area
Contact: Claudia Ibaven at (561) 822-1402
Members of this Board:
Bradley "Brad" McPherson
Brian Cheguis
Brian Laura, D. Arch.
Gregory Gabriel
Kim Do
Michael Bakst
Nicholas "Nick" Mihelich
Roger P. Janssen
Samuel Grace
Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
Meets: 3rd Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m., 301 Clematis Street, Suite 200, DDA Board Room.
Description: Comprised of seven (7) members
Purpose: Serves in the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the downtown area.
Contact: Teneka James-Feaman, M.B.A., at (561) 833-8873
Members of this Board:
Bernardo Neto
Daryl Houston
Peter Cruise, Ph.D
Richard V. Reikenis
Robert Sanders
Samantha Bratter
Timothy K. Harris
Education Advisory Committee
Meets: last Thursday each month at 5:30 p.m. - Mayor's Board Room.
Description: An Advisory Committee comprised of 10 members
Purpose: Established to assist the City in communicating with the Palm Beach County School Board and the schools located within the City of West Palm Beach. To report to the City Commission any recommendations, observations, concerns or other information the EAC deems is in the best interest of the public for the City Commission to receive regarding education and education facilities.
Contact: Commissioner Liaison Cathleen Ward, Phone: (561) 822-1391, cward@wpb.org
Members of this Board:
Daniel Vidaurre
Luis Miguel Lancho
Marcia M. Bedasse
Maximillian Kaye
Nancy Bourne
Nancy Stellway
Olivia Le
Pranati Kumar
Renetta Espinoza
Ta'Naysha S. Johnson
Employee Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee (457)
Meets: Contact: Human Resources (561) 494-1000
Description: Comprised of seven (7) members
Purpose: reviews administration, management, and responsibility for the proper operation of the deferred compensation plan
Members of this Board:
Alden C. Wilder
Bridget Souffrant
Christopher Brett
Janice Long Collins
Jose Luis Rodriguez
Richard McConnell
Employee Defined Contribution Administrative Committee (401a)
Meets: Contact: Human Resources (561) 494-1000
Description: Comprised of five (5) members
Purpose: reviews the general administration, management, and responsibility for the proper operation of the employee retirement system
Members of this Board:
Alva Stark
Bridget Souffrant
Jose Luis Rodriguez
Lisa Hathaway
Employees Defined Benefit Retirement System Board Of Trustees
Meets: 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m., Room 519 in City Hall
Description: Comprised of seven (7) members
Purpose: General administration, management, and responsibility for the proper operation of the employees retirement system
Contact: A.C. Lovingood, Resource Centers, LLC., Phone: (561) 624-3277
Members of this Board:
Armando Fana
Benny E. Rodgers
Bridget Souffrant
Christopher T. Harrison
Jose Luis Rodriguez
Leon Pinder
Stephen Hunter
Firemen’s Pension Board Of Trustees
Meets: 1st Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at Fire Station No.1, 500 North Dixie Highway
Description: Comprised of five (5) members
Purpose: General administration, management, and responsibility for the proper operation of the Firefighters retirement system
Contact: Scott Baur, Phone: (561) 624-3277 (Resource Centers, LLC)
Members of this Board:
Brian Walker
David Merrell
Elizabeth Fugler
Jeffrey J. Stefaniak
Julian Cover
Historic Preservation Board
Meets: Every fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m., Commission Chambers, City Hall
Description: Comprised of seven (7) members and two (2) alternate members
Purpose: Reviews and approves all changes to historically designated structures within the city in accordance to the Historic Preservation Ordinance
Contact: Benjamen Salata at (561) 822-1457
Members of this Board:
Amanda Herrick-Skier
David Burck
Gabriel Jaroslavsky
Gerald Buxbaum
James Murphy
Jeff Sheldon
Kristin H. Kellogg
Kyle Watters
Trent Swift
Library Advisory Board
Meets: Every 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m., Mandel Public Library, 411 Clematis Street, 3rd Floor
Description: Comprised of seven (7) members
Purpose: Makes recommendations for the guidance of the library activities
Contact: Lisa Hathaway at (561) 868-7787
Members of this Board:
Ginny L. Coyle
James Richard Larson
Leesa Conley-Harding
Leo R. Parry
Nicola Murray
Poulomy Chakraborty
Nuisance Abatement Board
Meets: 1st Thursday of each month at 5 p.m., Commission Chambers, City Hall
Description: Comprised of five (5) members and two (2) alternates
Purpose: Hears cases on properties cited for drug activity, prostitution, or gang activity
Contact: Lina Busby at (561) 822-1350
Members of this Board:
Andre Baxam
Elizabeth Fountain
Laura R. Cole
Michael George
Marion Gross
Ronald E. Warmecke
Taniel Koushakjian
Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee
Meets: 2nd Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m., in the Parks & Recreation Conference Room, 3rd floor, City Hall.
Description: Comprised of nine (9) members
Purpose: Addresses all matters affecting the City’s parks, open spaces, and recreational programs.
Contact: Leah Rockwell at (561) 804-4904
Members of this Board:
Jacquelyn E. Taylor
Julie Hastrup
Mary Murphy
Matthew Goldberger
Michael R. Odum
Niels Heimeriks
Patricia J. Sned
Perry Douglass
Phil Growick
Planning Board
Meets: 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., Commission Chambers, City Hall
Description: Comprised of seven (7) members and one (1) alternate member.
Purpose: Recommends policies for physical development and advises in the preparation of the Comprehensive Plan, and considers whether specific proposed developments conform to the Plan.
Contact: Angella Jones-Vann at (561) 822-1441
Members of this Board:
Deborah G.R. Raing
Jean G. Marseille, Jr.
Patrick Mayfield
Peter C. Pivko, AIA
Sam Fisch
Steve Mayans
William Corrente
Police Pension Board Of Trustees
Meets: 2nd Friday of each month (on call). Police Benevolent Association Hall, 2100 North Florida Mango Road
Description: Comprised of five (5) members
Purpose: General administration, management, and responsibility for the proper operation of the Police retirement system
Contact: David M. Williams at (561) 471-0802
Members of this Board:
Dana M. Fragakis
Jonathan"Jack" Frost
Joseph Ahern
Sean Williams
Troy Marchese
Small Business Committee
Meets: For meeting information please contact (561) 822-2104
Description: Comprised of seven (7) members
Purpose: Considers/decides any appeals of decisions by the manager of the City’s Small Business Division to not certify, firm or business, under Chapter 66 of the City Code
Contact: Frank Hayden at (561) 822-2104
Members of this Board:
Alice V Zahniser
Elena E. Contreras
Geoffrey C. Burdick
Seth Schwartz
Tammy S. Thomas-Anthony
Thais R. Sullivan
Sustainability Advisory Committee
Meets: 1st Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m., in the Flagler Gallery, City Hall
Description: Comprised of nine (9) members
Purpose: The focus of the Committee is to help advance the sustainability goals of the City, please see generalized goals below.
General goals of the committee include:
(a) Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste, and employ environmentally-responsible products and technologies.
(b) Promote the use of methods, systems and materials that do not deplete natural land, water, and energy resources or harm natural cycles.
(c) Encourage the growth of green businesses and green jobs within the city, as well as the adoption of sustainable practices by existing businesses.
(d) Empower every resident of the city, regardless of social demographics or economic means, by informing city residents of practical and attainable ways to live sustainably.
(e) Lead by example as a green municipality.
(f) Work cooperatively with leaders in the nonprofit and academic communities, the private sector, the State of Florida, the Federal government and local governments throughout Palm Beach County and South Florida in matters relating to sustainability.
(g) Encourage sustainability as an integral part of the future development of the city.
(h) Develop and implement a city-wide sustainability action plan.
Contact: Penni Redford at (561) 804-4981
Members of this Board:
Chaitanya Banthia
Emma Hughes
Geoffrey Jarvis
John Tuckus
Julia Winton
Polly Daugherty
Rajeev Kamal
Robert Goheen
Rod A. Braun
Water Advisory Board
Meets: Quarterly on 1st Thursday of each quarter at 4 p.m. in the Public Utilities Conference Room.
Description: Comprised of nine (9) members
Purpose: The Water Advisory Board serves in an advisory capacity to the City Commission with respect to matters relating to long-range planning for the City’s public water system and in matters relating to the development, use and management of water resources within the City.
Contact: Darrel Graziani at (561) 822-2275
Members of this Board:
Danielle Moore
Harriet M. Sacher
Justice Ira Raab
Kathy Willowghby
Myles Schack
Serge D'Haiti
Steven Scherer
Toni Glymph-Martin
Watersheds Advisory Committee
Meets: As Needed
Contact: Ralph Wall at for meeting information
Description: Comprised of nine (9) members
Purpose: Reviews the City's Watershed Programs
Contact: Ralph Wall at rwall@wpb.org, Phone: (561) 805-6661
Members of this Board:
Antonio Duboy
Bharat Gupta
Craig Kahle
Daisy Perry
Eric Sain
Lon Sabella
Richard E. Wade
Robert Norberg
West Palm Beach Housing Authority (WPBHA)
Meets: 3rd Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. at the WPBHA, 1715 Division Avenue
Description: Comprised of seven (7) members
Purpose: Oversees public housing developments
Contact Linda Odum at (561) 655-8530
Members of this Board:
Christopher Chase
Denise Smith-Barnes
Larry D. Brown
Malcom Joy
Suzanne Turner
Tanzanika Lillard
Yolanda S. Wilson
Zoning Board Of Appeals
Meets: 1st Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m., Commission Chambers, City Hall
Description: Comprised of five (5) members and two (2) alternate members
Purpose: Hears and decides appeals when errors of order, requirement or the decision made by the zoning officer
Contact: Angella Jones-Vann at (561) 822-1441
Members of this Board:
Alfred J. Fields Jr.
Christopher Heggen, P.E.
Christopher Kammerer
Dana Picotte
Emeline Savidge
Jonathan Burgess
Matthew Craig Chambers