Karen Sims picked for GVRD board

For the second time in as many years the Greater Vallejo Recreation District Board of Directors has gained a new board member.

The Vallejo City Council appointed Karen Sims to the fiveperson board on Tuesday. She will replace longtime director Wendell Quigley.

“I’m very excited,” Sims said by phone on Wednesday. “Part of my focus will be on making sure we continue to serve kids.”

Sims cited sustaining the agency’s after school program and repairing the John F Cunningham Aquatic Complex in East Vallejo as her major goals.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Sims received support from five councilmembers including Mayor Bob Sampayan, Vice Mayor Pippin Dew, and councilors Hakeem Brown, Katy Miessner, and Robert McConnell.

Meanwhile, longtime director Gary Salvadori received another four-year term on the board when he picked up nominations from Dew, Sampayan, and councilmembers Rozzana Verder-Aliga and Hermie Sunga.

Brien Farrell received three nominations, while Christa Anderson received two.

Both terms expire on Dec. 31, 2023. The board oversees the direction and finances of the independent recreational district. Three of the directors are appointed by the Vallejo City Council, the other two are picked from the Solano County Supervisors who represent Vallejo.

The council appointed Robert Briseno in January 2018 to replace Liat Meitzenheimer, who served as a director for 17 years. She did not apply for another term.

Councilors also appointed locals to several other city-wide commissions.

Former Vallejo City Council candidate Latressa Alford was picked to fill a vacancy on the city’s Design

Review Board. The five-person board is tasked with approving or rejecting unit plans for various development projects in the city.

Alford was an unsuccessful council candidate during the 2016 council elections. Her term ends on June 30, 2023.

Councilors appointed Rick Weyrich to the Beautification Commission for a term which ends on June 30, 2023. Stacey Loew and Kenneth Mullen each earned four-year terms to the Commission on Culture & the Arts.

The council also renamed Fred Cavalli and Wanda Madeiros to the Code Enforcement Appeals Board for terms to expire on Dec. 31, 2023.

Finally, Ylonda Calloway, Kelly Browning and Judy Thomas were named to the Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee. Lynda Daniels and Corrine Quinn representing the NAACP were also appointed to the steering committee.