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Sejal Patel / Community Forest Advisory Committee / Commission Appointment / Michael Bircumshaw / Alternative Representative / Mayor

Council File 23-1200-S94

Under review — Sejal Patel's reappointment to the Community Forest Advisory Committee is waiting for the Energy and Environment Committee to hold a hearing and vote on extending her term through June 2028.

Introduced
2023-03-21
Last changed
2026-08-17
Status
open
Expires
2028-08-14
Committee
Energy and Environment Committee
Initiated by
Mayor

Brief

The Mayor appointed Sejal Patel to the Community Forest Advisory Committee for a term ending June 30, 2024, approved by City Council in June 2023. In May 2024, the Mayor submitted a reappointment of Patel for a term ending June 30, 2026, which Council approved 13-0-2 in June 2024. In December 2024, Michael Bircumshaw was approved as an Alternate Representative to the committee. A new Mayor document arrived in August 2026 and is currently pending in the Energy and Environment Committee.

Full summary

This file tracks the appointment and reappointment of Sejal Patel to the Community Forest Advisory Committee, a body that advises the City Council on tree policy, urban forestry expansion, biodiversity, and equitable distribution of the benefits of the urban forest. The initial appointment was submitted by Mayor Karen Bass on March 21, 2023, for a term ending June 30, 2024. The Energy and Environment Committee approved it on May 26, 2023, and City Council adopted it on June 16, 2023. In May 2024, the Mayor submitted a reappointment for Patel to serve through June 30, 2026. The Energy and Environment Committee approved the reappointment on June 14, 2024, and Council adopted it on June 25, 2024, by a vote of 13-0-2. Separately, in December 2024, Michael Bircumshaw was approved by the Mayor and Commission President as an Alternate Representative for the Mayor's seat on the committee, under the established alternate appointment procedure. On August 14, 2026, Mayor Bass submitted a second reappointment of Patel to the committee for a term ending June 30, 2028, noting that her prior term had expired on June 30, 2026. The reappointment package was referred to the Energy and Environment Committee on August 17, 2026, and is currently awaiting a committee hearing. Patel, a South Los Angeles resident and Vice President of Innovation and Economic Development at Rising Communities, holds a master's degree in Forest Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida and brings a background in sustainability, environmental policy, and community equity work to the role.

Activity (17)

  • 2026-08-17 Mayor document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2026-08-14 Document submitted by Mayor, dated August 14, 2026.
  • 2024-12-18 Pursuant to Council action establishing the alternate appointment procedure (Council file No. 91-2372), Michael Bircumshaw has been approved by the Mayor and Commission President as an Alternate Representative to the Community Forestry Advisory for the Mayor.
  • 2024-06-26 Council action final.
  • 2024-06-25 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 2024-06-21 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on June 25, 2024.
  • 2024-06-14 Energy and Environment Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2024-06-10 Energy and Environment Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on June 14, 2024.
  • 2024-05-21 Mayor document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2024-05-20 Document(s) submitted by Mayor, as follows:Mayor report, dated May 20, 2024, relative to the reappointment of Ms. Sejal Patel to the Community Forest Advisory Committee, for the term ending June 30, 2026.
  • 2023-06-20 Council action final.
  • 2023-06-16 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 2023-06-13 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on June 16, 2023.
  • 2023-05-26 Energy and Environment Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2023-05-19 Energy and Environment Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on May 26, 2023.
  • 2023-03-22 Mayor document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2023-03-21 Document(s) submitted by Mayor, as follows:Mayor report, dated March 21, 2023, relative to the appointment of Ms. Sejal Patel to the Community Forest Advisory Committee, for the term ending June 30, 2024.

Documents (16)

Council votes (1)

  • 2024-06-25 Adopted — 13-0-2 · Regular

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