The Los Angeles City Charter Reform Commission Tuesday selected five additional members from a pool of more than 100 applicants, who are expected to join the panel that will recommend major changes to city governance.
After conducting its inaugural meeting last week, the seven-member commission met Tuesday and selected Carla Fuentes, Michael Yap, Diego Andrades, Andrea Mac and James Thomas to join their ranks.
These five individuals are expected to be considered by the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee on Friday, followed by a full vote by the City Council as soon as next week.
Fuentes is a social innovation manager for the Goldhirsh Foundation. The organization bills itself as a “$60 million, 100% mission-aligned foundation that supports innovation via its financial, human and social capital,” according to its website.
Michael Yap is the vice president deputy general counsel for AUCTANE, a software solutions and logistics provider. Andrades serves as the assistant director for USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future.
Thomas is an assistant professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State Los Angeles. Mac is a program coordinator for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment.
The initial seven members — Mona Field, Robert Lewis Jr., Raymond Meza, Melinda Murray, Christina Sanchez, Martin Schlageter and Ted Stein — were selected by elected officials.
Commissioners elected Meza as interim chair and Sanchez as vice chair. Another vote on the chair and vice chair is expected once the full commission is set.
Once the remaining five members are confirmed, the group is expected to convene July 19 for its next meeting.
The panel will review the City Charter to recommend changes. According to Mayor Karen Bass’ office, subjects for review may involve expanding the City Council, delivery of city services, contracting processes, revising the city’s budget process, and censure and suspension of elected officials.
Recommendations from the commission will be submitted to the City Council in early 2026 for possible inclusion on the November 2026 ballot.
In June 2024, the council and Bass established the commission, culminating months of work by the Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance Reform. The effort came in response to a leaked 2022 audio recording of racist comments made by then-City Council members Gil Cedillo, Kevin de León and Nury Martinez which sparked public outrage.
The commission consists of four members selected by Bass and two each by the City Council president and president pro tempore.
President Pro Tempore Bob Blumenfield is expected to make an appointment, replacing a commissioner who resigned, to formally complete the 13-member commission.