Sunset over golden hills

Citizens’ Advisory Committee

OUR PURPOSE

The Citizens' Advisory Commitee's (CAC) purpose, as established by the Board of Directors, is to provide many avenues of input to and from the Open Space Authority's diverse communities. Members provide a broad representation of interests within the Authority's jurisdiction. CAC members are appointed by the Board to serve two-year terms.
There are fifteen members on the Committee. They include: seven District Representatives (the boundaries are the voting districts of each of the Directors elected to serve on the Board of Directors), and eight At Large members.

Committee Members

  • DISTRICT 1 REPRESENTATIVE

    Erin Gil

    2-year term
    (2024-2026)

    Erin Gil is a second generation farmer living and growing in Santa Clara County. He is a small business owner, along with his sister. His community experience includes membership with the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association (president 2000), Santa Clara County Chapter of the California Farm Bureau Federation (past president two terms), Valley Water Community Board Member for Landscape Advisory Committee(1991 – 2002) and the Agriculture committee (2023 -current). Erin enjoy bike riding regardless of whether it is on a road, mountain or gravel roads. He also enjoys spending time with his family in nature.
  • Frank Cancilla

    DISTRICT 2 REPRESENTATIVE

    Frank Cancilla

    2-year term
    (2024-2026)

    Frank Cancilla has been involved in the Berryessa Community since 2010, holding positions that include President of the Berryessa Business Association and Chair/President of the Berryessa Art Festival. Frank was formerly a member of the Measure Q Expenditure Oversight Committee for 5 years and recently transitioned to become a member of the CAC to expand and diversify his involvement in protecting Open Space by advocating for the benefits of Open Space in our communities, for the environment and for the public’s well-being.
  • Robert Sippel profile picture

    DISTRICT 3 REPRESENTATIVE

    Robert Sippel

    2-year term
    (2024-2026)

    Robert Sippel spent his summers on his grandfather’s ranch where he raised grain and cattle and also has experience with raising Morgan horses. Robert is a tireless volunteer, working with the Human Rights Committee, the Santa Clara County Trail Watch, the Guadalupe Community Garden, the Guadalupe River Task Force, and the SJPD Citizen Advisory Committee. He and his wife currently volunteer at the Historical Rose Garden at Grant Ranch on Mount Hamilton and he is the president of the Rose Garden Neighborhood Association. In 2005, Robert was presented with the Martin Luther King award for his work on ethnic issues. He greatly enjoys being outdoors and hiking.
  • DISTRICT 4 REPRESENTATIVE

    Alyson Falwell

    2-year term
    (2024-2026)

    Alyson Falwell joined the Citizens’ Advisory Committee in 2023. She is a lifelong hiker and has traveled all around the world hiking peaks and trails in Asia, Australia, South America, and Europe. An avid user of Open Space Authority trails, Alyson is excited to contribute to the Open Space Authority as a member of the Committee and hopes to inspire others to enjoy and protect the precious local natural resources. Alyson has a Master’s degree in Public Health and works at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. She is passionate about the power of nature and movement as medicine to help heal the mind, body, and spirit.
  • Loren Lewis

    DISTRICT 5 REPRESENTATIVE

    Loren Lewis

    2-year term
    (2023-2025)

    Loren Lewis was born in Santa Clara County and has lived in South San Jose all his life. By trade, he is a high tech project manager with a Masters in Political Science and substantial coursework in sustainability, water resource management, and environmental policy. Loren came to know the Open Space Authority through training several hours each week year-round as a competitive trail runner. He has a particular affinity for wildflowers.
  • DISTRICT 6 REPRESENTATIVE

    Vacant

    2-year term
    (2023-2025)

  • Raj Bhanot

    DISTRICT 7 REPRESENTATIVE

    Raj Bhanot

    2-year term
    (2023-2025)

    Joining the Citizens' Advisory Committee in 2015, Raj Bhanot has served the local community in a myriad of ways as both an auditor for both California and San Jose, and as a volunteer. He has been a Human Rights Commissioner for the City of San Jose, a Human Relations Commissioner in Santa Clara County, and an Advisory Committee member for affordable housing measures. Bhanot is also the co-founder of the Hindu Temple and Community Center of Sunnyvale, as well as the founder of Indo American Society of Bay Area. He looks forward to spreading awareness about Open Space Authority’s mission.
  • Justin Fields

    At Large

    Justin Fields (Chairperson)

    2-year term
    (2024-2026)

    Justin Fields, who joined the Citizens’ Advisory Committee after 2010, has a vested interest and pride in protecting open spaces while promoting the tradition of agriculture in Santa Clara Valley. He is a fifth generation cattle rancher in the Coyote Valley area who enjoys helping others understand the importance of grazing, including the protection of native species and their habitats, as well as increasing fire protection. Justin is the Immediate Past President of the Santa Clara County Cattlemen’s Association.
  • Steve Mink

    At Large

    Steve Mink

    2-year term
    (2023-2025)

    Steve Mink joined the Citizens' Advisory Committee in 2019 and is a “triple threat” volunteer, regularly serving on Trail Patrol, Land Stewards, and Trail Masters. He has always enjoyed the outdoors, participating in Boy Scouts as a youth and now enjoying camping, hiking, and cross-country skiing with his family. Upon retirement, Steve was looking for a way to get outside every day, take a break from technology, and engage new people and ideas. This led him straight to the Authority.
  • Kathy Sutherland (Chairperson)

    At Large

    Kathy Sutherland (Vice Chairperson)

    2-year term
    (2023-2025)

    Kathy Sutherland first applied to become a Citizens’ Advisory Committee member in 2013 and is dedicated to finding the most powerful ways that the Committee may support the mission of the Open Space Authority. Professional and volunteer experience has pointed her to deep appreciation for the many roles of community members, agencies, and officials who team up to create deep impacts in the way of preservation of both rural and urban open spaces.
  • Daniel J. Kenney

    At Large

    Daniel J. Kenney

    2-year term
    (2024-2026)

    Dan Kenney is a longtime member of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee who keeps himself quite busy with a plethora of volunteer experiences throughout the community, from beautification and conservation of Coyote Valley and Morgan Hill parks, to homelessness solutions and music volunteering at Montalvo.
  • At Large

    Lani Wong-Bassett

    2-year term
    (2024-2026)

    Lani Wong-Bassett has been an active community member/volunteer of several causes and committees over the past 13+ years. She has given her time to organizations such as Silicon Valley Pride, the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, Project More+, was proudly on the board that created the San Jose Equality March and is beyond excited to join the Citizens’ Advisory Committee. Lani is also the founder of CWP (Cosplay with Pride) a group that she created 6 years ago to help fundraise and provide volunteering opportunities for local communities and events. As a multi-ethnic queer woman of color Lani is very passionate about sharing points of view from those underrepresented and cares deeply for movements that work to ensure that all are heard. She is also a hardworking Silicon Valley career mom whose daughter just turned five, meaning her family is constantly looking for "things to do." Now as a Morgan Hill resident Lani has fallen in love with the incredible outdoor open spaces and is excited to help create /sustain a world where her daughter can easily find spaces to enjoy as she grows up in the area they have chosen to call their home.
  • At Large

    Mera Burton

    2-year term
    (2023-2025)

    Mera Burton joined the Citizens’ Advisory Committee in 2021. She holds a MA in Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Education from Santa Clara University and enjoys engaging with people from diverse backgrounds. Mera is the Water Education Program Manager for Valley Water and is passionate about educating the public about watershed stewardship. Mera is committed to connecting people to nature and has served as a volunteer naturalist for Walden West and Monterey Outdoor School. Mera hopes to bring more awareness of open spaces for all members of the community.
  • Ed Von Runnen

    At Large

    Ed Von Runnen

    2-year term
    (2023-2025)

    Ed became involved with the Open Space Authority in 2019 as a Land Steward cleaning up North Coyote Valley after the property was first acquired and since then with community outreach and training events at Coyote Valley OSP, Máyyan 'Ooyákma - Coyote Ridge, Tilton Ranch and Spina Farms. Nature, open space, camping, and hiking have always been an important part of Ed’s life beginning as a toddler when his parents were exploring the western states in their travel trailer. Born and raised in Sunnyvale, California, Ed witnessed the landscape change from farms and orchards to the cityscapes of today. As a resident of Rancho Santa Teresa since 1982, he is particularly concerned about the future of Coyote Valley and South County in general as well as the last remaining swaths of open space within the region that deserve equal consideration. Ed hopes to learn and contribute as much as possible to the community and CAC to help protect our last remaining spaces that are so important.
  • At Large

    Joe Henwood

    2-year term
    (2024-2026)

    Joe is a recent retiree from a career with AT&T. In February of 2022, he did his first Trail Patrol with the Open Space Authority at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve. Since then he has become a Land Steward and Trail Master. He has done Outreach Events and enjoys informing people what the Open Space Authority has to offer. Joe enjoys fishing, camping, backpacking and family time. He hopes to continue learning more about Máyyan'Ooyákma-Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve and contribute to the community.

Meetings

Regular Citizens' Advisory Committee meetings are generally held at 7:00 p.m. the 4th Monday of every other month, unless otherwise stated. 

2024 Meeting Dates 

For information on upcoming meetings or to search for past meetings, visit our interactive portal.

Public Meeting Portal 

 

MEETING LOCATIOn

33 Las Colinas Lane
San Jose, CA 95119

The Open Space Authority hosts public meetings with a hybrid of in-person and virtual (Zoom) options.

Public Meeting Portal 

VACANCIES ON THE Citizens' Advisory Committee

The Open Space Authority is seeking persons interested in serving on its CAC. 
See below for information regarding current vacancies.  

CAC Application

Description of Roles

 

Term: 07/01/2023-06/30/2025
Term: 07/01/2022 to 6/30/2024

The Authority is always accepting applications. People interested in being considered for the CAC should submit a completed application  and include a cover letter describing your qualifications for the position of interest and why you are interested in serving on the CAC, and any additional information about your experience to the Authority's Office at 33 Las Colinas Lane, San Jose, CA 95119. More information can be obtained by contacting the Authority via email or by calling 408-224-7476.

To be eligible for consideration, prospective committee members must reside within the boundaries of the Authority and, if seeking a District Representative position, must reside in the District of representation. All positions should possess a general knowledge of and involvement in activities related to the position. District Representatives should have experience participating with community groups and organizations within the District of representation. Members cannot be members of the Authority Board of Directors, Measure Q Expenditure Oversight Committee, or be a member of paid staff (regular, temporary, or seasonal).