A record 29 people want to play a role in helping shape Manteca’s blueprint for growth through 2040 when the city is projected to have 127,700 residents.
That is five more than applied in 1997 when Manteca last formed a citizens committee to help shape growth goals. Manteca currently has a population of 76,000.
Fifteen of the 29 will be appointed Tuesday by the Manteca City Council to serve on the general plan advisory committee. The council meets at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.
The overall process of updating the state-mandated general plan could take as long as three years. The second of three workshops seeking general community input of where they’d like to see Manteca head in terms pf development over the next 20 plus years is this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Manteca Transit Center.
Those seeking appointment to the general plan advisory committee are Bill Barnhart, Joann Beattie, Wendy Benavides, Victoria Brunn, Benjamin Cantu, Ronald Cheek, David Cushman, James DuClair, Demetri Filios, Marco Galeazzi, Nancy Jones, Jason Laughlin, Ronald Light, Francisco Machado, Jose Nuno, Richard Paz, Daryll Quaresma, John A. “Jack” Riella, Randy Saffold, Robert Serpa, Parminder Singh Sahi, Matthew Sickler, Leonard Smith, Jack Snyder, Louie Tallerico, David Tenney, Stephen Tompkins, John Trueb, and David Ventura.
Each council member will make three appointments each from the list.
A quick snapshot of the 19 applicants:
uBill Barnhart: An active member of Del Webb at Woodbridge, the retired member of the Kern County Information Technology Services has been active in city issues over the past nine years.
uJoann Beattie: The current Manteca Chamber of Commerce executive director had worked seven years as a senior vice president for Agape Village Foster Families Agency. She owned and operated Manteca Janitorial Supply and Service for 27 years.
uWendy Benavides: A 40-year Manteca resident who is now in her 30th year working in real estate. She has also been active in community issues and is an active member of the Friends of the Manteca Library.
uVictoria Brunn: She works with Manteca Unified School District in the Superintendent’s Office handling community outreach. Her application notes MUSD “values the continuing partnership with the City as well as the areas within the General Plan.”
uBenjamin Cantu: The land use planner and designer retired 35 years working as a planner in what is now known as the Community Development Department. Cantu was part of the staff that worked on the city’s first general plan and has run for mayor and council seats.
uRonald Cheek: A civil engineer and an owner of RLC Associates, Cheek has played a role in fashioning numerous private sector ventures in Manteca including Spreckels Park. He is a former Public Works Director for the City of Manteca and has served on the planning commission.
uDavid Cushman: The lead worker at Panda Express ran for the Manteca City Council in the 2016 election. He is a member of Manteca Kiwanis and served for three years as president of the Manteca Patriots.
uJames DuClair: He has served on both the civil and criminal grand juries for San Joaquin County. He worked for 10 years as a San Jose police officer ad was district manager for Avnet Electronics Marketing Group in San Jose in addition to six years as a real estate sales representative for Toll Brothers Luxury Homes in Dublin and for two years was a co-owner of an international sales and marketing firm based in Florida.
uDemetri Filios: he has four years in land use planning and has worked on a number of projects in Manteca. He is chairman of the Stockton Ducks Unlimited Committee. He worked flipping homes after completing college.
uMarco Galeazzi: A retired United States Postal Service employee that helped plan for growth, he has served on the Manteca Parks & Recreation Commission since 1995. he has been a part of the city’s golf financing committee since 1994.
uNancy Jones: She is a retired Sequoia School administrative assistant. She has extensive community volunteer service through Love INC, Raymus House, the Manteca Museum, SonDance, and 2nd Saturday.
uJason Laughlin: A trainer at Panera Bread currently attending Modesto Junior College, he interned for Congressman Jeff Denham and was a field director for Assemblyman Heath Flora’s campaign.
uRonald Light: The retired project manager for Medical Diagnostic Isotopes is currently the chairman of the Manteca Water Conservation Citizens Committee, services on the San Joaquin County Commission on Aging and is a member of the San Joaquin County Health Services Agency’s Walkability Program.
uFrancisco Machado: He is self-employed and moved to Manteca four years ago after working for Marriott hotels in Seattle and a general manager.
uJose Nuno: The affordable housing administrator has served on the Manteca Planning Commission since 2011.
uRichard Paz: The retired general building contractor for American Select Builders is a volunteer In various social organizations.
uDaryll Quaresma: He has been a self-employed farmer for 35 years and is currently developing property in Manteca. He is the current Chairman of the Oversight Board of the Successor Agency to the Manteca Redevelopment Agency.
uJohn A. “Jack” Riella: He is a vice president with Cherokee Freight Lines that has more than 400 employees and where he has been working for the past 49 years
uRandy Saffold: He serves as an administrator officer in Modesto with extensive background in strategic planning. He has also served as an administrator in the University of California, Sal State, and Michigan State University systems.
uRobert Serpa: He is retired after serving as a supervisor for the Fremont Unified School District. He has an extensive military service as well. He has a long list of community endeavors including serving on the Measure M Bond Overrsight Committee for the Manteca Unified School District.
uParminder Singh Sahi: A cell director for Western Digital where he has been employed in San Jose for the last 20 years, he is involved in several volunteer efforts and started his community service efforts with United Way as a college student.
uMatthew Sickler: The owner of The Emory has a background in human resources, worked 23 years as a licenses real estate agent and was employed at Pilkington Glass for 19 years. He has also served on the San Joaquin County Grand Jury.
uLeonard Smith: He is retired after serving as a civil engineer for various cities in the Bay Area. He is also a member of the Manteca Planning Commission.
uJack Snyder: An independent contractor involved with Manteca development, Snyder served for 26 years on the Manteca City Council including 10 years as mayor. He has 30 years of experience as an industrial relations manager.
uLouie Tallerico: He has been a property owner and farmer in Manteca since 1970 as well as working over 30 years with Sandia Labs as an engineer before retiring. Over the years he has been involved with various city policy efforts including working with other citizens to prepare a white paper addressing Northwest Manteca development issues.
uDavid Tenney: The owner of Manteca Trailer and Motor Home, he has an extensive understanding of government through city, state, and county agencies he routinely deals with. He also has a grasp of what powers city government and the local economy His firm has a $5.8 million annual payroll and was the second highest source of sales tax for the City of Manteca generating $700,000 in 2016.
uStephen Tompkins: He is retired after 45 years in the print publications business including 20 years handling lead of administrative duties.
uJohn Trueb: A dentist since 1982, Trueb has been involved with community endeavors since 1988 as a member of the Manteca Morning Rotary Club. He is the current leadership chairman for Heartland Community Church in Ripon.
uDavid Ventura: He is a software analyst with Pleasanton-based Aldelo. He has worked as a district manager for grocery stores as well as account executive. Prior to that, he owned a grocery store for 10 years in San Jose.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
