Committee Members
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DISTRICT 1 REPRESENTATIVE
Sal Akhter
1-year term
(2019-2020)Sal Akhter joined the CAC in 2019 and brings a breadth of forward thinking “green” knowledge on board. An engineer by profession, he works to help mitigate traffic congestion and promote active transportation initiatives. His work also lends itself to reduction in vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions, while increasing accessibility to mass transit solutions. Sal's been a longtime volunteer in a variety of local community initiatives. He grew up in rural Indiana and currently lives in unincorporated Santa Clara County enjoying trekking and camping in the great outdoors in his free time. -
DISTRICT 2 REPRESENTATIVE
Vacant
2-year term
(2018-2020) -
DISTRICT 3 REPRESENTATIVE
Jan Hintermeister
2-year term
(2018-2020)Jan Hintermeister has been a valued Citizens' Advisory Committee member since 2002 and has spread his love for the betterment of public spaces and environmental causes across a multitude of volunteer positions for the Open Space Authority and other agencies. Jan, a retired engineer, has served as a docent and board member for many local Bay Area entities in the areas of parks, trails, libraries, citizen science, wildlife, and environmental education. -
DISTRICT 4 REPRESENTATIVE
Garnetta Annable
2-year term
(2018-2020)Instrumental in helping pass legislation to start the Open Space Authority, Garnetta Annable has coupled her professional background as a legal administrator with a passion for open spaces for more than three decades. She has served as a Citizens’ Advisory Committee member since 2013, preceded by appointment as an Authority Board Member for 18 years. She has worked hard to secure funding, policies, and attention to many conservation and open space causes within San Jose and Santa Clara County, including the reopening of a closed school site as a community center and most recently Measure T, providing funds for Coyote Valley acquisitions. -
DISTRICT 5 REPRESENTATIVE
Vicki Alexander
2-year term
(2019-2021)Vicki Alexander is a long-time community volunteer who joined the Citizens' Advisory Committee in 2019. She has worked with a number of organizations including the Cambrian Community Council, Save Our Shores, Yosemite Volunteers in the Parks, Union School District, Campbell Union High School District, and League of Women Voters. She has an MA in Teaching and has spent the last 20 years managing a family-owned manufacturing business. Growing up in a rural area, spending many hours working in family gardens and on local farms, gave Vicki a lifetime appreciation of open spaces--where she hikes up to 30 miles a week! -
DISTRICT 6 REPRESENTATIVE
Minh Pham (Vice-chairperson)
2-year term
(2019-2021)Joining CAC in 2015, Minh Pham brings a wealth of experience to Open Space Authority having worked as a counselor at two Cal State schools and as a former legislative aide, as well as being a member of a local school district bond oversight committee. Minh pairs a dedication to open spaces with expertise in research, grants, the workings of bonds, and making connections with educational programs. -
DISTRICT 7 REPRESENTATIVE
Raj Bhanot
2-year term
(2019-2021)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. -
AT LARGE
Justin Fields
2-year term
(2018-2020)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 also current president of the Santa Clara County Cattlemen’s Association. -
AT LARGE
Vacant
2-year term
(2019-2021) -
AT LARGE
Kathy Sutherland (Chairperson)
2-year term
(2019-2021)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. -
AT LARGE
Daniel J. Kenney
2-year term
(2018-2020)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, Dan is focused on making the South Bay a better place for all of its residents. -
AT LARGE
Steve Mink
2-year term
(2019-2021)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. Steve believes volunteering with the Open Space Authority is a way to make the world just a little better. -
AT LARGE
Kitty Monahan
2-year term
(2018-2020)Kitty Monahan, who originally worked to help create the Open Space Authority, has long held an interest in incorporating the outdoors with education. She began a teaching career in 1953, which offered her the chance to eventually get high school students out exploring the environment and involved with Santa Clara County Parks and trails. Kitty has not only been a longtime Authority Citizens' Advisory Committee member, but has also served on the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation and Historic Heritage Commissions. She is an avid equestrian who wants others to get on trails and experience the beauty of our open spaces.
