09-12-2013 Planning Comm. Minutes

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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 12, 2013 heavily on the experienced members, and felt term limits could impact the Commission's ability to do a good job. Duray supported term limits of three 3 -year terms, noting that nine years is a long time on the Commission. He felt change was good and noted that once a Commissioner has served the length of time specified in a term limit, they have the option to run for City Council. There was discussion about the ability to have a lapse of one year in service on the Commission and the ability to reapply to the Commission. The City Clerk noted that the Parks & Recreation Commission is recommending that provision be added, and the City Council would make a decision on that recommendation. The Parks & Rec Commission also suggested that a partial term on the Commission not be considered a part of the time associated with term limits. Fischer noted that the Council has achieved change on the Commission, and has demonstrated their ability to refresh the Commission. Maleitzke stated that term limits are an issue in many organizations, and felt it was a way of providing new people with an opportunity to get involved. Murphy suggested that if educational sessions were a mandatory part of service on the Commission, this would help with transition issues. Maleitzke suggested that tenured members could also serve as mentors to newly appointed members. The Commission has four members (Duray, Barraclough, Murphy, and Maleitzke) in favor of term limits as proposed and one member (Fischer) opposed. The Commission supported the ability for a member who has met term limits to take a year off from the Commission and be allowed to reapply, essentially starting a new term limit period. It was also felt that partial terms should not count towards term limits. It was the consensus of the Commission that attendance requirements were acceptable as are currently with the minor changes recommended by staff. Removal From Office — The Commission supported the Removal From Office provision with the deletion of the phrase "or without" from this provision as was also recommended by the Parks & Recreation Commission. Chair and Vice Chair Appointments — Duray stated that he supported the Mayor recommending and the City Council appointing the Chair of the Commission. Duray felt that there may be hesitation on the part of Commission members to make nomination of members other than the sitting Chair and Vice Chair. Murphy asked the Planner what other cities do. She noted that in an election year, there could be a complete change on the Council which could result in changes at the Commission level. The Planner reported that in the cities he works for, it is the commissions that appoint their own chairs and vice chairs. He indicated that when there are dramatic changes at the council level, it is typical that reorganization is going on at that level and the council does not focus on commissions for a -7-