Agenda Item Wording:
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Consider the process for appointing Planning Commissioners for the three terms expiring June 30, 2022 including direct appointment of current Commissioners or a full recruitment process.
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Deadline for Action: 6/30/2022
Submitting Department: Administration/Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number: Michelle Nicholson, Chief Deputy City Clerk, michelle.nicholson@visalia.city <mailto:michelle.nicholson@visalia.city>, 713-4512; Paul Bernal, Community Development Director/City Planner, 713-4024, paul.bernal@visalia.city <mailto:paul.bernal@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Visalia City Council consider how they wish to fill three positions on the Planning Commission. These two-year terms end June 30, 2022. The Council may choose to directly appoint the three Commissions who are on the Commission and interested in serving another term, or conduct a recruitment for the positions, which would include the applications of the current Commissioners.
Background Discussion:
Pursuant to Article XIII, Section 1 of the Visalia City Charter, the Council may, by ordinance, provide for the appointment of a City Planning Commission of five members, to serve without compensation, and to have such powers and duties as the Council may prescribe relating to City planning.
Pursuant to Visalia Municipal Code 2.16.020 vacancies from any cause on the Planning Commission shall be filled by the council, and all such vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term only. Additionally, no person shall be appointed a commissioner who is not a citizen of the United States and a resident of the city.
In accordance with the City Charter, the Planning Commission is comprised of five
voting members.
Three Planning Commission terms expire on June 30, 2022. The following Commissioners have terms expiring, are eligible for another term and are interested in serving another term:
• Mary Beatie - appoint to a second term effective July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2024.
• Adam Peck - appoint to a second term effective July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2024.
• Marvin Hansen - appoint to a fourth and final term effective July 1. 2022 - June 24, 2024.
Visalia Planning Commissioners Beatie, Hansen, and Peck are nearing the expiration of their current terms. City staff is looking for direction from the Council on how these positions should be filled; either direct appointment tonight, or direction to conduct a recruitment which would include the applications of the current Commissioners. If reappointed, Commissioners Beatie and Peck would be appointed to a second term and Commissioner Hansen would be appointed to his fourth and final term.
The Council has traditionally conducted interviews, and then appointed the candidate(s)
they wanted to fill the position(s). The Council can move directly to appoint two
Commissioners tonight who would fill the term beginning July 1, 2020 and ending June
30, 2022, or could direct staff regarding a next step in the process.
If Council wishes to direct appoint, they may make that motion tonight. However, past Councils have sometimes chosen to conduct a full recruitment and make a decision based on the applications received. If the City Council wants to proceed with a full recruitment rather than reappoint the three Commissioners, staff requests that the recruitment process begin immediately. This is a recommended process but can be adapted per Council direction. The following process and schedule is suggested if the Council chooses to conduct a recruitment. This schedule may be modified depending on availability of Council members:
1. May 17-May 26, 2022; 5 p.m. - Accept applications for the Planning Commission.
2. If less than eight applications are received the entire Council would interview all candidates at a meeting to be determined.
3. If more than eight but less than 16 applications are received, the interviews would be held in two sessions, with three Council Members participating in one session and two Council Members in the second session. Each interview session would select up to three candidates to interview with the whole Council (total of six). The interviews with the entire City Council would be held at a Special Meeting with the date to be determined beginning at 4:00 p.m. If the interview process results in preferred candidates, the appointment could occur at the special meeting or the June 20, 2022 regular meeting.
4. If more than 16 applications are received, all applications would be provided to the City Council on May 27, 2022, and each Council Member would be asked to provide the City Clerk with the names of up to three candidates they wish to interview no later than noon on May 31, 2022.
Fiscal Impact: None.
Prior Council Action: June 30, 2021 Council reappointed Commissioner Chris Gomez to a fourth and final term to expire on June 30, 2023 and appointed Commissioner Chris Tavarez to a first term to expire on June 30, 2023.
Alternatives: A different process as directed by the City Council.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve the reappointment of the following Planning Commissioners:
• Mary Beatie - appoint to a second term effective July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2024
• Adam Peck - appoint to a second term effective July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2024
• Marvin Hansen - appoint to a fourth/final term effective July 1, 2022 - June 24, 2024
or
I move to conduct a recruitment using the process and timeline outlined in the staff report.
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Environmental Assessment Status: None.
Attachments: Planning Commission attendance list 2022