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Home My WebLink About12/02/2008, A1 - APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION i councit j aCIEnaa Repoat C I T Y OF SAN LU I S O B I S P O k4a PY E�hA/L FROM: Council Members Andrew Carter and Allen Settle ]'COUNCIL ?'CDD DIR j Council Subcommittee for the Planning Commissio O'OAeGnr Mce }'FIN DIR 2�AGAe115�5TG',T%wa 2'FIRE CHIEF 2'ATTORNEY 2rPW DIR Prepared By: Audrey Hooper, City Clerl0 2tLERK/CRIG 2rPOLICE CHF Elaina Cano, Deputy City Clerk ❑ DEPT HEADS 2KREC DIR --g ErUTIL DIR � L = HR DIR SUBJECT: APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION �160uUCi4-C1�n?G/i / RECOMMENDATION , CtElzr- 1. Appoint Michael Boswell to the Planning Commission for a term expiring March 31, 2013. 2. Appoint Mike Draze to the Planning Commission for a term expiring March 31, 2013. 3. Appoint Eric Meyer to the Planning Commission for a term expiring March 31, 2012: DISCUSSION RED FILE Vacancies and Interview Process MEETING AGENDA DATE GK ITEM #-&- There are currently three vacancies on the Planning Commission. Two vacancies resulted from the resignations of Amanda Brodie, effective November 5, 2008, and Dan Carpenter, effective November 9, 2008. The third vacancy was created by the election of John Ashbaugh to the office of City Council Member. Staff commenced the recruitment process for each of these vacancies and closed the recruitment period at 5:00 p.m. on November 21. Seventeen applications were received during this recruitment period. Council Liaison Subcommittee Members Andrew Carter and Allen Settle conducted interviews with all seventeen candidates for the three vacancies on Tuesday, November 25. Planning Commission Chairperson Chuck Stevenson was present during the interviews. Of particular note was the number of candidates in their 20s and 30s. The Subcommittee believes that this interest among younger candidates bodes well for the future of San Luis Obispo. Each of the vacancies for which the Subcommittee interviewed were for unexpired terms. In making its recommendations, the Subcommittee was cognizant of the challenge facing the Planning Commission due to so much recent turnover. They recognized the need to reach out to more experienced candidates who could "hit the ground running." This is especially important given the fact that the Planning Commission may begin work on a new Circulation Element and/or Land Use Element during the next two years. At the same time, however, the Subcommittee seriously considered candidates who have no prior planning experience but who nonetheless might offer a "fresh perspective" and who have also demonstrated significant community involvement. Council Agenda Report—Recommendations for Appointments to the Planning Commission Page 2 Subcommittee Recommendation The Subcommittee recommends that Michael Boswell and Michael Draze be appointed to terms ending on March 31, 2013. Mr. Boswell is a planning professor at Cal Poly and former member and chair of the Planning Commission. Mr. Draze is a former professional planner with the County and the City. The Subcommittee also recommends that Eric Meyer be appointed to a term ending March 31, 2012. Mr. Meyer is an entrepreneur and design professional who has been involved with numerous community groups and has significant experience restoring older dwellings in the Old Town. While the term for one unscheduled vacancy would normally expire March 31, 2009 (formerly held by Amanda Brodie) and one term would normally expire on March 31, 2010 (formerly held by John Ashbaugh), the Subcommittee is recommending that these terms be extended to March 31, 2013. These appointments acknowledge the strengths of the two candidates involved, Mr. Boswell and Mr. Draze. Mr. Boswell and Mr. Draze would be eligible for reappointment to new terms in 2013 if they are interested and a future Council is willing to reappoint them. The term for the third vacancy (formerly held by Dan Carpenter) will expire on March 31, 2011. The subcommittee recommends that Eric Meyer be appointed to this position for a term extended to March 31, 2012. This appointment acknowledges Mr. Meyers' background. Mr. Meyer would also be eligible for reappointment to a new term in 2012 if he is interested and the future Council is willing to reappoint him. At this time, one additional vacancy is anticipated on the Planning Commission that would likely be effective in January. If that vacancy occurs, it will be for an unexpired term ending on March 31, 2009. The current Subcommittee would recommend that consideration be given by Council to extending that term to March 31, 2011. Extending these terms in the manner recommended would provide greater continuity on the Planning Commission and more evenly distribute the expiration dates of the terms for each Commissioner. In tum, this would allow for new appointees to begin serving with more "seasoned" ones, thereby better ensuring the Planning Commission continues to function well even as changes in its make-up occur. Furthermore, the Subcommittee Members feel strongly that it is unfair to applications to have them go through this process for an appointment to a position with a tern of only a few months, and then to require them to reapply and go through the process again a short time later to seek appointment for a full term. This recommended action would result in two terms expiring in 2010, one term expiring in 2011, two terms expiring in 2012 and two terms expiring in 2013. Council Agenda Report—Recommendations for Appointments to the Planning Commission Page 3 COUNCIL READING FILE Applications for the successful candidates have been provided to the City Council under separate cover. All applications are available in the Council reading file. G:\304 City Advisory BodiesTlanning Commission\Plannng Commission Agenda Report 12-02-2008.doc MEUNG AGENDA. DATE �� 08 ITEM # _ 4/ c Cac• ,cd MEHORANDUM Oty of San Luis Obispo DATE: December 2, 2008 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Audrey Hooper, City Clerk(, VIA: Ken Hampian, City Manager SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION Resignations from the Planning Commission were received from Amanda Brodie, effective November 6, 2008, and Dan Carpenter, effective November 9,2008. In addition, a vacancy was created effective December 1, 2008, with the election of John Ashbaugh to the position of City Council Member. As a result of these vacancies, the Council Liaison Subcommittee, comprised of Council Members Carter and Settle, has expedited the interview and appointment process in order to fill these vacancies as soon as possible. The Council Liaison Subcommittee is scheduled to interview 17 applicants on Tuesday,November 25. It is anticipated that applicants will be recommended to fill each of the vacancies. Ms. Brodie's term expires on March 31, 2009. The Council subcommittee may consider extending the term for an additional four years so as not to require the successful applicant to undergo the recruitment process again in March 2009 and to retain continuity on the Planning Commission. Mr. Carpenter's term expires on March 31, 2011. Mr. Ashbaugh's term expires on March 31, 2010. Because recommendations for these vacancies will not be received until after the printing and distribution of the agenda packet, the agenda report with the Council subcommittee's recommendations will be distributed as a red file item on Wednesday,November 26. G:\304 City Advisory Bodies\Planning Commission\Plannng Commission Agenda Report Placeholder 12-2-08.DOC