REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Continuance of the Appointment of an Applicant to the Planning Commission
Report
BACKGROUND
At the January 23, 2018 Council meeting, Council declared a vacancy on the Planning Commission for a partial term ending June 30, 2021 and interviews were subsequently set for a Special Council Meeting to be held April 10, 2018.
Attached are the voting guidelines for the appointment of applicants to Boards and Commissions, which outline the process for conducting interviews and casting votes by the Council for applicants. It should be noted that the City Clerk's Office is currently reviewing how other cities appoint members to Boards and Commissions and expects to bring forward a policy that reflects best practices and efficiencies, particularly since the current guidelines have been in place since 2004 and given the steady increase in the number of applications received for vacancies over the past few years. A revised policy will be brought through the Governance Committee and then the full Council for adoption in the upcoming months.
DISCUSSION
On April 10, 2018, a total of 10 candidates were interviewed (two applicants withdrew after applications were received) for one Planning Commission vacancy. Following the interviews, Council took action to allow three votes per Council Member versus the guidelines-established two votes per Council Member. As a result, Jeremy Hicks received a total of four votes and three candidates received three votes each for the second place candidate: Anthony Becker, Kevin Park and Martin Schulter. Council then had one vote each to break the second place tie and Anthony Becker received the majority vote. Finally, the Council then had one vote each to either cast for Mr. Becker or Mr. Hicks, which resulted in a tie vote (Mayor Gillmor had an excused absence due to City-related business). Due to the tie, per the guidelines the appointment of an applicant to the Commission was continued to the next regular s...
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