Planning commission chair’s retirement prompts discussion of possible governance change and county gas-tax talks

At the start of the meeting staff and commissioners acknowledged the upcoming retirement of Stuart (last name used in meeting record), a long-serving member of the planning staff whose work contributed to the city’s architectural standards. Planning Director Dan Miller thanked Stuart for his service and noted that staff trimmed the standards from about 120 pages to a more concise document with his help.
During commissioner remarks the group discussed a proposal mentioned at a recent City Commission meeting that Lake 100, a local economic development group, may recommend replacing the current Planning and Zoning Commission with a magistrate system (a single decision-maker or hearing officer). Miller said the proposal was raised publicly and that Lake 100 is scheduled to review the idea in October; commissioners were advised to attend any forthcoming City Commission discussion and be prepared to comment.
Commissioners also discussed a county-level proposal for a 5-cent-per-gallon gas tax intended for road improvements. Miller and other commissioners noted that surrounding counties have higher gas taxes and that a user-based gas tax can be preferable to property-tax increases for funding roads; no formal action was taken by the planning commission on the topic.
Commissioners were asked to attend the next City Commission meeting where appointments to the planning commission will be considered; two commissioners and the retiring staff member may have their service end pending City Commission action.