Coweta amends codes to add alternate members to planning commission and board of adjustment; council declares emergencies

The Coweta City Council on July 7 adopted two ordinances amending city code to provide for three alternate members on the Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment and declared emergency clauses to make the ordinances effective immediately. Community Development Director Carolyn Back led discussion of both measures.

Ordinance No. 903 amends Coweta City Code, Title 2, Chapter 2-2, Section 2-2-1 to allow three alternate Planning Commission members to participate when regular members are temporarily absent and a three-member quorum would otherwise be prevented. Ordinance No. 904 amends Coweta City Code, Title 12, Chapter 12-3, Article 12-3B, Section 12-3-B1 to provide three alternate members on the Board of Adjustment for the same purpose. Both ordinances include provisions allowing the Mayor to remove regular or alternate members after a public hearing for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.

Each ordinance was adopted by motion (Ordinance 903 moved by Naomi Hogue, seconded by Caroline Martin; Ordinance 904 moved by Naomi Hogue, seconded by Jeremy Barnett). The council subsequently voted to approve emergency declarations for both ordinances to make them effective immediately; the emergency motions were also approved by recorded vote with Naomi Hogue, Caroline Martin, Joshua Wilburn, Lauren Givan and Jeremy Barnett voting aye.

The minutes record the code sections amended and the council's intent to maintain quorum functionality during temporary absences. The record does not specify appointment processes for the alternate members beyond the code language or immediate appointments beyond those approved earlier in the meeting for other boards and commissions.