Council approves code change for SPAC membership, directs staff to explore reducing seats to seven

The Medford City Council on May 7 approved an ordinance changing the composition of the Site Plan and Architectural Commission (SPAC) and separately directed staff to develop options to reduce SPAC membership to seven.

Carla Paladino of the city planning department presented the ordinance and background, saying the proposed changes remove the licensed landscape-professional position, increase at-large seats, and adjust professional-position wording after the planning commission’s review. “There was quite a bit of discussion about…making sure that there's kind of a balance and that there isn't maybe more than two of the same profession on the commission at any one time,” Paladino said.

Council debate focused on quorum and how to transition from nine members to seven without forcing current appointees to leave. Councilor Kevin Stein suggested one pathway: keep a planning-commission liaison as a nonvoting participant so the human composition stays intact while lowering the number of voting seats. Councilor Nick Card said the city could achieve seven members over time by not filling future vacancies.

The council voted 8–0 to approve the ordinance as presented (Council Bill 2025-35) and subsequently voted 8–0 on a motion directing staff to “come up with pathways to make SPAC 7 members based on input provided.” The ordinance will remove the licensed landscape-professional seat and create an additional at-large seat; the staff direction asks city planners and the city attorney to outline specific implementation options and timelines for council consideration.

Carla Paladino and councilors emphasized the intent to maintain expertise and to avoid creating vacancy problems that impair quorum. The item was legislative and resulted in both an ordinance adoption and an instruction to staff for follow-up work.