Tumwater committee backs placing planning commission-size ordinance on May council agenda

The Tumwater General Government Committee voted to place ordinance number 02025-003, which would change the planning commission’s composition, on the May 6 city council agenda with a recommendation to adopt.

The ordinance would reduce the planning commission from nine members to seven. Brad (city staff) told the committee that state law authorizes cities to establish planning commissions with three to 12 members and that the city council created a nine-member commission in 1984, with a 1993 modification allowing one member to live in the urban growth area. Brad said the city has had difficulty filling all nine seats and has sometimes had to cancel meetings for lack of quorum.

Committee members said a smaller commission would be easier to schedule and more likely to reach quorum. Council member Leanna Dahlhoff said she supported the change but worried about workload during the once-every-10-years comprehensive-plan update, calling that period a "heavy lift" for commissioners. Council member Michael Altauser and other members noted that a planned study of stipends for boards and commissions, led by new staff member Kelly Adams, could help with recruitment but would not by itself solve the current vacancy and quorum issues.

Brad said the change is intended to "create a more manageable commission, make it easier to schedule meetings and more likely achieve a quorum." He and others said recent vacancies stemmed in part from commissioners moving out of the city and from caregiving and childcare conflicts that limit volunteers’ availability.

At the committee’s request, staff agreed to provide background on how other local boards are sized and to proceed with scheduling the ordinance for council consideration. The committee approved placing the ordinance on the May 6 council agenda by voice vote.