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Council approves committee’s slate for boards and commissions after debate over planning commission picks
Summary
Council voted to confirm multiple advisory-board appointments recommended by an ad hoc committee, including four planning commission seats; an earlier amendment to table three planning nominees failed and the full recommendations passed with one abstention and one ‘nay.’
The Puyallup City Council on Feb. 25 approved a resolution confirming appointments to several citizen volunteer boards and commissions after an extended discussion and a failed amendment to delay three planning commission nominees.
City Clerk Dan Vessel presented the ad hoc committee’s recommendations for multiple boards—arts and culture, civil service, design review and historic preservation, planning commission, and the senior advisory board—and read the names the committee recommended. The planning commission nominees listed in the resolution were Greg Martin, Kyle Landon, Richard Kilsgaard and Tracy Taylor. Vessel told the council the ad hoc interviews took about three and a half hours and there were 16 total applicants across boards; the planning commission had seven applicants for four seats.
Councilmember Witting asked for more time to assess the planning commission nominees and moved to table three of the four recommended planning appointees, an amendment that was put to a vote and failed to get the needed support. Councilmember Roy Johnson then moved to accept the committee’s full slate of recommendations. The motion passed with four votes in favor, one opposed and one abstention (Councilmember Lauren Adler registered an abstention). The mayor ordered the appointments confirmed.
Councilmembers who spoke in favor of honoring the subcommittee’s work said the interview process was thorough and that the panel applied consistent questions to applicants. Several residents who testified during the public comment period had urged reconsideration of certain planning commission reappointments; the council debated whether incumbency should be given extra weight.
The resolution names other recommended appointees as well: Patience Cheggi (Arts & Culture); Jim Kelly (Civil Service); Diana Wolf and Shelley Schumpf (Design Review & Historic Preservation); Ellen Bradley Muck (Senior Advisory Board). Clerk Vessel said additional openings will be advertised in May for arts and other advisory bodies.
