Planning Commission elects Julie Denning chair and names Tony Rogers vice chair

The City of Riverside Planning Commission elected Commissioner Julie Denning as chair and Commissioner Tony Rogers as vice chair for 2025 during its organizational meeting.

The votes formalize leadership for the coming year and assign new duties to the vice chair: commissioners discussed making the vice chair responsible for maintaining the commission’s rules of procedure and serving as an internal resource on parliamentary questions.

Commissioner Tony Rogers moved to nominate Julie Denning as chair; the motion carried on a roll-call vote. Commissioners recorded votes in favor from Tony Rogers, Owens and Vasquez; Denning abstained in the roll call recorded during the meeting. The motion passed and Denning was appointed chair.

Commissioner [last name] nominated Tony Rogers for vice chair; that motion also passed on roll call with commissioners voting in favor (Vasquez, Owens, Denning, Harrison) and Rogers accepting the appointment.

During the nominations, commissioners and staff discussed the vice chair’s expanded role. “The vice chair will be responsible for updating and maintaining the bylaws,” Planning staff member Nya Holt told the commission, describing the role as a “keeper of the rules” who will work with staff to maintain the rules of procedure and advise on parliamentary matters.

The commission did not amend its bylaws at the meeting; members asked staff to circulate the rules as an editable document so proposed edits can be prepared for future meetings.

Formal roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes; commissioners present included Denning, Rogers, Owens, Vasquez, Harrison and Hairston (Hairston arrived late and was excused earlier).