Planning commission begins review of outdated municipal codes, suggests phased text edits and citizen subcommittees

The Ocean Shores Planning Commission on Oct. 14 began work to identify and update municipal-code provisions last amended decades ago, an effort requested by the mayor.

Commissioners and staff described a two-track approach: first, make broad language and reference updates (for example, replacing obsolete agency names and job titles); second, where necessary, initiate ordinance amendments. Commissioners suggested using digital tools to speed the review process. "In Adobe Pro, there's a function called compare," Peter said, offering to help produce reports that highlight textual changes across successive ordinance versions.

Staff said they had begun reviewing ordinances and identified code sections with last-amended dates in the 1970s through 1990s. Commissioners recommended starting with simpler, non-substantive language changes (titles, agency names) to reduce the number of full ordinance amendments and limit legal workload.

Commissioners also endorsed involving community volunteers and forming topic subcommittees to gather public input. "We have lots of community input. Why not outreach to everybody who wants to do community input and get some little committees going that can then feed back into the planning commission?" one commissioner suggested during the meeting.

Staff will continue the review, compile a list of codes needing updates and return with recommendations for phased edits and opportunities for citizen involvement.

Ending: The commission plans to return to the topic with a prioritized list of code sections and a proposed schedule for language updates and ordinance amendments.