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Council approves most board nominees; District 2 P&Z appointment draws debate and 7–2 vote
Summary
The council approved a slate of board and commission appointments but debated and separately voted to confirm Malcolm Chalker for the Planning & Zoning Commission (District 2); the roll call was 7–2 with Councilmembers Johnson and Lopez voting no.
City staff presented a roster of nominees for multiple boards and commissions, and the council moved to approve most appointments in a single vote while separating the District 2 Planning & Zoning nomination for individual consideration.
After discussion, Councilmember Hedden moved to approve the full slate excluding the District 2 Planning & Zoning nominee. Councilmember Hedden then moved to approve Malcolm Chalker for the District 2 Planning & Zoning seat. Multiple councilmembers spoke for and against the appointment: one councilmember said they believed Chalker had a prior record of “very negative working with minorities” and said they would vote no; others noted Chalker’s prior service on parks boards and Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful and said he had no criminal history and had been a constructive volunteer.
The council voted to confirm Malcolm Chalker to the Planning & Zoning Commission for District 2 by a vote of 7–2; Councilmembers Johnson and Lopez voted nay. The larger slate of nominees for animal shelter advisory, building and appeals board, park board, planning and zoning (other slots), and other commissions were approved as a package earlier in the meeting.
Staff will notify appointees and complete appointment paperwork. The council’s recorded debate put on the public record both concerns about vetting and the mayor/council practice of respecting appointing councilmembers’ choices.
