Planning commission adopts agenda and minutes amid a commissioner dispute over record-keeping

The National City Planning Commission voted to adopt the June 2 agenda and to approve minutes from the April 21 meeting; both votes were recorded as 5 yes, 1 no and 1 absent.

Vice Chair Castle moved to adopt the agenda and Commissioner Armenta seconded the motion. After a roll-call process and a correction to the electronic tally, the chair declared "Motion carried. 5 yeses, 1 no and 1 absent." Commissioner Foreman repeatedly said she opposed adopting the agenda as presented, saying she distrusted the information packet and "I don't approve of this agenda item." The meeting record shows Commissioner Sanchez absent.

The commission then considered approval of the April 21 minutes. Vice Chair Castle again moved to approve the minutes with a second from Commissioner Armenta. Commissioner Foreman said the minutes failed to document substantive public comments and specific discussion points (including a requested lot-line adjustment to "zigzag around" a century-old olive tree). Foreman made a substitute motion to deny approval of the minutes; that motion received no second. The commission returned to the original motion to approve; the secretary announced the vote as "Motion approved. 5 yeses, 1 no, 1 absent." Foreman kept her objection on the record.

During public comment, a late non-agenda speaker, Ted Godschalk, recommended the commission adopt a policy that meeting video alone is not an adequate historic record and that clerks should prepare written summaries of public comments. "I would suggest that you adopt a policy and tell the city clerks and your assistant city clerk here that you want your comments summarized, not transcripted, but at least summarized," Godschalk said.

Commissioners and staff reminded the public that the meeting is webcast and that written comments submitted by the deadline are part of the public record. The commission adjourned at 6:29 p.m.