Council appoints one liaison to Environmental Policy & Innovation Commission; second seat deferred

Commerce City — The City Council appointed a councilmember to serve as one of two required liaisons to the newly formed Environmental Policy & Innovation Commission (EPIC), then deferred selection of the second liaison to the next regular meeting after repeated 4-4 splits.

Mayor Pro Tem Paul Noble introduced the item to fill two liaison seats called for in the ordinance that converted the Environmental Policy Advisory Committee to EPIC. Multiple councilmembers self‑nominated: Councilmember Teeter, Councilmember Christy Douglas, Councilmember Dukes and Councilmember Teeter among them. After several rounds of nominations and roll-call votes, the nomination for Councilmember Chacon (nomination sequence recorded on the dais) was approved by a 5-3 vote, securing the first council liaison seat.

Council then took multiple ballots to fill the second liaison position. Votes for Councilmembers Teeter, Douglas and Dukes resulted in tied outcomes. After further effort to break the tie — including discussion of options and a proposal to continue — the council voted 6-2 to continue the selection of the second liaison to the next regular meeting, citing timing, quorum concerns and the chance to secure a full council decision when members are available.

Why it matters: EPIC is intended to take environmental policy and innovation work forward; council liaisons provide a direct connection between elected leadership and the commission. The delay means EPIC will proceed with one council liaison and will await the second liaison’s appointment before it is fully seated per the ordinance language.

Next steps: Council directed staff to place the second-liaison selection on the next regular meeting agenda for July 21 for formal action.