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Planning commission backs changes to Citizens Advisory Council rules, strips joint-meeting language
Summary
The commission recommended approval of amendments to Article 12 that change CAC procedures, including lowering the minimum membership, clarifying minutes and attendance rules, requiring annual Sunshine Law training for CAC members and removing language allowing joint meetings between the Local Planning Agency and CACs.
The Clay County Planning Commission recommended approval of changes to Article 12 of the county land-development code affecting Citizens Advisory Committees (CACs), including a staff amendment removing language that would allow joint meetings between the Local Planning Agency (LPA) and CACs.
Planning staff presented amendments to Article 12 that would reduce the minimum number of CAC members from six to five (the ordinance text lists a range of five to 11 members), add a removal criterion tied to failure to attend meetings, require CAC secretaries to provide minutes to planning staff rather than directly to the Board of County Commissioners, and require annual training for CAC members focused on the Sunshine Law. Staff recommended approval with the changes.
During discussion several commissioners criticized the provision that would permit a joint LPA–CAC meeting. One commissioner said, "I think that needs to go away," arguing that joint meetings could blur procedures and make advisory input less useful. Another commissioner said CACs exist to allow neighborhood discussion before a matter reaches a recommending or deciding body and described joint meetings as “cumbersome.” Commissioners moved to approve staff’s recommendation with the removal of the joint-meeting language; the motion carried on voice vote.
Staff noted that the ordinance also corrects a historical drafting error by reinserting a missing word in Section 12.1 that affects the standard for granting variances. The commission’s recommendation, including the struck language, will be forwarded to the Clay County Board of County Commissioners for final action.
