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Lakeville holds interviews for planning and arts board openings
Summary
At a Lakeville City work session councilors interviewed multiple applicants for openings on the planning commission and arts board, with candidates describing their attendance, preparation and priorities for the coming year.
Lakeville City Council members used part of a work session to interview candidates for openings on the planning commission and the Arts Center board and to collect feedback before a full slate of interviews scheduled for March 8.
The interviews were preliminary and recorded as part of the public meeting, Mayor Hellyer reminded callers before asking candidates about their recent experience and how they prepare for meetings. Mark, an applicant to return as a planning commission alternate, said, “I probably filled in 7 times, and really ended up learning a lot,” and described relying on staff materials and pre-meeting questions to prepare. Mark added that staff-provided background on items such as comprehensive plans and council-comp plan impacts helped him ask more informed questions at meetings.
Another candidate, who described a year of service on the Arts Center board, said the board’s collaboration with the Friends of the Art Center increased attendance at events and helped with marketing; she credited that cooperation for higher turnout at the Christmas concert. Candidates were repeatedly asked what qualities they bring to a board; common answers included preparedness, listening, teamwork and the ability to translate personal or professional experience into usable input for staff and fellow board members.
Council members pressed candidates on specific priorities. Planning commission applicants were asked about likely agenda issues over the next one to two years, including how possible council policy changes could affect development review and the handling of remaining irregular parcels of land. Arts board candidates discussed programming, outreach to new artists and working with partners such as the school district and Friends of the Art Center to make greater use of facilities.
Councilors said the interviews on March 8 will complete the formal review process and the council intends to notify applicants shortly after that date. No formal appointments or votes occurred at the work session.
The interviews took place during a recorded public meeting; the council noted the session was a deviation from the standard interview scheduling because it occurred in a work session.
