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Board approves change to Public Lands and Trails advisory committee membership over public objections, 3‑2
Summary
The Lake County Board of County Commissioners on June 10 approved an ordinance changing appointment rules for the Public Lands and Trails Acquisition Advisory Committee, adopting the measure on a 3‑2 vote after public comment urged preserving referendum standards.
The Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt an ordinance (would become Ordinance 2025‑24 if filed) on June 10 that repeals and replaces section 2‑144 of the Lake County code to change how members are appointed to the Public Lands and Trails Acquisition Advisory Committee (PLTAAC). The motion passed by a 3‑2 vote after a public hearing and commissioner discussion.
What changed: the ordinance revises committee membership and establishes that each commissioner will appoint a member who resides in that commissioner’s district, with additional at‑large members selected under specified category requirements. County staff advised that appointments must still meet any qualifying criteria established by the original referendum language and that commissioners may appoint individuals meeting those qualifications even if the appointee resides outside a particular district (staff said the ordinance allows out‑of‑district appointment if a commissioner prefers a qualified candidate).
Public comment: two residents spoke during the public hearing. Cindy Newton said she had supported the public‑land referendum and asked the board to "leave it as it is so that we do have those qualifying points first and foremost," warning that district‑based appointments could weaken technical qualification standards over time. Catherine DeYoung (appearing as a Lake County Conservation Council board member) urged the board to honor the referendum language and appoint members with the technical expertise listed there — geology, biology, local history, trail development and county geography — and emphasized transparent selection consistent with the referendum.
Commissioner debate and vote: commissioners discussed the tradeoffs between district representation and a qualifications‑based appointment process. Supporters of the ordinance said district appointments allow commissioners to ensure geographic representation while still selecting qualified candidates; opponents said the ordinance risked politicizing membership and undermining the referendum’s intent. A motion to adopt the ordinance carried by a 3‑2 vote.
Ending note: county staff said the next step is to process applications consistent with the new ordinance language and present appointment recommendations to the board. The board retains final authority over land acquisition decisions; the advisory committee provides recommendations only.
