Hooper City Council approves ordinance to expand Planning Commission from 5 to 7 members, delays change to appointment process

Hooper City Council voted Thursday to adopt Ordinance O-2025-1 to increase the number of members on the Hooper City Planning Commission from five to seven.

The measure was moved by Council member Wilcox and seconded by Council member Hill. The council approved the ordinance as presented except for a single sentence about the mayor-and-council appointment process, which the council agreed to address at its Feb. 6 meeting. The motion also included language setting an effective date no later than Jan. 28, 2025, and discussion at the meeting referenced the option to make the ordinance effective immediately upon publication if the council declares an emergency.

The change is intended to codify a seven-member commission and add procedural clarifications. Under the adopted text the council inserted an additional "whereas" expressing a desire for "a balanced and consistent method of appointment for members of the commission" and added a new provision requiring that "newly appointed members of the commission shall be…