Mount Shasta council interviews applicants, appoints three to Planning Commission

The Mount Shasta City Council conducted interviews of Planning Commission applicants on Oct. 29 and appointed three people to fill upcoming vacancies.

Council members voted to appoint Allen Pardee, Tucson Sarion and Cindy Lee Cone to the Planning Commission by a 4-0 vote. The appointments followed interviews with five candidates: Paul Beck, Alan/Allen Pardee, Laurel Harkness, Tucson Sarion and Cindy Lee Cone (Cone was not present for her interview).

The appointments come as the city prepares to implement elements of its recently approved housing element. Applicants and council members discussed the workload that will flow from translating the housing element’s objectives into municipal code, and the need for commissioners who can handle both detailed, parcel-level review and broader policy context.

Applicant backgrounds and interview highlights

Paul Beck, who serves from outside the city limits (sphere-of-influence seat), described his long tenure on local commissions and urged the council to choose a conscientious steward. Beck told council members, “I have to be honest and say Alan is a highly qualified candidate, and, up until him having moved, I served with him for my whole ... 8 years together.”

Alan/Allen Pardee identified himself as a licensed landscape architect, saying he has been licensed in California and Oregon for about 40 years and has served on the Mount Shasta planning commission since about 2012. “I’m interested in quality growth,” Pardee said, describing professional experience reviewing development and working with multidisciplinary design firms.

Laurel Harkness said she has lived in the community more than 20 years, works regionally on rural policy and is completing graduate work in public policy with a capstone on attainable housing. “I really believe in centering the community and the decision making process,” Harkness said, and told council members she is prepared to do the “nuts and bolts” work at parcel level as well as broader engagement.

Tucson Sarion, an incumbent planning commissioner, said he has served eight years on the commission and noted experience with housing and other local issues. Cindy Lee Cone did not appear for her interview; council members said she would be considered and later included in the motion to fill two in-town seats.

Council discussion and procedural notes

Council members clarified there were three candidates competing for one seat that represents residents who live outside city limits but within the city’s sphere of influence (Paul Beck, Allen/Alan Pardee and Laurel Harkness). They also noted two in-town seats were open and that Tucson and Cindy were the expected choices for those two.

During interviews council members asked applicants about the impending workload tied to the city’s housing element. Applicants and council members discussed that the housing element approval is a milestone but that implementing measures — updating objective design standards, translating policies into municipal code, and ordinance adjustments — will require sustained planning commissions work. A council member asked whether training exists for new commissioners; a staff speaker (city manager/planning staff) said training and new-member orientations are available and stressed the commission’s advisory role versus council policy-making.

Vote and outcome

A councilmember moved to approve Allen Pardee, Tucson Sarion and Cindy Lee Cone to the Planning Commission; a second was given and the motion passed 4-0 with all present councilmembers voting “aye.” The council announced the motion passed and scheduled a closed session at 5:15 p.m.

Why it matters

The newly appointed commissioners will sit on the Planning Commission as the city implements changes from its housing element and considers development applications. Council and applicants emphasized the mix of skills the commission will need: detailed project review and community engagement for housing and other development projects.

What the record shows (process distinctions)

This article summarizes interview remarks (discussion) and the subsequent formal action (the council’s 4-0 vote to appoint three individuals). Applicants’ comments about their backgrounds and preferences reflect their interview responses. Statements about the housing element describe the council and applicants’ remarks about forthcoming implementation work; the council did not adopt new ordinances during this meeting.

Ending

Following the vote the council congratulated the appointees and recessed to closed session at the time announced on the record.