Planning commission to review outdated municipal-code language and update handbook for council approval

At the Oct. 20 meeting, the Ocean Shores Planning Commission laid out a process to review and recommend updates to the municipal code and to finalize a revised planning commission handbook. Commissioners said some municipal-code sections still reference roles that no longer apply (for example, the code lists "game warden" and "public safety officer," language that does not match current City roles such as chief of police or Department of Fish and Wildlife responsibilities). Commissioners agreed to divide the municipal-code sections among themselves (the code has 19 sections) and to flag language that looks outdated or inconsistent.

The chair reported the handbook draft now includes updates to the Open Public Meetings Act and to ethics/conflict-of-interest provisions through 2024. Commissioners were asked to review submitted handbook changes and to return with comments so the commission can vote to forward the handbook to city council; the chair said council approval is required to adopt the handbook. Commissioners set a target to report back at the Dec. 9 meeting because November meetings fall on Veterans Day and Thanksgiving week.

Commissioners emphasized the review will be iterative: identify suspect language, research whether the referenced position or authority remains valid, and bring suggested revisions back for discussion. No ordinance changes were adopted at the Oct. 20 meeting; the commission—s action was to assign review sections and request staff support for research and annotation.