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Yamhill council holds first reading on ordinance allowing outside residents on planning commission; second reading set for Nov. 12
Summary
The council conducted a first reading of draft ordinance 25.03 to allow appointing an out‑of‑city resident to the city planning commission in limited circumstances. The reading carried but was not unanimous, so law requires a second reading at a subsequent meeting.
The Yamhill City Council on Oct. 8 conducted the first reading, by title, of draft ordinance 25.03, an amendment to municipal code 1.16.0.2 that would give council the ability to appoint a person who lives outside city limits to the planning commission in certain circumstances.
Mayor (name not specified) explained the change would be a “tool in our tool bag” to avoid vacancies and preserve quorum for major land‑use matters. He said the intent is to authorize appointments only when the city cannot fill seats from within its boundaries or where a qualified outside candidate is available; council retains the authority to remove commissioners it appoints.
Some councilors expressed concern about appointing people with weak ties to Yamhill and the potential for outside appointees to cast deciding votes on local issues. The residency rule’s practical boundary was discussed in the meeting using a five‑mile radius and the 97148 ZIP code as informal reference points for how the policy might be applied.
A motion for first reading by title only carried, but the vote was not unanimous. Under state law and the city’s procedures, because the vote was not unanimous the ordinance must be read at two separate meetings; the council scheduled a second reading for Nov. 12, 2025. No public comments were offered during the hearing.
The ordinance was identified on the record as: draft ordinance 25.03 (draft ordinance 25.03-0546), described as "an ordinance updating and amending municipal code 1.16.0.2 relating to the membership of the planning commission." The council did not adopt the ordinance at the Oct. 8 meeting; further deliberation and a formal vote will occur after the second reading.
Next steps: the ordinance returns to the council for a required second reading and potential adoption at the Nov. 12 meeting.
