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Staff recommends Naina Carlson and James Just for planning commission seats
Summary
County planning staff recommended appointing Naina Carlson to a full four-year planning commission term (ending Jan. 31, 2029) and James Just to a remaining three-year term (ending Jan. 31, 2028); commissioners discussed geographic balance and conflict-of-interest training.
Erin Wardell, assistant director for the Department of Land Use and Transportation, and Teresa Cherniak, principal community planner, presented staff recommendations to fill two upcoming planning commission vacancies.
Cherniak said one vacancy results from the term limitation of Deborah Lockwood and the other from the resignation of Eric McClendon. Staff described a pool of 10 eligible candidates from across districts and recommended Naina Carlson for a new four-year term (expiring Jan. 31, 2029) and James Just to serve the remainder of a term (expiring Jan. 31, 2028).
Cherniak said Carlson’s background includes utilities management, government affairs and real-estate experience and that Carlson lives in the rural area (District 3), which would help geographic representation. The recommendation described Just’s 35 years running community-supported agriculture and his rural residence north of North Plains.
An unidentified speaker asked whether appointing a candidate with utility government-affairs experience created a precedent or potential conflict, noting Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) training and the county’s climate-work obligations. Staff replied new appointees must complete trainings and that meeting-level conflict-of-interest processes are in place to address potential issues.
Staff said the board will be asked to take action on the appointments at the Jan. 21 board meeting.
