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Woodland Park planning commission adopts three-term consecutive limit for commissioners
Summary
On Dec. 11, 2025, the Woodland Park Planning Commission amended its bylaws to limit commissioners to three full consecutive terms (nine years) and clarified that partial terms will not count toward that limit; the recommendation will go to city council for endorsement.
The Woodland Park Planning Commission on Dec. 11 approved changes to its bylaws that limit commissioners to three full consecutive terms and specify that partial terms do not count toward that limit.
Planning Director Karen Schmink outlined the change and its legal basis, telling the commission that a 2025 charter amendment (Section 5.3) gives individual boards and commissions authority to set term limits in their bylaws. Schmink read the proposed language aloud: "A planning commission member shall not serve more than 3 full consecutive terms on the planning commission." She also confirmed the amended text would state that partial terms do not count toward that limit.
The commission debated options before voting. Commissioner Kent Kennedy said he favored limits as a way to encourage rotation and open opportunities: "I'm a big term limit fan. I like to see change in rotation and opportunities for people," he said. Commissioners discussed concerns about recruiting volunteers in a small city and whether the ballot language might have been confusing to voters; staff noted the city council must ultimately approve any bylaw changes, which provides an additional check.
The commission considered and rejected an amendment that would have removed all limits and instead approved the red-line language as amended. The motion to set a limit of three full consecutive terms was moved by Ken Hartsfield and seconded by Jared Newcomb; the roll-call vote carried. Commissioners also approved the sentence clarifying that partial terms do not count toward the limit. After the votes the commission directed staff to forward the recommended bylaw language to city council for endorsement.
The changes will take effect only after the commission's adopted bylaws are reviewed by and endorsed by the city council. Schmink told the commission the counting of full terms is expected to begin with appointments made after the November 2025 charter revision, and that council could refuse reappointments if it believed someone was being reappointed contrary to the city’s interest.
The commission’s action narrowly focused on sequencing and technical definitions — such as how to treat partial terms — rather than on broader changes to term length. Commissioners said they favored language that prevents short, tactical resignations from being used to "game" the limits but stopped short of defining a fixed step-down period, leaving that oversight to council review.
The commission adopted the bylaws changes at the Dec. 11 meeting and will send the recommended amended language to the Woodland Park City Council for its formal consideration.
