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Big Bear Lake delays GPAC appointments after candidate withdrawals; motion to convert two slots withdrawn
Summary
After a burst of last‑minute candidate withdrawals, city staff recommended proceeding with interviews today but making no appointments until a follow‑up special meeting; a council motion to convert two designated GPAC seats to at‑large positions was introduced and then withdrawn pending school board input.
The City of Big Bear Lake held a special council meeting Jan. 28 to continue interviews for the GPAC (General Plan Advisory Committee) for the city’s multi‑year general plan update, but council members agreed not to make appointments today after staff reported several candidates withdrew in the preceding 24 hours.
City manager Eric told the council that a “significant amount of candidates” had withdrawn and recommended the council interview those present but defer appointments to a second special meeting next week so withdrawn candidates can be rescheduled. “No selections would be made today,” Eric said.
During discussion, a councilmember (identified in the transcript as Speaker 9) moved to convert two vacant, designated seats — one reserved for a Bear Valley Unified School District appointee and one for a self‑managed vacation‑rental operator — into at‑large resident slots and to set the advisory committee size at a minimum of 13 and a maximum of 17. The mover argued the change would give flexibility if members drop out and preserve continuity for groups already working together.
Other councilmembers cautioned the motion could preclude the school board from appointing a representative if it later chose to do so. After debate, the mover asked to withdraw the motion, saying he did not want to block school board participation. Staff said they would contact the school superintendent before the Tuesday follow‑up meeting. No formal vote was taken on the motion.
Councilmembers and staff discussed scheduling the follow‑up interviews for Tuesday after 11 a.m. (or Wednesday 8 a.m.–noon) to allow time for interviews and a deliberation period. The council extended applicant interview times from 10 to 15 minutes given the reduced pool and said final appointments would be made at the subsequent special meeting.
Interviews of candidates resumed during the session; council staff will notify applicants of outcomes following the part‑2 meeting next week.
What’s next: city staff will contact the Bear Valley Unified School District superintendent to ask whether the district will supply a board member for the advisory committee; the council plans to reconvene for part‑2 of GPAC interviews and then make appointments next Tuesday.
