Deschutes County reappoints planning commissioner Matt Cyrus amid questions about advocacy and a new state law

The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 4 reappointed Matt Cyrus to a second four-year term on the county Planning Commission for the Sisters-area seat, after a divided discussion about his role and potential conflicts.

Commissioner DeBoehn moved to reappoint Cyrus and the motion carried with two commissioners voting yes and the chair voting no. During deliberations the chair and other commissioners raised concerns about instances when Cyrus was perceived as advocating positions while serving as a commissioner and whether that comported with the advisory role expected of planning commissioners: "A planning commissioner is supposed to listen," the chair said.

County staff and legal counsel addressed statutory questions raised by public comment. Peter Gutowski, community development director, and Stephanie Marshall, senior assistant legal counsel, told the board that House Bill 3136 (effective Jan. 1) eliminated a prior ceiling that limited how many planning commission members could be principally engaged in real-estate activities for commissions larger than five members. Counsel said the statute's application to specific commissioners involves factual and legal analysis; she committed to preparing a memorandum with recommended code updates and analysis for the board.

The board also directed staff to run a recruitment for the Redmond/Terrebonne planning commission seat (Jessica Kurish is termed out) and to include Cyrus if he chooses to reapply, allowing a comparative, open appointment process.

What happens next: county legal counsel will prepare a memorandum analyzing HB 3136 implications and any needed code updates; staff will run a recruitment for the open Planning Commission seat and return to the board with options.