Prescott P&Z approves bylaws change to let commission select chair, removes single-member hold

The Prescott City Planning and Zoning Commission approved an amendment to the Land Development Code on March 12 to replace the commission's bylaws and change several procedural rules, including how the commission selects its chair and vice chair.

Tammy DeWitt, community planner, said the city clerk reviewed boards and commissions bylaws and the proposed code amendment aligns the Planning and Zoning Commission with other city advisory bodies. Under the change, "at the first meeting following April 1 of each calendar year, the commission shall select from its membership a chair and vice chair," replacing prior language that the city council would appoint those positions.

DeWitt also explained staff's recommendation to delete a bylaw clause that had allowed an item under first consideration to be held from a vote if one commission member objected. "We did also look at our other bylaws, and this is not in any other of our board or commissions," DeWitt said, describing the goal of consistent procedures across boards.

Commissioner Tom Hutchison said he recalled using that single-member provision in a past annexation matter to pause an item and called it "a last stopgap" that improved transparency. "This essentially eliminates that last stopgap citizen driven measure," Hutchison said. DeWitt responded that the clause did not appear in other bylaws and noted that a majority vote remains available to delay consideration when more information is needed.

Vice Chair Tom Reilly moved to approve the amendment and Tom Davis seconded. The commission recorded unanimous approval at roll call.

The commission's approval updates the land development code to reflect internal bylaws and standardizes procedures across city advisory bodies; staff will proceed with updates to the code appendices per city procedures.