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Commission updates bylaws, elects 2025 chair and vice chair; staff announces retirement
Summary
The commission reviewed proposed bylaw changes—including revised absence rules and public-conduct procedures—voted to forward the updates to City Council (with staff-notice language changed to 'staff' only), elected chair and vice chair for 2025, and heard a staff retirement announcement and interim staffing plan.
The planning commission reviewed proposed revisions to its bylaws that staff said were intended to better reflect current functions and to remove provisions duplicative of the municipal code. Staff highlighted the most significant updates: compensation language edits, clarified subcommittee formation procedures, revised absence rules (changing the threshold for regular meetings from 3 unexcused/6 excused to 2 unexcused/4 excused), changes to the order of business and agenda procedure, and a revised approach to handling disruptive members of the public (staff recommended calling a recess first and, if conduct escalates, involving law enforcement).
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the absence policy—how and when to notify staff or the chair and what constitutes an excused versus unexcused absence—and staff said council ultimately handles any vacancy decisions but that staff would draft clearer procedural language. One commissioner suggested removing a requirement to notify both "staff and chair" and replacing it with notice to "staff" only so a single office would consistently receive absence notifications.
On a motion to forward the bylaw revisions to City Council with the suggested language change, the commission voted by voice to recommend the amendments. The recommendation will send proposed bylaw text to City Council for formal review and any final action.
The commission also held nominations for its 2025 officers. Following nominations and a roll-call-style affirmation, the transcript records the announcement and congratulations to Michelle Herman as chair and the confirmation of Commissioner Kun as vice chair after a separate nomination and vote. During staff comments, a staff member announced they will retire in January; staff said Kelly will serve as interim planning manager and that analyst Galen will continue supporting long-range planning projects.
The commission set the next regular meeting for 01/21/2024 and then adjourned.
