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Council approves changes to Planning Commission membership, term limits and attendance rules
Summary
Thief River Falls council adopted an amendment to City Code Chapter 31 to set Planning Commission membership at nine (six citizens, three council members), limit commissioners to three three-year terms with a one-year break, add attendance rules, and move meeting dates; the council waived a second reading and approved final adoption in the same meeting.
The Thief River Falls City Council adopted an amendment to City Code Chapter 31 that restructures the Planning Commission and institutes term limits and attendance criteria.
City staff described the ordinance changes, which set the Planning Commission at nine members — six appointed residents and three council members — and make the community development director and city administrator ex officio members. Commissioners will serve staggered three-year terms, limited to a maximum of three terms followed by a required one-year period of non-service unless waived by the council. The ordinance also moves the Planning Commission regular meeting to the first Wednesday after the first City Council meeting each month and adds removal language for members with attendance problems: three consecutive unexcused absences or six unexcused absences during a three-year term.
"Currently, there's 8 residents and 1 council person on the, fine zoning. This would make it a 6 and 3, 6 citizens and 3 council people on the commission," City staff explained, summarizing changes to membership and duties. The ordinance text read into the record also clarified the Commission's responsibilities, including preparing zoning regulations, recommending capital improvements for a forthcoming five-year period, reviewing redevelopment plans and handling conditional or interim use permit hearings.
Chair sought and received a motion to conduct first reading and to waive the second reading so the ordinance could be adopted immediately. Councilman Austin moved the ordinance; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Council members asked about implementation timing and transitions for long-serving commissioners. Staff confirmed the term-limit changes are to be phased so current members finish their terms rather than be removed immediately. The ordinance will be effective upon passage and publication.
