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After heated debate, Loomis council approves EDC ordinance first reading with stipend and application changes
Summary
Council members and residents sparred over who should sit on a formal Economic Development Commission and whether business owners should be paid; council approved the ordinance first reading with amendments to application/term language and retained the stipend mirroring the Planning Commission.
The Loomis Town Council voted on the first reading of an updated Economic Development Commission ordinance after more than an hour of council discussion and public comment about appointments, member composition and compensation.
Community Development Director Christian Svens presented revisions that would align the commission with the town’s General Plan, reduce membership from seven to five and mirror the Planning Commission's stipend policy. "I added that the EDC's purpose is to implement the economic development and finance element of the town of Loomis' general plan," Svens said, explaining the proposed changes were intended to tie the volunteer advisory body to existing policy goals.
Several council members raised conflict-of-interest concerns about appointing business owners and paying them a stipend. Council member (speaker 13) said she was uncomfortable with the idea of business owners being paid by the town and worried about the appearance of favoritism: "This is kind of a conflict of interest," she said, urging more time to review the proposal. Residents and other council members countered that a formal commission, open public meetings and a limited stipend would professionalize economic-development work and broaden public access.
Public commenters who had worked with earlier incarnations of the program urged formalizing the commission under town auspices so staff can support it and the public can participate. Jenny Nisley (speaker 25), speaking from experience running the chamber, said bringing the function back to the town makes it more sustainable now that the town has dedicated staff.
After debate, the council adopted the ordinance on first reading with amendments requested during the meeting: (1) explicitly allow residents as members (removing a strict "business background" requirement), (2) align the member application process and terms with the Planning Commission language, and (3) retain a stipend structure mirroring the Planning Commission. The motion passed on a roll-call vote.
The ordinance will return for a second reading (final adoption) at a future meeting; staff will provide a redline comparing existing code to the proposed changes per council request.
