Broken Bow council adopts ordinance to shrink Planning Commission from nine to seven members

The Broken Bow City Council on June 27 unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 1270, which reduces the City’s Planning Commission membership from nine to seven members.

Mayor Rod Sonnichsen opened and explained the public hearing on the ordinance, saying the change was intended "to help the Planning Commission meet quorum." Councilmember Paul Holland introduced the ordinance and asked the council to suspend the statutory rule requiring three separate readings. The council voted to suspend the rule; Councilmember David Baltz then moved for final passage, seconded by Holland. The roll call vote was Ayes: Baltz, Holland and Smith; Nays: None. The Mayor declared the ordinance adopted.

The ordinance text, cited by title during the meeting, amends section 2‑202 and any other ordinances governing the Planning Commission. The meeting record does not specify an effective date for the ordinance; the ordinance itself states it "provides for the effective date hereof," but no enactment date was read into the minutes.

The action was taken after a short public hearing that opened at 6:02 p.m. and closed at 6:04 p.m. No public testimony opposing or supporting the change was recorded in the meeting minutes. The council’s procedural steps included suspending the three‑reading requirement before conducting the final vote.

Next administrative steps and implementation details — including whether the city will immediately begin recruiting to fill or realign seats under the new seven‑member configuration — were not specified in the minutes.