Hideout council lets planning commission elect chair, approves rules updates and expands membership

Council members adopted a set of changes to planning commission rules and related code amendments after extended discussion about alternates, chair selection, training and continuity of terms. The adopted edits let the planning commission appoint its chair and vice chair by its March meeting each year and added a duty that the chair meet monthly with the mayor to discuss pertinent planning issues.

Council and staff worked through practical questions, including how to phase in any change from five members plus alternates to a seven‑member commission, how to stagger terms so continuity is preserved, and the training requirement for new commissioners. Staff proposed that current alternates become regular members effective on enactment of the amendment; the council amended the code to reflect that change and to reduce the training window for new commissioners to 30 days to ensure newly appointed members complete the state‑approved training promptly.

Paulie emphasized the planning commission’s ex parte contact policy and the need for administrative rules: “If an ex parte communication does happen, then the planning commissioner must disclose that to the rest of the commission,” she said, noting the goal is to keep deliberations on the public record. The council voted to adopt the revisions as amended and recorded affirmative votes on the ordinance.

What happens next: Staff will distribute the revised language and integrate the changes into the municipal code; the planning commission will follow the new rules beginning at its next scheduled meeting and staff will propose a schedule for filling any newly created permanent seats and staggering terms.