Resident urges Peosta to limit zoning board appointments to city residents; council plans policy review

A Peosta resident told the council she is concerned the city appoints non-residents to the zoning board of adjustments and urged the council to consider codifying residency requirements.

Mona Barrick said she had previously raised questions about the zoning board and, after receiving the city's legal response, remains concerned that two members appointed by the council live outside the city. She noted other Iowa cities she researched—Dubuque, Dyersville, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Sioux City—have residency requirements and said Peosta should consider similar rules. "Why leadership feels people would want that and why the city leadership have from the email I received appears to be considering to codify allowing two non-resident members I feel is not in the best interest of the city itself or its citizens," she told the council.

Council members responded that staff would place the matter on the June work session agenda, that the current practice evolved in part because of limited candidate pools in the past, and that they will study other cities' approaches and improve recruitment and application processes. The mayor said the staff review will include drafting clearer criteria for appointments and that resident input would be added to the discussion.

The council did not take immediate action on appointments during the meeting but pledged to revisit the policy at a work session, saying it wants a more consistent, documented process for future appointments.