Board plans April vote on adopting Tom Lennox‑led 20‑year regional planning task force

Chair (speaker 2) surprised the board by proposing that SoLoCo adopt a 20‑year regional planning task force led by Tom Lennox, asking members to reserve a vote for the next meeting after the task force presents a formal mission statement and outline.

Tom Lennox (speaker 8), who the chair said would head the effort, told the board the group would produce a process‑oriented outline — not a complete plan — that maps the elements local comprehensive plans must contain and that the task force would return with recommendations for individual jurisdictions. "The outline would include the elements required in the comp plan, public involvement, engagement of the different local governments, but it would be no plan," Lennox said. The chair said no additional staff commitment was necessary because the group already meets and would provide regular reports.

Several members pressed for clarity on the task force's mission and asked for a written statement before a vote. One member asked how the task force's work would align with municipalities that are about a year away from revisiting their comprehensive plans; the chair and Lennox said they would present a clear timeline and a formal presentation at the April meeting. The board agreed to place the adoption vote on the next agenda and asked Lennox or a representative to return prepared to answer questions.

Next steps: the task force will prepare a mission statement and a presentation for the April meeting before the board considers adoption.