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Commission debates charging citizens to propose ordinance text amendments
Summary
Commissioners questioned a petition process and a roughly $400 filing fee that would let private citizens propose text amendments; some argued the right to petition should not be cost‑prohibitive, while staff cited existing code that frames how amendments are initiated.
Commissioners discussed whether private citizens should pay a filing fee to propose text amendments to the zoning ordinance. One commissioner (S5) summed up the tension: "we can say, okay. We'll listen to you for $400. And then we'd say, you know, we heard you, but we don't agree with you, so go away," noting the practical and fairness concerns of charging a citizen to open the amendment process.
Staff (S3) outlined the current code: amendments may be initiated by city council, by petition to the planning commission, or by owners representing 50% or more of property interest in the area affected. Commissioners said they were skeptical of a process that would routinely require citizens to pay to raise an amendment and suggested using council members as a less costly pathway for citizen proposals.
