HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/18/2011 03D Memorandum: Request to Appoint a City Council Member as Liaison to Planning Commission J
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor Cawley and Members of the City Council
FROM: Michael Morales, Acting City Manager
Joan Davenport, Planning Manager
DATE: January 10, 2011
SUBJ: Request to Appoint a City Council Member as Liaison to the Planning
Commission
As a result of Yakima County withdrawing from the 1974 Regional Planning
Agreement, in 2010 the Regional Planning Commission was terminated and the City
of Yakima established a City of Yakima Planning Commission. Seven citizens were
appointed to the Planning Commission in May of 2010. Over the last six months,
the City Planning Commission has handled a number of land use issues, including
the 2010 Citizen initiated Amendments to the Yakima Urban Area Comprehensive
at Plan and updating amendments to the Subdivision Ordinance and the City SEPA
Ordinance.
To develop the 2011 Planning Commission Work Program and ensure consistency
between the City Council policy direction and the activities of the Planning
Commission, we are seeking a city council liaison who will participate in planning
commission meetings and serve as a resource to articulate the policy directives of
the city council, thereby reducing the chance of misinterpretation by staff. We have
council liaison members on the Parks Commission, Arts Commission, Historic
Preservation Commission, and many other boards, so this is something that is not
only common practice, but . is very important to a commission vested with so much
responsibility.
This issue was scheduled to be presented on January 5, 2011 to the Council
Neighborhood Development Committee and the Council Economic Development
Committee. The Neighborhood Development Committee was cancelled so the
representatives did not get an opportunity to review and discuss this issue. The
Economic Development Committee Council members generally endorsed the
concept and supported Council member Rick Ensey for the liaison position.
The Planning Commission has a retreat scheduled the afternoon of January 26th to
discuss the work program and other related issues. Staff respectfully requests the
City Council Liaison be appointed and the liaison be available to attend the
Planning Commission retreat at 3:00 pm on January 26, 2011.
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