City Council to Appoint Lemon Grove Planning Commission Replacement

The City Council will discuss its options Tuesday as it considers how to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission created by the Nov. 6 election of Racquel Vasquez.

One option is to draw from a list of candidates developed in 2010 when the city last recruited to fill three open seats on the committee. Five residents from that round have expressed a continued interest in serving—former City Council candidate Mark Gracyk, M.G. “Jerry” McReynolds, Julio Ortiz, Rockne Parker, and Scott Robinson, according to a staff report prepared by City Manager Graham Mitchell.

The city also has the option to launch a new recruitment campaign, which would have interested candidates submit applications and undergo an interview process before the council makes a nomination.

In September of 2011, the council reappointed two commissioners whose terms were expiring, Jennifer Mendoza and Bob Bailey, without a recruitment process. The other two members currently serving on the five-person panel are Moises Aguirre and Lewis Zollinger, both selected in 2010.

Council members will also consider the new commissioner’s length of term. A one-year term at the same time Vasquez’s term would have been up, and coincide with Aguirre’s and Zollinger’s terms ending. A two-year term will coincide with Mendoza and Bailey, whose terms expire in October 2014. A three-year term would create a third term expiration date on the commission, according to the report.

An application for the positions states qualified candidates should have:

• An interest in the type and quality of physical development occurring in the City.
• A willingness to devote time and effort to carrying out the duties of the Planning
• Commission
• A willingness to accept and support adopted City land use and development policies and regulations
• A willingness to propose changes to policies and regulations when deemed necessary, and
• An ability to review and analyze development proposals and City staff-prepared reports in preparation for Planning Commission meetings and public hearings.

The Planning Commission meets the fourth Monday of the month, though special meetings may be called on occasion. Commissioners are compensated $75 per meeting, not to exceed $225 in a calendar month.