Costa Mesa council forces commissioners to reapply
Jennifer Kho
COSTA MESA -- After several failed attempts at finding a new way to
appoint commissioners, the City Council this week finally -- but
tentatively -- decided to end all commission terms in February.
Two planning commissioners and three parks commissioners will have
their terms cut short by two years and will be forced to reapply if they
want to keep their posts.
On Monday, the council discussed each member handpicking appointees to
the commissions but then abandoned the idea. Traditionally, the council
as a whole has voted on commission appointments.
Monday’s decision will give the council a chance to bring the parks
and planning commissions in line with the new council, which includes two
new members, who were sworn in earlier this month.
“I wanted to keep open the possibility that we could appoint people
more updated on the issues that got [Karen] Robinson and I elected,”
Councilman Chris Steel said. “I also want to have different views and
diversity on the commissions. I would like to have everyone on the
council share my view, but as far as the lower commissions, I appreciate
diversity because the buck stops with me on the City Council.”
However, after reflecting on the action, Councilwoman Linda Dixon said
Tuesday she wants the council to try again to find a way to allow
individual council members to choose commissioners.
“I think that making commissions council-appointed will allow council
members to have representation on the commissions,” she said. “It would
give the council member and commissioner an opportunity to exchange ideas
and move forward on matters that the person who is elected would like to
see done, changed or continued in the city. The commissioners’ decisions
should be a reflection of the council members’ views and feelings.”
Both Mayor Libby Cowan and Councilwoman Karen Robinson proposed
allowing each council member to choose one commissioner to each of the
city’s two commissions, but disagreed on the appointment process.
Although Dixon supported both suggestions, neither Cowan nor Robinson
supported the other’s suggestion.
Councilman Gary Monahan suggested leaving the commission appointment
process as is, but he didn’t receive support from his colleagues.
“The majority of the council has apparently said that we believe both
commissions need to be revamped,” Monahan said. “I think this is
politically motivated action that is going to lead to cronyism and favors
being returned. It’s a slap in the face for folks who have put a lot of
time and energy into bettering the city to call them to reapply when
they’re in the middle of their terms.”
Planning Commissioners Katrina Foley and Walt Davenport, as well as
Parks Commissioners Jonathan Zich, Mark Harris and Chris Sarris, had been
scheduled to step down in 2003. Foley and Sarris said they would reapply,
while Davenport said he will not disclose his decision until he has told
the council.
“It is the council’s decision and discretion to change the process,
and I will abide by their decision,” Foley said.
Neither Zich nor Harris could be reached for comment, but Planning
Commissioners Katie Wilson and Tom Sutro, whose terms are scheduled to
end in March, said they plan to reapply for second terms.
Sutro said the appointment of all the commissioners by council vote
could lead to a reduction in diversity on the commissions.
“If we have a council leaning more to no growth, the council majority
may want a Planning Commission that thinks that way too,” he said. “They
can really pick and choose who they want. I don’t know if it’s a good
thing because you always want diversity, people looking at things in a
different way so you can get the big picture and make sure you do what’s
right for the city. The commissioners would be people who represent only
the majority of this council.”
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