The city of Walnut is moving forward with plans to institute a more formal policy for appointing nominees to commissions.

The City Council Wednesday night voted 4-1 to approve the first reading of an ordinance that establishes new policies for making appointments.  Mayor Pro Tem Mary Su voted against the measure after expressing concerns about the one-year term for commissioners set by the ordinance.

She called for the terms to be two or four years instead.

Deputy City Manager Chuck Robinson said that after the year expired, commissioners could be reaffirmed based on their previous application.

Councilman Tom King said he did not support term limits for commissioners because it takes time get the laws down, but agreed with how the staff drafted the ordinance with the renewable one-year terms. 

“To be a competent planning commissioner is a learning curve,” he said, adding that those who serve have to attend institutes to learn laws. 

City staff has been working to revamp the process since January. Under the ordinance, commission vacancies would be announced 60 days before the end of a term, according to staff. Notice of a vacancy would then be advertised at City Hall, the Post Office, the library, and on the city's website.  The application period would last 30 days and two appointed council members would conduct the interviews.

The interview board would make a recommendation to the City Council and a formal appointment would be made by the mayor with the approval of the majority of the council.  The removal of commissioners would also take a majority approval. Three consecutive missed meetings would be cause for removal from all commissions.

City staff consulted with the Youth Commission to get input into what requirements its members would prefer.  Youth commissioners would be limited to two one-year terms.  Applicants must be Walnut residents in grades eight through 12, participate in at least one extracurricular activity, get a reference from a teacher, and write a 250-word essay.

Councilman Joaquin Lim asked about background checks for commissioners and a way to address nepotism.  He said he had a concern about the relatives of council members being appointed to commissions.

City Attorney Michael Montgomery said that he would bring back separate policies related to those two issues that the council could consider.