The Walnut City Council will consider an ordinance tonight that would establish a more formal process for appointing commissioners.

Staff began working on the ordinance in January, reviewing the policies of 16 other cities while doing research.  The council and staff also had a study session last month to discuss the proposed ordinance.

If approved, the policy would require commission vacancies to 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 desire to change the policy follows the passage of an urgency ordinance in October that required the majority of the council to agree on any commission appointee.

Mayor Nancy Tragarz asked staff to put the ordinance on the agenda, adding that she wanted to return the policy to what it had been previously. 

That caused some tension because on the same agenda was Councilman Joaquin Lim’s Planning Commission nominee Michael West, a council candidate and frequent critic.  That nomination could not be done legally it turned out.  In January, Lim nominated Eric Ching, who is now running for council, but his appointment was tabled.

The mayor had asked city staff to draft a more formal policy.

City Manager Rob Wishner said during the study session that most of the cities researched required commissioners to be approved by a council majority.

Councilman Tom King said at the study session that planning commissioners in particular have a steep learning curve as they are making big decisions on land use and other issues.

“When you’re a Planning Commissioner, it’s very easy to make a mistake,” he said.  “There are a lot of laws to follow.”

The City Council meets at 7 p.m. tonight at City Hall.