HomeMy WebLinkAbout02282022 City Council LAYDOWN - Voting Procedures for P&ZCc
AGENDA STATEMENT
Meeting Date: February 2.8, 2022
From: Brenda Ballou, City Clerk �f
Agenda Item: Guidelines for Filling P&Z Vacancies
BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION
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Members of the Planning & Zoning Commission are appointed by City Council and serve a three
year teri-n. On a pro rata basis, the terms for commissioners rotate and expire at the end of
February each year.
This year, there are three commissioners whose terms expire: Tom Swann, Gary Seese, and Craig
Ambrosiani. On January 6, 2022, each of the commissioners were mailed a letter notifying them
that their term would be expiring, and inviting them to submit a new application (and financial
disclosure statement) if they wished to continue serving.
On February 8, 2022, the city clerk posted a public notice for the vacancies and set a deadline for
applications on Friday, February 18, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. The notice stated that applications received
would be brought to council for consideration at the February 28, 2022 council meeting. At the
close of business on February 18, 2022, the city clerk had received four applications for the three
vacancies from the following: Torn Swains, Brenan Hornseth, Gary Seese, and Troy Staggs.
Each of the applicants was invited to attend the city council meeting and speak during the first
Citizen Comment period to share their thoughts and interests, and perhaps explain their desire to
serve on P&Z.
PROCEDURE FOR VOTING & APPOINTING
Seward City Code 2.30.210 (a): There is created the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission,
consisting of seven citizens, all of whom shall reside in the city and who shall be appointed by the
council. If there is more than one applicant for the position, the council shall appoint by ballot
voting. Applicants must receive at leastfour votes in order to be appointed. No officer or employee
of the city may be an appointed member of the commission.
The city clerk will provide each council member with ballots which list all four applicants' names.
Council members will be instructed to cast their vote for no more than three applicants. The city
clerk will read the votes and state the outcome of the vote. Only applicants receiving a minimum of
four votes will be eligible for appointment (by motion). To finalize the appointments, a council
member will motion (requires a second) to appoint each applicant to the Planning & Zoning
Commission with terms to expire February, 2025.