HomeMy WebLinkAbout050211_ra02
Regular Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
I
TO:
Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
AI Scalf: Director of Community Developmen~
Stacie Hoskins, Planning Manager ~
Michelle McConnell, Associate Plminer, Long Range Planning Leade
May 2, 2011
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Planning Commission District I and 2 Appointments
STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The nine-member Jefferson County Planning Commi"-'lion currently has
three vacancies for District 1 and 2 representatives:
. District I - A four-year term that expired March 17 of this year;
. District 1 - A four-year term that will expire March 17, 2012; and
. District 2 - A four-year term that expired March 17 of this year.
Department of Community Development staff has interviewed four (4) interested candidates and provides
this overview of the review process with a recommendation for appointments.
ANAL YSIS/STRATEGIC GOALSIPROS and CONS: Planning is intended to guide and regulate the
physical development and servicing of lands to provide predictability and consistency for citizens and
agencies, and to assure high standards of environment for living, operation of commerce, industry,
agriculture and recreation while conserving the highest degree of pnblic health, safety, morals and welfare
in view of the need for a strong local economy. To this end the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC)
established a Planning Agency comprised of a department and a commission. Per the originAting
resolution, the commission should assist the department in carrying out its duties, by and through engaging
the public in the preparation and review of comprehensive plans and development regulations. The
department shall forward any commi...ion recommendation on to the BoCC and a final departmental
recommendation on matters before the Board.
Julv . November 2010: The current Planning Commission (PC) District I vacancies were created when
Andrew Reding and Ashley Bullitt resigned in July and September 2010, respectively, prior to completion
of their terms. In response to the vacancies, the first position was pnblicly advertised by Department of
Community Development (DCD) for four weeks in September 2010, yielding one (1) applicant who
submitted a letter of interest (Gary Felder). DCD re-advertised to produce a larger pool of appiicants, and
in the meantime, a second vacancy was created. The two positions were advertised for another four weeks
in October 2010, yielding no additional applicants by the November 5th del'rlline. .
Page 1 of3
Regular Agenda
December 2010: Given concerns that advertising was not yielding many applicants, DCD opted in early-
December to move forward with interviewing the one applicant who had expressed interest. An interview
was set for early-January 2011. Due to lack of citizen response to previous advertising for the two .
positions, DCD re-advertised to produce a larger pool of applicants. A second application for District 1
was received in late-December (AI Cairns).
Januarv 2010: As part of the review process the DeD interview team (Stacie Hoskins and Michelle
McConnell) reviewed the Volunteer Application/Statement of Interest submitted by Gary Felder, and
looked into whether the applicant resided within District I, if the person had any local permit history, and
if other county employees had experience working with the applicant. During the interview, the applicant
was asked a standard series of questions to help the DCD interview team better understand Mr. Felder's
interest, experience and education as related to possible service on the Planning Commission. The team
appreciated learning more of Mr. Felder's willingness to serve and his individual perspectives.
After the interview, the DCD interview team discussed the applicant's knowledge, skills and abilities to
determine if there was a good fit for the Planning Comm;~'lion. The team concurred Mr. Felder's long-
time residency in the state, extensive experience in the home-building industry and knowledge of
permitting processes in numerous jurisdictions in the Puget Sound region makes him a good candidate for
volunteer service with Jefferson County.
March 2011: In anticipation ofher four-year term expiring on March 17, 2011, District 2 representative
Patricia Farmer submitted email correspondence the week prior indicating she is willing to continue
volunteer service on the PC. With still only two applicants for two District 1 positions and a new District
2 vacancy, DeD advertised again for two weeks in mid-March 2011. The Leader also ran a short article,
in print and online, about the opportunity to apply for PC vacancies. Ms. Farmer submitted a Voiunteer
ApplicationlLetter of Interest in late-March.
Aoril 2011: Given the three vacancies and low response from interested candidates, DCD decided to move
forward with interviewing the other two applicants (Cairns and Farmer). Then, another application was
received for the District 2 position from Chris Hanson. Three interviews were scheduled for the week of
April 11, 2011.
1. Patricia Farmer-On April 14, 2011, the DCD Interview Team (AI Scalf and Stacie Hoskins)
reviewed the Volunteer ApplicationlLetter of Interest submitted by Ms. Farmer. During the
interview, the applicant was asked a standard series of questions to help the interview team better
understand Ms. Farmer's interest, experience and education as related to possible continued service
on the Planning Commission. The team appreciated learning more about her perspective on her past
PC service and willingness to continue her participation.
2. AI Cairns - On Apri114, 2011, the DCD Interview Team (Stacie Hoskins and Zoo Ann Lamp)
reviewed the Volunteer ApplicationlLetter oflnterest submitted by Mr. Cairns. During the
interview, the. applicant was asked a standard series of questions to help the interview team better
understand Mr. Cairns' interest, experience and education as related to possible continued service
on the Planning Commission. The team appreciated learning more ofhis willingness to serve and
individual perspectives
3. Chris Hanson - On Apri115, 2011, the DeD Interview Team (Stacie Hoskins and Michelle
McConnell) reviewed the Volunteer ApplicationlLetter of Interest submitted by Mr. Hanson.
During the interview, the applicant was asked a standard series of questions to help the interview
Page2of3
Regular Agenda
team better understand Mr. Hanson's interest, experience and education as related to possible
continued service on the Planning Commission. The team appreciated learning more of his
willingness to serve and individual perspectives.
DCD concludes that Mr. Felder will make positive contributions to the Planning Commission and
represents the interests of District 1 residents. Further, while DCD believes that Mr. Hanson would also
make positive contributions to the Planning Commission as a District 2 representative, we conclude that
Ms. Farmer has provided excellent volunteer service to date on the Planning Commission by fulfilling a
full four-year term and is interested and willing to continue her service allowing her past experience to
enrich the group dialogue and the PC's role in community involvement. While Mr. Cairns would also
make positive contributions to the Planning Commission, he ClIJIllot be recommended for appointment as
he is a County employee.
nSCAL IMPACT/COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS: There is no fiscal impact to the county's General
Fund for appointing three new members to serve on the Planning Commission (PC). The 2011 DCD and
PC Budgets are based on nine (9) PC members and these new appointees would serve as part of the group.
RECOMMENDATION: Based on the findings of the DeD interview team, staffrecommends the
HoCC:
. Interview & appoint Gary Felder as a Distrlt:t 1 representative on the Planning Commission to
complete an unexpiredfour-year term ending March 17, 2012.
. Re-appoint Patrleia Farmer as a District 2 representative on the Planning Commission to serve
afour-year term ending March 17, 2015.
. Re-advertJsefor adrlitWnaJ candi""iesfor the District lfour-year term ending March 17, 2015.
Because two of the vacancies have existed for several months, staff urges timely action by the Board to
allow new member participation in the next Planning Commi,.gon meeting on May 4, 2011.
~~
Lf (2.'7a(
. Date
Page 3 of3