7.B.
City Council Meeting - FINAL
- Meeting Date:
- 07/05/2017
- From:
- Stacy Saltzburg, Deputy City Clerk
Information
TITLE:
Consideration of Removal and Appointments: Board of Adjustment.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1) Remove Board Member Greg Parker from the Board of Adjustment.
2) Make one appointment to a term expiring May 2018.
3) Make one appointment to a term expiring May 2019.
2) Make one appointment to a term expiring May 2018.
3) Make one appointment to a term expiring May 2019.
Executive Summary:
The Board of Adjustment is made up of seven voting members; six citizen members appointed by the Mayor and City Council and one member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Board holds hearings on request for variances and appeals of decisions made by the Zoning Administrator. The Board does not have the authority to change zoning law. There is currently one vacant seat available. In addition to the one vacancy, there is a board member who has not been attending meetings and the Board of Adjustment is recommending his removal from the Board. If removed, there will be a second vacancy to be filled.
On May 15, 2017, the City Clerk's office was notified that at the Board of Adjustment meeting of May 3, 2017, the Board requested a City Council review of the membership of Member Greg Parker. Mr. Parker has not been attending meetings as required by the Board of Adjustment Rules of Procedure and the Board and Commission Members' Rules and Operations Manual.
Mr. Parker was appointed to the Board of Adjustment on August 25, 2015, and has not attended a single meeting since his appointment. The Board of Adjustment only meets as necessary and of the last five meetings (03/30/16, 08/03/16, 08/17/16, 05/03/17, 06/07/17) Mr. Parker has not been in attendance and has not provided any notification regarding his absence. This included the highly controversial hearing on the Hub.
Rule 206, Member Attendance, of the Board of Adjustment Rules of Procedure states: "If any member of the Board shall be absent from three (3) consecutive hearings or fifty (50) percent of the regularly scheduled meetings during a calendar year without good cause and prior notice to the secretary or the chair, the chair shall, at his/her discretion, bring the matter before the City Council for review."
The Board and Commission Members' Rules and Operations Manual states: "...a board or commission may recommend to the City Council the dismissal of any citizen member who is absent for more than two consecutive regular meetings without prior notification. This same rule applies if a commission member is absent for more than thirty percent (30%) of all meetings during a twelve-month period."
Community Development staff, as well as the City Clerk's office, have attempted to contact Mr. Parker on numerous occasions through email, phone calls, and personal visits to his home. Those efforts have been met with no communication back from Mr. Parker. With a vacancy and Mr. Parker not attending, it has been challenging to get the quorum necessary to conduct business.
Should the Council wish to make appointments, there are two applications on file for consideration:
On May 15, 2017, the City Clerk's office was notified that at the Board of Adjustment meeting of May 3, 2017, the Board requested a City Council review of the membership of Member Greg Parker. Mr. Parker has not been attending meetings as required by the Board of Adjustment Rules of Procedure and the Board and Commission Members' Rules and Operations Manual.
Mr. Parker was appointed to the Board of Adjustment on August 25, 2015, and has not attended a single meeting since his appointment. The Board of Adjustment only meets as necessary and of the last five meetings (03/30/16, 08/03/16, 08/17/16, 05/03/17, 06/07/17) Mr. Parker has not been in attendance and has not provided any notification regarding his absence. This included the highly controversial hearing on the Hub.
Rule 206, Member Attendance, of the Board of Adjustment Rules of Procedure states: "If any member of the Board shall be absent from three (3) consecutive hearings or fifty (50) percent of the regularly scheduled meetings during a calendar year without good cause and prior notice to the secretary or the chair, the chair shall, at his/her discretion, bring the matter before the City Council for review."
The Board and Commission Members' Rules and Operations Manual states: "...a board or commission may recommend to the City Council the dismissal of any citizen member who is absent for more than two consecutive regular meetings without prior notification. This same rule applies if a commission member is absent for more than thirty percent (30%) of all meetings during a twelve-month period."
Community Development staff, as well as the City Clerk's office, have attempted to contact Mr. Parker on numerous occasions through email, phone calls, and personal visits to his home. Those efforts have been met with no communication back from Mr. Parker. With a vacancy and Mr. Parker not attending, it has been challenging to get the quorum necessary to conduct business.
Should the Council wish to make appointments, there are two applications on file for consideration:
Lisa Bergstrom (new applicant)
Joel Fritzler (new applicant)
COUNCIL APPOINTMENT ASSIGNMENT: Councilmember Putzova and if Council removes Mr. Parker, Councilmember Odegaard.Joel Fritzler (new applicant)
Financial Impact:
These are voluntary positions and there is no budgetary impact to the City of Flagstaff.
Policy Impact:
Not applicable.
Connection to Council Goal, Regional Plan and/or TeamFlagstaff Strategic Plan:
There is no Council goal that specifically addresses appointments to boards and commissions; however, boards and commissions do provide input and recommendations based on City Council goals that may pertain to the board or commission work plan.
Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This:
None.
Options and Alternatives:
1) Remove Mr. Parker from the Board of Adjustment and make two appointments.
2) Allow Mr. Parker to remain on the Board of Adjustment and make one appointment.
3) Postpone the action to allow for further discussion, expand the list of candidates or other Council direction.
2) Allow Mr. Parker to remain on the Board of Adjustment and make one appointment.
3) Postpone the action to allow for further discussion, expand the list of candidates or other Council direction.
Community Involvement:
The City's boards, commissions, and committees were created to foster public participation and input and to encourage Flagstaff citizens to take an active role in City government.
Expanded Options and Alternatives:
INFORM: The vacancies are posted on the City's website and individual recruitment and mention of the openings by Board members and City staff has occurred, informing others of these vacancies through word of mouth.