HomeMy WebLinkAboutMiscellaneous PLANNER 10/1/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCtober 1,2008
Contact: Greg Mott, Planning Manager 726-3774
PLANNING COMMISSION SEEKS APPLICANTS ,FOR VACANCIES
The City of Springfield is accepting applications for positions onits seven-member
Planning Commission. Commissioners are all volunteer at-large positions with no ward
restrictions. The term of a Planning 'Commission appointment is four years.
The Planning Commission is a quasi-judicial decision-making body appointed by the
City Council that has authority over zone changes, variances, appeals and discretionary
use requests. The Commission also makes recommendations to the City Council about
the City's future growth and development. The commission works with city staff in
drafting amendments to the Metropolitan Area General Plan, local hmd-use refinement
plans and development regulations. The Planning Commission also serves as the City's
Committee for Citizen Involvement and reviews and approves the formation of Planning
Advisory Committees and Citizen Involvement Programs.
The Planning Commission meets twice per month. At a minimum, this means about six
hours of meetings monthly with 3-6 hours of preparation time for each meeting. Each
commissioner is also expected to attend Council meetings on a rotating basis, and to
participate on special committees as needed. The total monthly conimitment may exceed
12 hours.
The City provides training for new Planning Commissioners to help them learn their role
and responsibilities as appointed officials. Commissioners may attend training sessions
on meeting protocol, conflict of interest, legal issues and decision-making. The Planning
Division serves as the primary staff to the Commission by providing reports, meeting
packets, training opportunities, meeting minutes and information requested by the
Commission.
Regular meetings are held in the evening on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Commissioners are required to attend these meetings and are expected to have reviewed
the agenda material in preparation for performing their duties. The 'next meetings will be
held on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 and October 21, 2008. Work session at 6:00 and
Regular session at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Meeting Room at City Hall.
Applications are available in the City Manager's Office in City Hall, Fifth and A Streets,
during regular business hours. The deadline to apply is 5 p.Ill., Friday, October 31,
2008.
City CoUncil Interviews will be held November 17, 2008 during the Work Session and
Appointment to the Planning Commission will take place December 1, 2008 during the
City Council Regular Session. '
Date Received:
Planner: BJ
1I111(6i
Supplemental Questions for Planning Commission Application
1. What is your personal interest in applying for. the position?
. 2. What doyou see in Springfield's future and how can you, as a
Planning Commissioner, help to realize that future?
3. Describe your experience in working as a member of a group
that makes decisions?
4. Describe how you would bal<p1ce the need fOf economic
development with neighborh00d preservation or environmental
. values?
,5. When a proposed developmept conflicts with an adopted plan or
the Development Code, how ~ould you, as aPlanning
Commissioner, resolve the conflicts?
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6. Do you have any specific ideas for changes that should be made
in any of our adopted plannirig or development review
documents or in how we review development proposals in
Springfield?
7. Canyou commit the time ne~essary to be an effective Planning
Commissioner? This means ~bout two meetings monthly with
several hours of preparation ~ime for each meeting, plus
occasional joint meetings? i
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Date R.eceived:.Jili:!.( 6 (
Planner: BJ