WANTED: THREE 29 PALMS PLANNING COMMISSIONERS

Application deadline is January 12, online form available now.

UPDATE: The deadline for submitting Planning Commission applications was extended to January 12 since this article was published and is updated in the article. Additionally Planning Commissioner Gregory Mendoza passed away on December 23.

The online application for the three open seats on the City of Twentynine Palms Planning Commission has been released. The application is available on the City website. Applications are due in the City office by 6pm on January 12, 2023.

As reported in our December 11 newsletter, long time Twentynine Palms Planning Commissioner Gregory Mendoza has resigned. Mendoza was first appointed to the Planning Commission in 2010 and his seat is one of three up for appointment early 2023.  The other two seats are Jason Dickson, first appointed in 2018 and Max Walker, who was last appointed in 2019 (date of first appointment could not be verified). Both Dickson and Walker have indicated they plan to reapply for their seats.

Although Planning Commissioners are not appointed by Council District, some residents feel that all Districts should be represented on the Commission. Mendoza was appointed prior to the division of the City into Council Districts and resides in District 3. Dickson and Walker reside in District 5, while Commissioners Jim Krushat and Leslie Pahana both reside in District 2. No Commission members reside in Districts 1 and 4. 

It appears that new Council member Octavious Scott has some questions about the process for appointing Planning Commission members. When the request for future Council initiated items was made by new Mayor MacArthur Wright at the December 13 meeting, Scott replied “I’d like to make a motion to put a future agenda item to propose a new appointment process for Planning Commissioners.” The motion was seconded by Council member Daniel Mintz.

Twentynine Palms’ ordinance requires Planning Commissioners to reapply for their seats every four years. Applications are reviewed by a subcommittee of two Council Members. Potential applicants are then interviewed with recommendations for appointments presented for confirmation by the full City Council in February 2023.

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