 |
|
|
|
Outgoing chairman: Chuck Page
Applications to fill void in commission slow to a trickle
By Oakley Brooks
Potential planning commissioners are a rare species in Saratoga these days and some say it might have to do with the difficulties inherent in doing the job.
Three commissioners' terms expired on April 1, and the city had only one replacement, Ruchi Zutshi, for the commission's April 11 meeting. Zutshi was the only applicant to file an application by the city's March deadline and was appointed on March 21.
The city has reopened the application process, but as of April 6, still had only received two applications. One came from outgoing commission Chairman Chuck Page, who's still unsure if he would like to serve another four-year term.
Meanwhile, the commission will operate with only five members for its first April meeting, enough for a quorum, but not the seven required by the city code.
Mayor John Mehaffey blames the dearth of planning commissioners on the stress inherent to the planning process.
"It's a nasty environment because you're dealing with people's dreams," said Mehaffey. "They're not happy when you block their plans. I think that's turned some people off."
Mehaffey rates serving the planning commission as an even more thankless duty than sitting on city council; he points out that the commission doesn't have the power to recognize and honor Saratogans as the council does during the ceremonial section of each meeting.
Acknowledging planning commissioners' heavy burden, the city council recently voted to pay commissioners $150 per month. But Mehaffey says that still won't entice future commissioners.
"If you work it out by the hour, it's probably less than minimum wage," said Mehaffey.
Chuck Page says the problem with the planning commission isn't just the thankless character of the job; it's the often stymied nature of the commission.
Page says when he joined the commission in July 1998, the group was diverse but intent on making "informed decisions." Since a turnover of four commissioners in April 1999, he says the commission now more frequently balks at making key decisions and extends the review of certain projects.
Page feels that prolonging the process has frustrated Saratogans and denied them their right to a speedy answer from the planning commission.
"This paralysis of activity is not what the city needs," said Page. "It doesn't happen in every case, but it happens in the tough ones."
The delays have led to an atmosphere in commission meetings that Mayor Mehaffey understatedly calls "less than harmonious."
Page also says that delaying projects is one way that Saratogans are working to preserve the city's "rustic charm." But while Page agrees that quality of the city is worth protecting, he doesn't agree that completely stalling growth is the way forward.
"You'll become an island where no one wants to be,' said Page.
Page says he'll be asking city officials about reforms on the planning commission when he interviews for another term on April 18. City Manager Dave Anderson says the city will also interview resident Arthur Hamel that day. While Mayor Mehaffey says its not certain that both candidates would, if willing, be appointed at that evening's city council meeting, he admits that the city needs the commissioners.
"It's in the interest of the city to have the commission fully staffed," said Mehaffey.
And given the current atmosphere surrounding the planning commission, that's not an easy task.
|
|
|
|
Saratoga, California Since 1955
