Filling out City board appointment application...

At last week's Historic Resource Preservation Board (HRPB) meeting, we were told by staff that each one of the four existing board members would have to re-apply this year, regardless of the end date of our term.  This is due to the continued reformation of both the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) and HRPB - adjusting the number of voting members and alternates for both (5 and 2, respectively) and making sure that at least a majority of those on each board have some sort of professional expertise in the work areas of each board.  Essentially, the city wants to start with a clean slate, based on these standards.  This re-formulation is also setting the foundation for implementation of the 7 1/2 year delay in getting new land development regulations.  But that is another story.

The City Commission temporarily re-appointed existing members of each board until new members are selected late in June.  During that process, Mr. McNamara resigned from P&Z and Ms. Jennings lost her seat on the same board.  So, what this all means is that all five voting positions are up for grabs on both boards, along with the two alternate positions.  The applications have to be made by May 25th.

So, to get my application out of the way, I went to the city's website where I found the application under Volunteer Boards.  On the page where the link is, there is an indication that it was last revised on May 9th - recent enough that it should contain all pertinent and up-to-date information.  Well, guess what...it doesn't.

Here is what it says about the vacancy status on the HRPB:

The above description still reflects a seven person voting board, not five (there are four remaining members) and it does not reflect the fact that there are really 7 vacancies - five regular members and two alternates)

The P&Z log on the city's website shows a board of seven members, all with full voting powers (update in January 2012). The alternate positions (formerly two) were eliminated immediately prior to Ms. Jennings being appointed to the board.  We wouldn't want a former city commissioner having to sit as a usually non-voting member of this board - especially the one that controls height!  Hmmm...  Anyway, the application currently says that three members are needed on P&Z, when in fact five regular members are needed, along with two alternates.

When will the information that the city is responsible for putting out be relevant, current and actually reflect the truth?  I have yet to see it done on a consistent basis.  I am hopeful that this is one of the changes our new city manager can initiate.