FEBRUARY 11, 2025|
Photo – Saratoga Planning Commission logo – Courtesy Town of Saratoga
The Saratoga town council has chosen not to fill empty seats on the Planning Commission until new term lengths are determined.
During the February 4th Saratoga town council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner said that he received letters of interest from two residents interested in joining the town’s Planning Commission: Rawlins Downtown Development Authority member Heidi Larsen and an employee at Bigfoot 99, Tana Davi.
Penner said he was surprised that current member, Matt Baker, had not submitted a letter of interest for another term on the commission, which ended on December 31st.
Planning Commission Chairwoman McCall Burau said Baker did not want to serve another five-year term. Burau said that Baker delayed his letter of interest until the Planning Commission finished adjusting its term lengths.
Public Works Director Penner asked the town council if they would like to appoint a new Planning Commission member that night or wait until the bylaws governing term lengths are changed.
Mayor Chuck Davis said he believes that five-year terms discourage people from serving on the Planning Commission.
Penner explained that the new bylaws set two different term lengths for members: two years and three years. The public works director said shorter durations may encourage committee members to complete their service without resigning partway through their term.
Planning Commission Chairwoman Burau said only one member of the committee is serving a full five-year term. The remaining five members, herself included, are finishing unexpired terms. Councilman Jerry Fluty asked why members don’t a two-year term. Chairwoman Burau said three-year terms will allow members to acquire more knowledge of Saratoga’s planning and zoning regulations.
Additionally, having all two-year terms would require the Planning Commission to replace half its membership every year.
Mayor Davis suggested beginning the process to change the ordinance governing the Planning Commission’s term length immediately. All changes to town ordinances require three readings at three public meetings before being formally adopted. The mayor said the two Planning Commission applicants should be informed of the change and asked to resubmit letters of interest in the future.
Mayor Davis said the Planning Commission will have two more readings of the ordinance to decide whether to implement two-year terms or a combination of two- and three-year terms.
Public Works Director Penner said the current Planning Commission members approved of either two- or three-year terms, but no one preferred to serve a full five years. The Saratoga town council approved ordinance changing the term lengths for Planning Commission members on first reading.
