The Sweet Home City Council approved a new interview process for appointing citizens to the Planning Commission during its regular meeting on April 10.
Previously, Planning Commission applicants filled out a form common to all city committees. The form is basic, asking for some personal information, what experience the applicant has and why the applicant is interested.
Rich Rowley, a longtime member of the commission himself before he joined the City Council, told his fellow council members last month that with the recent growth in Sweet Home, the Planning Commission is rising in importance and that the council should learn more about applicants before appointing them to it.
The council’s administration and finance committee considered Rowley’s suggestions and returned a recommendation to create a three-councilor panel to interview applicants. The panel will deliver a recommendation to the council for appointment to the Planning Commission.
The composition of the panel will rotate. Initial panelists are councilors Eric Markell, Bob McIntire and Rowley.
The city has one Planning Commission seat open right now, and several people have indicated an interest in serving, City Manager Craig Martin said. He said he will contact them and let them know the new process is in place.
Present at the meeting were councilors Markell, McIntire, Rowley, Jim Bean, Jim Gourley, Scott McKee and Mayor Craig Fentiman.
For information about city committee openings or to apply, call the city manager’s office at 367-8969 or stop at City Hall, 1140 12th Ave.