It's been over 10 years since a woman has served on the Concord Planning Commission.
And yet only three of the 19 applicants the City Council will be considering for appointment to the Planning Commission next Tuesday night are women. Why? [Link to staff report.]
The issues coming before the Planning Commission over the next two years are important and include both policy questions about the Base Reuse Project and the Citywide standards in the new Development Code. On those two matters alone the Planning Commission recommendations to the City Council will help shape the future of Concord for decades.
Here's my advice to the Council:
- Ignore those who tell you not to put possible opponents (future Council candidates) on the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission is a training ground for future Council members. Putting someone on the Planning Commission tests their abilities and gives them a small dose of the reality of serving in public office. It is the best kind of succession planning. And if ultimately the voters decide someone should serve on the City Council - I'd certainly prefer they have this experience.
- Your staff is stretched thin. Bringing new commissioners up to speed on the important, pending matters will take staff time and effort. While you are now filling 3 of the 5 Planning Commission seats, you have one "open" seat created by Ron Leone's election to Council last November. Think carefully before making more "change" than that. Now is not the time to discard the institutional knowledge and experience of Commissioners Bob Hoag and Kevin Costa.
- Appoint a woman.
