SANGER – The city council took its final steps towards resetting the planning commission following years of poor attendance and project delays.
After downsizing the commission from seven to five members last month, the council voted on to remove all sitting commissioners and immediately reappoint the four still interested in serving on the commission at their meeting on Sept. 17.
The resolution also declares the fifth seat vacant, allowing the city to open applications for a new commissioner.
According to Community Development Director Joshua Goggins, the resolution was designed to “seamlessly transition” experienced returning members into the newly reorganized five-member commission. Members will also transition to serving four-year terms — with three seats expiring on even years and two on odd years to ensure that the commission always has a number of experienced members.
Goggins first proposed the idea of downsizing the commission at a June 4 meeting following concerns about attendance from former Commission Chair and reappointed member Kevin Carter. If the commission fails to meet quorum, it cannot take action, often resulting in canceled meetings.
Carter told the Mid Valley Times that it has been years since some commissioners have shown up to meetings, and nearly half of the 22 planning commission meetings scheduled since 2025 were cancelled, according to an analysis of records on the city’s online meeting portal.
“There are so many multi-million-dollar projects that can’t move forward unless the planning commission approves it,” Goggins said. “We’ve had instances where somebody’s serving on a softball team and can’t make it to the meeting, so the whole thing is off.”
He reintroduced the ordinance on July 16, which caps commission membership at five seats to make it easier to meet quorum. Under the ordinance, members absent for more than four consecutive meetings would be automatically “retired.” It also calls for new members to be appointed by the mayor through a citywide selection process and serve four-year terms.
After a second reading in August, the ordinance officially went into effect on Sept. 6.
The city council voted to reappoint the members who “desire to continue to serve,” including Carter, former vice chair Antonio Aguilar, Mary Lopez and Chaided Bouasavanh. Past commission members Jesalyn Harper, Drew Esquer and Victor Echeverria Jr. will not be returning.
Carter said that he and the other returning members who have maintained consistent attendance across past commission meetings are happy that the changes were made. However, he lamented that the general public appears to hold little interest in the planning commission, or in joining the ranks now that the fifth seat is open for applications.
According to Goggins, officials will begin advertising the role on social media and across newsletters in an effort to build public interest. Goggins added that he has already met with a number of city residents interested in applying for the job.
Applications will later be compiled and presented to the mayor, who will select the newest member and present the application for city council approval.
“It’s kind of a thankless position, but it’s super important because these projects can’t move without it,” Goggins said. “I know you’re not running for office or trying to get elected, but the decisions that you make impact the entire city.”
While council members were united in taking the final administrative steps to reform the planning commission, Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Martinez questioned whether the former chair and vice chair will retain their titles on the commission.
City attorney Shannon Chaffin said that while nothing on the ordinance addresses this issue, the new commission will likely be able to decide on the fate of chair and vice chair titles at their upcoming meeting.
As of press time, the next planning commission meeting is scheduled for Oct. 22.
