Paul Dhanuka. Photo by Jon Lewis
The Redding mayor’s appointments to the Planning Commission are typically routine affairs with his or her picks seated by unanimous votes and handshakes all around. Tuesday’s City Council meeting featured exactly none of that.
Mayor Jack Munns’s effort to appoint Joshua Johnson and Blake Nance to four-year terms turned into a rancorous affair that ended with a 2-2 stalemate. Council members Erin Resner and Paul Dhanuka voted no; Munns and Tenessa Audette voted yes; and Mike Littau, expressing discomfort at being the swing vote, abstained.
At issue is the perceived sense of balance on the Planning Commission, an advisory body that deals with land use matters like zoning, amendments to the General Plan, use permits and subdivision maps.
Brandi Greene. Photo by Jon Lewis
Outgoing Commissioners Aaron Hatch and Brandi Greene, who both had asked to be reappointed to another four-year term, expressed concern that their proposed replacements would give the commission a decidedly pro-development lean at the expense of conservation and outdoor recreation.
“Development and real estate (interests) are widely—the majority—represented on the commission. There are other voices that need to be heard,” Greene told council members.
In a Facebook post prior to the meeting, Hatch said “I hope the City Council takes this opportunity to discuss the importance of having an experienced Planning Commission that is well-informed and one that represents more than the development community. If the current nominees are confirmed five of seven Commissioners will have professional ties to real estate, development, or related industries.”
Johnson, a real estate agent and developer, briefly served on the Planning Commission last year before he was appointed to the City Council to fill the remainer of Councilman Michael Dacquisto’s term. Johnson’s bid for a four-year council term was unsuccessful last November. Nance is a former lieutenant with the Beverly Hills Police Department.
Munns defended his nominees, saying Johnson “knows what it takes” to be an effective Commissioner. He called Nance a “one-of-a-kind” applicant whose experiences range from decorated service with the Marines to consulting with Dick Clark Productions.
Erin Resner. Photo by Jon Lewis
In explaining her opposition to the nominees, Resner said that sound planning advice “for what the city will look like in 10 or 20 years” comes from a Commission that “has a variety of voices on the table,” including those she may personally disagree with. “When we’re in our own silo, we only hear the things we want to hear.”
Dhanuka, who was the top vote-getter in last November’s election, said he valued Greene’s and Hatch’s experience and said the city needs to respect those who want to continue serving. More important, he said, was the “need to heal the fracture in our community.”
Aaron Hatch. ANC file photo by Jon Lewis
Dhanuka was referring to the unsuccessful effort last May by then-Mayor Audette to remove Hatch from the Planning Commission. That kerfuffle arose when Hatch sought to address the Council and explain why the Commission was unable to reach consensus on the General Plan update. Hatch had been instructed not to speak to the Council. At that tumultuous May Council meeting, a long line of speakers spoke in support of Hatch and the Council received more than 120 pro-Hatch emails.
That experience apparently made a lasting impression on Audette. Speaking in support of the mayor’s nominees, Audette said it was “insanely disrespectful” of council members to challenge the normally routine process of appointing planning commissioners.
Johnson and Nance are qualified and it’s the mayor’s prerogative to appoint whoever he wants, Audette said. Each mayor selects commissioners based on his or her values and constituents show their trust in those judgements by voting, she said. Traditionally, she added, two Commissioners are termed out each year and replaced by the current mayor.
Tenessa Audette. Photo by Jon Lewis.
“This is not the process,” Audette said. The idea of challenging the mayor started last year and “the grand conspiracy that Bethel (church) has anything to do with what we do up here goes on.” Audette was referencing complaints by retired Council member Dacquisto and others that Audette and Munns, who are both members of Bethel, are seeking to increase the church’s influence in city government. Turning to her fellow Council members, she said “you know that does not happen.”
Dhanuka bristled a bit at Audette’s charge of being disrespectful, saying he was only trying to ensure that constituents were heard (four spoke in favor of Hatch and Greene and 25 supportive emails were received) and that the Council establish a culture of understanding and respect.
Mike Littau. Photo by Jon Lewis
“I’m definitely uncomfortable,” Littau admitted, saying he was torn between respecting the historic process and honoring constituents’ wishes, while also keeping in mind that the Planning Commission will be facing some important decisions in the near future. “No disrespect to the people nominated but we need veteran leadership, but I don’t want my vote to be political in nature.”
Littau then asked if Munns would consider reappointing either Hatch or Greene and one of his two initial nominees. “I’m not going to rescind my picks,” Munns replied.
Following the 2-2 vote, Dhanuka made a motion essentially asking Munns to consider reappointing both Hatch and Greene. That idea failed to gain any traction and was ultimately snuffed out when City Manager Barry Tippin said it would “be a vote that didn’t exist” and would not be binding.
Jack Munns. Photo by Jon Lewis
Munns is expected to return to the April 15 meeting with another two nominees. The terms for Hatch and Greene expire April 30.
Contacted after the meeting, Hatch was reflective: “At the end of the day, I would have liked to continue serving. I feel like I add a balance to the Commission. I certainly do the work, ask questions and educate myself. At end of the day, it’s up to the Council to decide what kind of Commission the council wants.”
The learning curve on the Commission is steep, Hatch said, and he said both he and Greene were hoping to use their experience to help later this year when the Commission addresses the draft update of the Riverfront Specific Plan. Once adopted by the Council, that plan will guide riverfront development in the heart of Redding for the next 20 to 30 years.
“With big items coming up, is it important to have people (on the Commission) who don’t have to come up to speed? Maybe the Council doesn’t think it’s important. I think it’s important,” Hatch said.
