Council kerfuffle over Planning Commission appointment

In what was clearly a frustrating process for Sonoma’s Mayor David Cook, at its most recent meeting the City Council was unable to agree on the ratification and appointment of Mike Coleman to the Planning Commission.

Up to now, the appointment process has been a review of applicant applications and personal interviews by the mayor and one other council member; the mayor then makes a nomination by agenda at a public meeting and the full council ratifies or denies the appointment with a majority vote.

The problem arose as council member Gary Edwards removed the agenda item from the generally routine consent calendar, and asked to discuss it and vote on it separately. He then went on to suggest that the customary interview and decision-making process was undercut by what appeared to be Mayor Cook’s decision to appoint Mr. Coleman without Mr. Edwards agreement.

Moreover, Edwards suggested that other applicants were more qualified for the largely technical workings of the commission and noted that Mr. Coleman indicated on his application that he had never attended a meeting of the Planning Commission. Noting the high volume of significant decisions that will be made by the Planning Commission, Mr. Edwards argued that having highly qualified members is essential.

An obviously flustered Mayor Cook vigorously defended his right to choose the applicant of his preference, and his choice of Mr. Coleman in particular. He listed the other appointments he has made recently to the commission without dispute. When it came to motions and votes to ratify, however, the council (absent Ms. Agrimonti) was unable to break a 2-2 deadlock, leaving the matter unresolved.

Ultimately, after a series of failed motions and the advice of the City Attorney, the matter was tabled to a future meeting when presumably all five members of the council are present.

Before moving on to the rest of evening’s agenda, the Mayor called the proceedings “embarrassing” and apologized to the applicants and the audience in attendance.