Council to talk Planning Commission

Austin City Council will return to its first work session of the year on Jan. 29, and according to a post by Mayor Steve Adler on the City Council Message Board, one of the first topics it will take up is the membership of Council committees, the Planning Commission and intergovernmental entities. Though Planning Commission terms are set to expire in June of this year, the recent voter-approved charter change allows some flexibility about when appointments must be made. Adler notes, “Last year, council said that we would have a discussion about Planning Commission appointments as a body. We would like to start this conversation at the Jan 29 work session.” Last year, Planning commissioners were the subject of discussion – and a lawsuit – about its makeup, and whether the number of land use experts was in violation of the city charter.