First Ward Commission Vacancy

At a glance

What: The First Ward Commission seat has been vacant for months. After the November election, residents and neighborhood groups asked the Commission to appoint the commissioner-elect early to fill the remainder of the term.
Where it stands: On November 10 a commissioner moved to suspend the rules to consider an appointment; the motion got no second after the city attorney advised against taking up a non-agenda item. The City Manager was asked to gauge interest in a future agenda item.
Next: The commissioner-elect takes office January 1 after the December oath of office ceremony unless the Commission acts earlier.

The city attorney said agenda items normally must be submitted before 2 PM on the Wednesday before a meeting, so the public has notice, and that suspending the rules is rare.
Commissioners opposed to an early appointment said the agreed process was followed, an earlier appointment attempt deadlocked, and little business remains in the term; one favors elections and snap elections over appointments and urged charter discussion. Supporters, including the First Ward commissioner, pointed to the size of the election result.
The commissioner-elect has been receiving onboarding from staff since the week of the election.

Public comment on the vacancy at the start and end of the meeting; motion to suspend the rules to appoint the commissioner-elect died for lack of a second; closing comments from several commissioners.