BUENA PARK : Planning Board Cut From 7 Members to 5

The City Council this week reduced the Planning Commission from seven members to five during a study session.

The council also rejected a proposal to appoint an “alternate” after receiving a letter from one of the commissioners that said it would be unfair for someone to serve in a non-voting position.

The commission will retain seven members until mid-August.

One commissioner has said she will step down. The City Council will have to decide which of the other commissioners to remove but it has not yet agreed on how the decision will be made.

Council members previously had considered creating an alternate position to avoid having to unseat anyone.

But a letter from Bob Niccum, a commissioner whose seat is up for reappointment, pleaded with the council member not to make that move.

“Expecting someone to keep his or her talents available, but only in the status of an alternate, is unworthy,” wrote Niccum, who supported the reduction.

“If the diversity of the city of Los Angeles can be reflected in a five-member commission, why not Buena Park?” he asked in his letter.

Some council members had said in an earlier meeting that the commission should be reduced to be more in line with most other Orange County cities.

Development Services Director Thomas E. Lynch said that nine cities have seven-member panels while 18 have five-member boards.

In three cities, the city council acts as the planning commission. Lynch said the city would save about $6,000 by reducing the number of commissioners.

Commission Chairman Larry T. Wieck said after the meeting that he opposed the reduction because each member on the board brings a different educational and professional viewpoint.

Councilman Don R. Griffin agreed with Wieck and opposed the reduction.