Harbor Springs Planning Commission 1.20.2022

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs Planning Commission — January 20, 2022 - The commission was one member short of a quorum. As a result, it could not take action or hold official discussion that night. No chair election, meeting schedule, bylaws review, or annual-priority setting was completed. - Participants discussed calling a special meeting to handle administrative business before the commission’s usual February meeting timing. Topics identified for that meeting included electing a chair, establishing priorities for the year, reviewing bylaws, and setting the commission’s future meeting schedule. - A February 3 date was discussed as a possible special-meeting date. Staff said they would put the date out to see who could attend. The date was not formally set during this meeting because the commission lacked a quorum. - Staff explained that either the chair or two commissioners should submit a written request for a special meeting. The stated reason was to provide support if the meeting were challenged under the Open Meetings Act. One speaker said they would send an email before going home that night. - Participants said waiting until the third Thursday in February could delay work that needs to begin sooner. They specifically referenced short-term-rental issues discussed at a council meeting and work connected to the master-plan process. - The commission noted that it technically did not yet have a February meeting scheduled. Its annual scheduling practice ordinarily carries forward through the following January so the next year’s meetings can be scheduled. Worth watching: - Whether a written request from the chair or two commissioners is submitted to support calling a special meeting. - Whether February 3 is confirmed and enough members can attend for a quorum. - Whether delay affects master-plan work, including a public hearing mentioned as expected in March, or the start of short-term-rental work. Upcoming: A possible special meeting on February 3 was discussed; confirmation was not recorded. Why it matters: Without a quorum and a scheduled future meeting, the commission could not complete routine governance or advance planning work until a properly convened meeting occurs.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.