The Avalon City Council on Tuesday, Aug. 4, unanimously appointed three individuals to the Planning Commission.
Mayor Anni Marshall recommended appointing Robert Kennedy, Jessica Romero, and Kathy Smith to the Planning Commission. For the alternate planner, she recommended Susanna Gutierrez.
The planners will each serve a four-year term. The council also approved the appointment of one person to serve as an alternate planner for two years.
“The Planning Commission is a seven person commission with one optional alternate member,” according to the staff report by Senior Management Analyst Devin Hart.
“The terms for three (3) of the current Planning Commissioners expired on June 30, 2026,” Hart wrote.
“The recruitment period for Planning Commissioners for the 2026-2030 period were publicly noticed in the Islander, on the City’s website, and throughout the City’s social media platforms. The application period was open from May 1 to June 8, 2026. The City received six applications for the positions by the stated deadline (listed alphabetically)—Susanna Gutierrez, Robert Kennedy, Sandra Putnam, Jessica Romero, Jessica Romo and Kathy Smith,” Hart wrote. Marshall said she and Councilmember Lisa Lavelle interviewed the Planning Commission applicants. According to Hart’s report, the interviews took place on June 15.
In other news
- The council unanimously adopted an ordinance that allows Avalon to receive information about short term rentals from online platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO. The Avalon council introduced the ordinance on July 28.
- The council unanimously approved an update to the city’s Title VI Plan. Title Vi prohibits discrimination as a condition for receiving federal funding.
- The council directed staff not to advance the Civic Center Housing Project. The council rejected all bids for the project. City Manager David Maistros called it a temporary setback and anticipated a delay of 18 to 24 months.