Resignation over council decisions

OTHELLO — A planning commission member resigned due to decisions being made by the council regarding zoning codes.

Lolo Garza had concerns with the council making decisions related to the planning commission so he stepped down, Councilmember Kathy Carlton said.

She wondered if council overstepped their boundaries by making decisions the planning commission should have reviewed.

"I do want to apologize to Mr. Garza," she said. "I just want to thank him for his work, that's a thankless job."

Garza resigned April 21. In his resignation letter he noted he stepped down due to council adopting new zoning definitions without acknowledging the planning commission.

"I don't think we need to apologize to Mr. Garza because we didn't do anything wrong,"

Mayor Shannon McKay said.

He explained it is council's responsibility to make policy and decisions regarding planning.

The most recent discussion among council related to zoning regulations is the elimination of future alleyways in residential developments.

Instead of taking a vote on whether or not the alleyway language should be changed the mayor suggested the information be forwarded to the planning commission for them to review first.

"Maybe we could do a better job of communicating," McKay said.

"I'd like to hear what they have to say," Councilmember Tim Wilson said.

Phone calls to Garza were not returned.