P&Z commission welcomes Counts as new member
Hamel retains position as chair of Yuma panel
For the newest member of the Yuma Planning and Zoning Commission, “it’s always been about a life of service.” The commission introduced Gregory Counts as its newest member during the Monday meeting.
Counts is Yuma “homegrown” and a “proud” Kofa King. He attended Arizona Western College and Northern Arizona University and later joined the U.S. Navy. He then worked at Yuma Proving Ground for ECIII, a defense contractor that provides support to the proving ground.
In 1994 Counts joined the Yuma Police Department, where he served as a patrol officer, bike patrol officer, school resource officer, detective, patrol sergeant and patrol lieutenant. He was also part of the Yuma Special Response Team for 17 years. He retired from the YPD in September 2015.
“My entire adult career, my adult life has been about service to others. This is just another service-oriented obligation or something that I can do to help this community that I love,” Counts said.
The commission still has two vacancies and has had to cancel recent meetings due to a lack of quorum.
“We are excited to be up to five commissioners,” Community Development Director Laurie Lineberry said, adding that they are working on adding another couple of members, which would bring the commission up to the normal seven members.
Chairman Chris Hamel noted that he has attended meetings by telephone when out of town and suggested the other commissioners do the same when they cannot attend in person.
“From my perspective, I thought that worked extremely well,” he said.
In other action, the commission elected the chair and vice chair for this year. Deputy City Attorney Rodney Short noted that the bylaws require that the chair must have served at least two years on the commission. Only one commissioner — Hamel — qualifies for the position. By unanimous vote, Hamel retained his seat.
However, Short pointed out that since no one else has been on the board for more than two years, all members could be nominated for the position of vice chair. Tyrone Jones nominated Fred Dammeyer, and Dammeyer nominated Jones. The commissioners unanimously elected Jones as vice chair.
The city’s boards and commissions are made up of volunteers appointed by the Yuma City Council. Potential candidates must file an application with the City Clerk’s Office on the first floor of City Hall. Appointees are selected based on education, work experience and civic involvement as listed on the application.
Faced with several vacancies on various boards and commissions last year, Mayor Doug Nicholls invited community members to offer themselves.
“Our boards and commissions help guide the council. They get engaged in the community and help us understand the issues in a broader sense,” Nicholls said. “We currently have openings for new members, so if you have an interest in serving the community, particularly if it’s a subject matter you have a passion about or extensive knowledge in, I encourage you to apply.”
Any person who lives within the city limits may serve on a board or commission. However, several boards of a more technical nature require one or more members to have specific technical expertise. Formal appointment occurs at a regularly scheduled council meeting.