El Cajon still looking for a few commissioners
The El Cajon City Council, which voted last month to remove Planning Commissioner Humbert Cabrera from his appointed spot, is having trouble filling his seat.
After putting out word in January of the need to fill seats on several commissions and committees, El Cajon received one application for an open seat on the city’s Personnel Commission, but none for the Planning Commission seat and none for one of three seats on the city’s Public Safety Facility Financing Oversight Committee.
The city initially set a March 3 deadline for candidates to apply. The City Council agreed on Tuesday that it will conduct the interview with the Personnel Commission candidate on March 9.
In the same motion, the City Council also voted to extend the time period for applications for the vacant seat left by Cabrera, the owner of a design and drafting firm that deals in architectural design, drafting and permits. He had been appointed to the Planning Commission by the City Council in July 2019. His term was set to expire in 2023. The City Council in January voted 4-1 to remove him because they said he was rude to applicants and failed to remain impartial.
No end date was set for the application period for the Planning Commission or the Public Safety Facility Financing Oversight Committee, but city staff will monitor the situation. When applications do arrive, the City Council will be notified and set a date for interviews with candidates.
Mitchell said there was no hurry to fill those spots because there is already a quorum for both groups, which make recommendations and act in an advisory role to the City Council.
The Planning Commission seat is a four-year term that will expire Jan. 31, 2025. Applicants must be a resident of the city at the time of application and reside in El Cajon during the term of office. An application for that seat is available on the city’s website.
The Public Safety Facility Financing Oversight Committee seats are also four-year terms that will expire Jan. 31, 2025. Requirements for applicants and the application form can be found on the city’s website.