Three seats on the Seal Beach Planning Commission recently changed hands.
This week, District Three Councilman Michael Varipapa said he had named Michael Thomas, an engineer and family man, to replace businesswoman Deb Machen as the planner representing the Hill.
Machen resigned from the commission at the start of the month, saying that she had moved out of District Three and into Old Town.
However, Machen is expected to return to the Planning Commission as the representative for District One. “Having learned of Steve Sloan’s resignation from the Planning Commission, I have put in an application for the position and anxiously await a decision,” Machen said.
According to Mayor Ellery Deaton, who represents District One on the council, the city had received only one application for the office as of Monday. Deaton believed Monday was the last day for applicants to put in for the job.
Deaton said all of the changes on the commission were the result of unexpected events.
Steven Sloan resigned from the Old Town planning post on Thursday, Sept. 11. His letter of said family obligations made his resignation necessary. That letter is expected to be part of the City Council agenda package for next week’s meeting.
Mayor Ellery Deaton said that she recently returned from a trip to another city when she learned that she had received a message from Sloan that said the Planning Commission post was interfering with his retirement. Deaton said that she was surprised and that she had at least expected Sloan to finish out his term as commission chair.
Machen described her move to Old Town as unplanned.
“The townhome we’ve rented in River Beach for seven years was suddenly put up for sale,” Machen said. “Finding no suitable homes for rent in District Three, and under a bit of duress, we found our current home after a month and a half of searching and decided to take it.”
Last week, the City Council approved Mariann Klinger as the new Planning Commission representative for District Five. Councilwoman Sandra Massa-Lavitt’s previous commission member, Paul Pratt, had resigned following his election to the Golden Rain Foundation board, which runs Leisure World.
Deaton said that the city attorney’s office considers that a conflict of interest.
Varipapa doesn’t believe the changes will have a negative impact on the Planning Commission. According to him, the fact that the Monday, Sept. 21 planning meeting was cancelled would give the new commissioners time to learn the requirements.
Varipapa also said that his appointee, Thomas, is an engineer and familiar with the planning process.
