Council members announce new commission selections

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Four new faces will be on the Menifee Planning Commission this year, according to new appointments made by City Council members at Wednesday night’s meeting.

The only returning commissioner is Chris Thomas, who has been on the commission ever since it was formed in 2009. He was first appointed by the late Mayor Wally Edgerton, then reappointed by former Mayor Bill Zimmerman, reappointed again by former council member Lesa Sobek, and reappointed again Wednesday by new council member Dan Temple.

The only other Planning Commissioner who would’ve been returning was Ben Diederich, who was appointed to the District 2 seat on the City Council Wednesday night. Council member Dean Deines, who previously appointed Diederich to the Planning Commission, will announce a replacement for that commission spot at the next council meeting.

Also leaving the Planning Commission is Randy Madrid, who was appointed to that post by former Mayor Bill Zimmerman, and Jeff LaDue, who recently resigned his position. In addition, Joe Long said he was informed by Mayor Ricky Estrada that he would not be reappointed to his seat on the commission.

Estrada chose as his new appointee Menifee resident Tammy Ramirez. Also joining Thomas on the reconfigured commission is Ivan Holler, a Menifee resident who retired in April from his position as Assistant City Manager for the City of Murrieta.

Mayor Pro Tem Bob Karwin appointed Holler, who will bring a wealth of city government knowledge to a commission that for the most part will be inexperienced in municipal building codes and zoning issues. In addition to a replacement for Diederich to be announced by Deines, Diederich will name his own appointee to the commission.

Temple said he reappointed Thomas to the commission because of his years of experience in municipal planning and the fact he aligns with Temple’s philosophies about measured growth in the city.

“I recognized that with the change in the City Council, there was a chance that we would have an entirely new Planning Commission,” Temple said. “There’s a lot of value in Chris’ institutional knowledge and culture. He’s someone who has demonstrated that he understands the rules and guidelines involved.

“Also, I don’t want out of control growth in the city, and I know Chris is good at ensuring measured growth.”

Appointees were also named by each City Council member to the Parks, Recreation and Trails Commission; Quality of Life (Measure DD) Oversight Committee; Senior Advisory Committee; Menifee Citizens Advisory Committee; and the new Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee. Below is the complete list of appointments.