This evening the Scottsdale City Council conducted interviews to fill vacancies on the Airport Advisory Commission, the Board of Adjustment, and the Development Review Board.
The meeting video is now posted.
As usual, the applicants for the Airport Commission are overwhelmingly qualified and I would not want to have to choose from among them. Commissioner Bill Bergdoll was reappointed and Steve Ziomek will fill the seat vacated by Lois Yates, who was term-limited.
For the Board of Adjustment, which hears zoning related appeals, Michael Di Nitto got the nod.
The Development Review Board is one of the more controversial and high-profile of the city’s boards and commissions. Developer Eric Gerster was reappointed. A new face, Ali Fakih, will join Gerster on DRB.
Real estate attorney Marc Blonstein was appointed to the low-profile (some might say “shadowy”) Industrial Development Authority.
The Library Board, like Airport, also had a wealth of impressive applicants. Peggy Chamberlain and Mark Shimelonis will fill the two vacant seats.
Perhaps the most controversial appointment of the night was for the single open seat on the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission. Carla, the first lady of the Preserve, former Council member Marg Nelssen (also widow of Councilman Tony Nelssen), McDowell Sonoran Conservancy chair Con Englehorn, and Michael Milillo (former City of Scottsdale Planning Department employee) were all nominated. MSPC has become highly politicized, which is ironic given it’s purpose as a purpose as a place of peace where residents can reconnect to nature.
Carla was nominated for reappointment, and as the staunchest defender of the original intent of the Preserve certainly deserved it. Unfortunately, the political math worked against Carla due to opposition from the Chamber of Commerce caucus, but Marg Nelssen was appointed.
The city just announced the next round of board and commission appointments, with applications due September 23.