Three candidates will be interviewed Wednesday for one seat on
the city Planning Commision.
Three candidates will be interviewed Wednesday for one seat on the city Planning Commision. The council is expected that night to name a commissioner to fill the remainder of the term held by Bob Engles, who died in December. The term will expire June 1, 2007.
Mike Davenport, who ran unsuccessfully for school board trustee in November, Sue Koepp-Baker, who has volunteered for many Morgan Hill groups, and Lee Schmidt, who lives near the proposed and controversial Walnut Grove development on East Dunne Avenue, are the three hopefuls.
Davenport is a compliance manager for Cisco Systems and a recent graduate of the Leadership Morgan Hill class of 2004. His résumés says he has more than 15 years of managing development, strategic planning and leadership. He wants to “give back to the community through leadership that includes vision, direction and innovation.”
Davenport has lived in Morgan Hill for two years.
Sue Koepp-Baker, a six-year resident and professional grant writer, wrote a detailed résumés pointing out her six years as a planning commission delegate, nine years on an environmental advisory council (EAC) and several more performing civic duties on open space, surveys, site and construction plans plus work on archeological and recycling programs.
Koepp-Baker has also taken formal courses in planning and land use. She listed 19 separate groups with which she has volunteered, covering a wide range of topics, in several states. Locally, she serves as secretary of the South County Day Worker Committee, works with the American Association of University Women and is a member of Leadership Morgan Hill and the county’s Restorative Justice Program.
Schmidt, a nine-year resident, is retired and a self-described real estate investor. He spent 26 years managing a car dealership, 17 with General Motors.
He said he is concerned with the preservation of the General Plan, which he considers good. The City Council is considering changing zoning and the plan to allow another auto dealership next to Courtesy Chevrolet at East Dunne Avenue and Highway 101. Schmidt and his neighbors in the Rosemary Circle area have objected.
The complete résumés are available at City Hall. City Council meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday in City Hall Chambers, 17555 Peak Ave. Details: www.morganhill.ca .gov or 779-7271. The interviews will not be broadcast on television.
Three other commissioners’ terms will end on June 1, and council will have another round of interviews at that time.
Carol Holzgrafe covers City Hall for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at ch********@*************es.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 201.
