Jersey Village appoints members to plan advisory committee

Jersey Village City Council voted to accept a list of 12 applicants and three alternates to the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee at its April 21 meeting.

The CPAC will be tasked with providing input and feedback to planners with the consulting firm Freese and Nichols as they work with city staff to develop an updated comprehensive plan. Members essentially serve as ambassadors to Jersey Village, gathering input from neighbors, community members and business groups, planner Shad Comeaux said.

The members were selected and agreed upon by Council after a month-long application process that yielded 29 applications. Several council members spoke about what they were looking for when choosing who would represent the city.

"I think it's important that we get a mix of established citizens and younger citizens in terms of age and tenure with the city to get different perspectives," council woman Sheri Sheppard said. "I was also looking for people who are consistently engaged in city matters."

CPAC input will be collected throughout the 13 month process of drafting and adopting the plan. The first meeting between Freese and Nichols staff and the CPAC will be scheduled for sometime in May. A chairperson and vice-chairperson will be elected by vote at the first meeting.

Upon completion, the comprehensive plan will provide the city with objectives and actions to promote growth, economic development, community development, city services and parks and recreation within a 10-year scope.

The 12 members are:

• Andrew Mitcham
• Barbara Freeman
• Frank Maher
• Howard Mead
• James Singleton
• Michael K. O'Kelley
• Tom Eustace
• Debra Sappington
• Jennifer McCrea
• Rick Faircloth
• Susan C. Edwards
• Terry Vanderpool

The three alternate members are:

• Karie Lawrence
• Thomas Simchak
• Jim Pulliam