They will fill vacancies created by the departure of four current Planning Commissioners.
Maxwell said he met with Mayor Elect Laurie Gere, Council member Erica Pickett, and City Planning Director Ryan Larsen to review and discuss the applicants.
Christina Hansen will serve a six-year term which expires December 31, 2019; Jeremy McNett will serve a term that expires December 31 2018; and Allen Rhoades and Curt Oppel will serve terms that expire December 31, 2017.
Maxwell said, “They have been very involved in the community and are extremely qualified to serve on the Planning Commission.” He urged the City Council to send him comments before the regular City Council meeting on December 16, when he will ask them to confirm these appointments.
Hansen has a BA degree in Urban Studies from the University of California at San Diego. Her letter of interest says that she served as an Aviation Maintenance Officer at NAS Whidbey Island for six years. “Participation and graduation from Leadership Skagit's Class of 2013 provided that insight, and service on the Anacortes Planning Commission would be a very welcome aspect of my goal to meaningfully serve my community,” she wrote.
McNett is employed as an associate architect with Underwood & Associates here in Anacortes. In his letter of interest, McNett says, “I am concurrently a senior at Western Washington University where I am pursuing multiple degrees in Political Science, Economics, Russian & Eurasian Studies while working full time and helping my wife, Tatyana, raise our four children and manage our second small business, Toppins Frozen Yogurt.” He is also on the Fidalgo Pool Board.
Rhodes is the majority owner and managing partner of Rockfish Grill, Anacortes Brewery and H2O. He’s a former tooling engineer with Boeing. In his letter of interest, he says, “I have developed excellent relationships with other business owners and citizens, strengthening my commitment to help make Anacortes the best city it can be. As our businesses mature, I am finding, that I have the time and the knowledge to devote to the future planning of Anacortes.”
Oppel received his real estate associate license in 1994 and is currently an associate broker at John L. Scott Real Estate. In his letter of interest, he says, “I respect the heritage of Anacortes and want to see our community develop in a sensible, considerate way within the current boundaries of our planning guidelines.” He has been active in several projects here, including the Cub Scouts, and as co-chair of Our Town - Our Park which built the playground at Storvik Park in 2009. He’s a a member of the Chamber of Commerce Board.