My wife served on Berkeley's planning commission, and says:

- Planning Commissioner's journal worth subscribing to

- "Guide to Planning Commissions" book is helpful

- There's a national conference, workshop, website

- You will be sent a whole lot of materials. It's kind of a part-time job if you're really paying attention

- You're advisory but you have legal responsibilities as a commission to advise the city council. Anybody can appeal anything that you do.

- You're there to represent your council member and his/her constituents.

- Understand the legal differences between zoning board and planning commission.

- Try to be courteous and respectful and encourage that behavior in all of your councillors

- Get to know the staff. They are the frontline people. Don't think of them as "your" employees -- it's a collaborative cooperative. You need to do your homework AND work with them.

- Avoid sniping and political partisan stuff. People who are quiet will appreciate a courteous, fair-minded person.

- In Fresno, you have an opportunity to create a new kind of civic culture of thoughtful reflection. Your Green City initiative has potential. The challenge is to make sure that newcomers and old-timers really believe in this and that it works.

- Transparency and bringing equity planning to the table would be valuable.

- You might want to read the planner's code of ethics, to understand staff

- The city is bounded by all these legal guidelines that will limit your actions.. citizen's don't always get it about why you can't just do ____.

- Field trips and having visitors in are always fun and productive.

Hi all, I was recently appointed to the a local citizens advisory commitee. I am really excited to start working to better our wastewater systems! Did you get an appointment?