Board elects chair and vice chair, adopts rules of procedure and discusses training

At the start of its Jan. 13 meeting, the Commerce City Board of Adjustment elected Joanne Hernandez as chair and Frey Waite as vice chair. Nominations were made from the floor, motions were seconded and the board recorded unanimous electronic votes to confirm both appointments.

The board also moved to approve meeting minutes from Sept. 9, 2025 and considered proposed updates to the board’s rules of procedure. Board member Frey Waite urged the board to adopt regular training to keep members current on land development code changes; an attorney and planners said training could be provided by staff or added to rules if the board desired, and cautioned that adding requirements to bylaws could complicate quorum or scheduling. After discussion, the board voted unanimously to adopt the rules of procedure as presented.

Board members asked staff to pursue a study session on variance criteria and the forthcoming 2025 land development code implementation. Staff said the new code will come into full effect as individual properties are rezoned through a legislative rezoning process and that extensive public outreach will follow. A nonbinding question about providing meeting meals was raised; staff said that would require administrative review and possible budget changes.