Bruce Garlich resigns from planning commission

The Costa Mesa City Council will need to appoint three people to planning commission seats rather than two, following commissioner Bruce Garlich’s unexpected resignation this week.

Garlich’s term on the commission was to last until early 2009, but on Tuesday he submitted a resignation letter citing “reasons of personal health.” The resignation was effective immediately.

Reached by phone Friday, he declined to comment beyond the letter, which also said he enjoyed his six years on the commission. In November, Garlich lost a bid for a City Council seat.

The city in December took applications for two other commission seats that will open in February, and the council is set to discuss the appointments Jan. 16.

City management analyst Carol Proctor said the council will choose someone for Garlich’s seat from the existing pool of seven applicants.

Garlich’s four colleagues on the commission, to a person, said they respect his service even if they didn’t always agree.

“Bruce has done an absolutely superb job. He makes it very easy for the rest of us because he pays attention to every detail,” commissioner Donn Hall said.

Commissioner Jim Fisler, who has applied for reappointment, said Garlich’s departure means “we lose a wealth of knowledge. He helped me along when I first got on the commission.”

With the potential for three new members, it’s hard to say what the commission will look like next month.

“I was really hoping for Bruce to stay on, because if I stepped off there would [still] be a little more of a balance,” said commission chairman Bill Perkins. His appointment is one of the two set to expire next month.

Perkins missed the deadline to reapply because he was out of town, but he plans to submit a late application. Proctor said the council will decide whether to consider Perkins’ application.

Perkins considers himself more moderate than some commissioners, he said, and he expects Mayor Allan Mansoor to propose appointees who agree with his more conservative agenda.

“As the one who leads the council, I think it’s highly likely that he will seek people who think like he does,” said commissioner Eleanor Egan, whose appointment expires in 2009. “I’d be surprised if anybody in his position wouldn’t do that.”

Mansoor could not be reached for comment Friday.

Besides Perkins and Fisler, applicants for commission seats are Paul Bunney, Chris Bunyan, Sam Clark, Jeffrey Harlan, Robert Norling and Jonathan Zich.