Grover Beach's seven-member Planning Commission has three new members.

The City Council unanimously appointed Christopher Long, Karl Blum and Laurel Coleman last week.

Long was approved to take over an expired four-year term and will serve until May 31, 2011. Karl Blum was appointed to an unexpired term set to expire May 31, 2010. Coleman was appointed to a shorter unexpired term scheduled to expire May 31, 2008.

Long, an environmental planner for Colorado State University, is a seven-year Grover Beach resident, a former AYSO coach and substitute teacher for Lucia Mar Unified School District.

He is also a former program manager for Camp San Luis Obispo on behalf of Colorado State University, a monitoring coordinator for the Morro Bay Natural Estuary Program, an environmental scientist for the Regional Water Quality Control Board and a project manager for Geographic Information Systems at Titan Systems.

Blum, a teacher and coach with Lucia Mar Unified School District, is an 11-year Grover Beach resident, the current president of United Surf Lifesaving and current Port San Luis Harbor District lifeguard and advisor.

Coleman, a financial associate, is an eight-year Grover Beach resident, former owner and operator of a uniform shop and assistant vice president of Contel Telephone, a former hospice volunteer and court-appointed advocate with CASA - Voices for Children.

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The three vacancies resulted after Chair Peter Keith's term expired, former Commissioner Arlene Versaw stepped down after moving outside city limits and former commissioner Karen Bright was appointed to the City Council.

Two unexpired and one expired terms resulted.

In the interim, Keith agreed to serve on the commission on a month-to-month basis until a replacement was found, according to a city staff report.

A screening committee composed of Mayor Steve Lieberman, Councilman Chuck Ashton and Keith interviewed candidates July 24 and recommended the appointments to the council.

On the day of the interviews, candidate Melissa Harris withdrew from consideration for personal conflicts, and candidate Gary Edmunds was not in town to attend his appointed interview, the staff report said.

Additional applicants include Genaro Diaz, Henry “Gene” Gates and Melissa Ann Stine Harris.

In addition, following the recommendation of the screening body, the council directed staff to maintain Mike Nielsen on a list that identifies him as the next appointee, pending resignation of a commissioner.

Josh Petray can be reached at 489-4206, Ext. 5015, or jpetray@santamariatimes.com.

August 12, 2007