Decorah City Council promises to take steps to get more women on city committees

They reappointed two men to the Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday night, but the Decorah City Council said it will take steps to bring gender balance to city committees.

Currently there are seven men and no women on the Planning and Zoning Commission. So when the terms of John Jenkins and Stan Moellers came up for renewal, city council member Steve Matter called it "a very good opportunity to put two good women on the board."

City council member Rachel Vagts argued against Mayor Don Arendt's recommendation that Jenkins and Moellers be reappointed. "I have a very serious problem with reappointment men (to P & Z) when there are women willing to serve," she said.

However, Arendt announced that a third member of the Planning & Zoning Commission, Darrel Hovden, has moved out of town and must resign. Hovden has two years remaining on his term.

After some discussion Arendt agreed to change his recommendation to reappointing Stan Moellers to a five year term and John Jenkins to Hovden's remaining two year term. The expectation is that a woman will then be approved by the city council next month when the third Planning & Zoning Commission opening is filled.

While three city council members still voted against the compromise, they praised Arendt's willingness to change his recommendation. For his part, Arendt praised city council members for bringing up the issue.