New member selected for Elk Grove Planning Commission

Elk Grove Mayor Singh-Allen makes nomination

During their Wednesday, January 11 meeting, the Elk Grove City Council appointed a new member to the city’s Planning Commission.

After being nominated by Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, Oscar O’Con was appointed by unanimous consent. O’Con, a District 3 resident, was one of eight who applied to fill the vacancy created when Sergio Robles was elected to the Elk Grove City Council.

A longtime Elk Grove resident, O’Con has been active in many civic groups, including the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce and the Laguna Sunrise Rotary club. O’Con and two other applicants, Michael Hill and Bonnie Tam appeared before the city council to make their case for an appointment.

Former Elk Grove Planning Commissioner Frank Maita spoke on O’Con’s behalf during public comment. Maita said O’Con’s civic involvement and inquisitiveness made him well-suited for the appointment.

“Those are the qualities you want in a planning commissioner,” Maita told the City Council. “Someone who is going to probe, someone who is going to question, someone who is going to inquire.”

During deliberations, the mayor and city council members thanked the three applicants who appeared and noted they seek to have each of the city’s four city council districts represented on the planning commission. As of last evening, District 3 did not have a representative on the planning commission, and Tam is a District 2 resident, while O’Con and Hill reside in District 3.

O’Con will assume office at the January 19 Planning Commission meeting. O’Con’s remarks to the city council can be viewed in the video posted below.