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PHOENIX Karen Jones resigns from Phoenix City Council Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 22, 2016 at 3:56 PM Updated Jan 22, 2016 at 3:58 PM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 22, 2016 at 3:56 PM Updated Jan 22, 2016 at 3:58 PM » Social News Phoenix City Councilor Karen Jones has resigned following a meeting in which she was replaced on the Phoenix Urban Renewal Agency board. She had served on the board five years and been on the council since January 2011. Jones' resignation Wednesday came after a 4-1 vote during Tuesday's council meeting to replace her on the board with Stan Bartell, who had requested a position. Mayor Jeff Bellah appoints three council members to the seven-member board annually. “I prefer working with a forward-moving, positive, productive team,” Jones said Friday. “At the moment that is not happening at City Council, but it was happening with urban renewal.” Bellah called for the vote, which was taken without a motion. Councilor Terry Helfrich voted against replacing Jones. Chris Luz, Bruce Sophie, Stan Bartell and Carolyn Bartell voted for the move, while Jones abstained. Luz and Helfrich were reappointed by the mayor. Jones’ longevity prompted the move, said Bellah. Helfrich has served three years and Luz for one. Bartell had asked to be on the board last year, but the council opted to stay with the more experienced Jones in light of a major upcoming project. None of the three offered to step aside when asked, Bellah said. The person with the most longevity should be the first asked to step off the PURA board if another councilor wants on, said Bellah. “It was simply longevity. I’m a little surprised that she would resign over this,” he said. Bellah said that several times prior to the meeting, he assured Jones the move was not personal. Urban renewal’s board chair said he appreciated Jones’ service. “She’s been a strong member of our board and extremely helpful and one who is there every meeting. She totally supports what is going on,” said Chairman Al Muelhoefer. “We hate to see her leave, but we also understand the mayor’s prerogative to appoint urban renewal board members.” Bellah hoped to expand the urban renewal board to include all six council members but others opposed the idea. “I thought we should have no change regarding board structure,” said Muelhoefer. “Things are going very well, we have a strong board and are getting things done.” “We had citizens who came up and spoke against it,” said Helfrich. “It’s refreshing to see the empowerment of citizens to have a say and role in the future of the downtown.” Board makeup will be on the agenda of the next urban renewal meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 in the agency office, 157 S. Main St., Muelhoefer said. The city and the agency have an intergovernmental agreement governing how the two bodies interact. Restructuring consideration comes as work is in progress on the 30-acre downtown center project from First to Fourth streets between Bear Creek Drive and Main Street. About $3.5 million will be invested to create a wetlands park, a community center and pedestrian enhancements, new and upgraded roads, parking and improved sites for commercial and residential development. Tony Boom is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 22, 2016 at 3:56 PM Updated Jan 22, 2016 at 3:58 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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