Chapter 2.24
PLANNING COMMISSION

Sections:

2.24.010    Created.

2.24.020    Membership--Terms.

2.24.030    Appointment.

2.24.040    Members--Removal from office.

2.24.050    Functions.

2.24.010 Created.

Pursuant to the authority of Title 7, Chapter 3, Article 1 (Section 65101) of the Government Code of California, there is created a planning commission for the city.  (Ord. C-9-07 §1(part), 2007:  Ord. 10-96 §2(part), 1996).

2.24.020 Membership--Terms.

A.    The planning commission shall consist of five members each of whom shall be a resident of the city.  The commissioners shall be appointed for a term of four years in accordance with Section 2.24.030.  City council action to appoint a planning commissioner shall take effect immediately.  The term of each planning commissioner shall be concurrent with the term of office of the council member that has nominated him or her to office, except in the event of a vacancy on the city council.  In the event of a vacancy on the city council, the planning commissioner appointed by the city council member who vacated office shall continue until a new city council member officially takes office after being elected or appointed to the city council.

B.    If a vacancy occurs on the planning commission in a manner other than expiration of the term, it shall be filled by appointment, pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.24.030, for the unexpired portion of the term.  (Ord. C-9-07 §1(part), 2007:  Ord. 10-96 §2(part), 1996).

2.24.030 Appointment.

A.    Each member of the city council shall, upon taking office, nominate an individual to serve as a planning commissioner.  Nominations shall be made from a list of interested applicants maintained by the city clerk.

B.    Appointment of a planning commissioner shall be placed on the agenda of the next regular city council meeting following the council meeting at which a member of the city council officially takes office.  A person nominated for the planning commission shall be appointed to the commission upon receiving a majority of votes from the entire city council.

C.    If a council member’s nomination is not approved, the nominating council member shall be entitled to two more nominations.

D.    If after this process no nomination is approved, the floor will be open to additional nominations from all members of the council.  An applicant so appointed shall be considered the designated planning commissioner of the original nominating council member even if that council member did not nominate the applicant.

E.    The city council may, by majority vote, suspend these procedures to approve the nomination of an incumbent planning commissioner renominated by the responsible council member.  (Ord. C-9-07 §1(part), 2007).

2.24.040 Members--Removal from office.

Although a member of the planning commission shall be appointed for a term, he or she may be removed from office as follows:

A.    A planning commissioner can be removed, with or without cause, by a majority vote of all of the members of the city council.

B.    The term of a planning commissioner shall end and the planning commissioner shall vacate his or her seat on the date that the term of office of the city council member who nominated him or her ends, except in the event of a vacancy on the city council.  If a vacancy occurs on the planning commission in a manner other than expiration of the term, it shall be filled by appointment, pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.24.030, for the unexpired portion of the term.  If the council member responsible for the nomination of a planning commissioner vacates his or her city council position, the appointed planning commissioner shall vacate his or her seat on the planning commission on the date a new city council member officially takes office after being elected or appointed to the city council.  (Ord. C-9-07 §1(part), 2007:  Ord. 10-96 §2(part), 1996. Formerly 2.24.030).

2.24.050 Functions.

The planning commission shall do all of the following:

A.    Perform those functions set forth in the planning and zoning law (Government Code Section 65000 et seq.) including those functions specified in Government Code Section 65103;

B.    Perform all functions assigned to the historic preservation commission in Chapter 14.39; and

C.    Notwithstanding any other provision of the municipal code to the contrary, serve as the hearing body of first instance, and be responsible for all functions of design review including architectural, landscape, and site plan review as set forth in Chapter 14.37.  (Ord. C-2019-03 §2(Exh. A)(part), 2019:  Ord. C-4-11 §4, 2011:  Ord. C-9-07 §1(part), 2007:  Ord. 10-96 §2(part), 1996. Formerly 2.24.040).