Agoura Hills Municipal Code Part 1 Planning Commission

A planning commission is hereby created and established in accordance with the provisions of the planning and zoning law of the State of California, Title 7 of the Government Code, and in particular pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 3 of Title 7 of the Government Code. The planning commission may be known and referred to as the "Agoura Hills planning commission" or as the "planning commission."

(Ord. No. 6-13-84; Ord. No. 111, 8-5-86)

The planning commission shall consist of five (5) members, each of whom shall be a resident of the City of Agoura Hills, appointed by the mayor and ratified by the city council. Except as otherwise provided herein, the term of office for each commissioner shall be two (2) years. The term of office for each commissioner shall continue to and include the sixtieth day after the general municipal election following the appointment of such commissioner and thereafter until a successor for the commissioner whose term is expiring has been appointed. The tenure of any member of the planning commission shall be terminable at any time by the mayor provided that such termination is affirmed by four (4) members of the city council. Should any vacancy exist on the planning commission, an appointment shall be made in like manner for the unexpired portion of the term. The director of planning and community development shall serve as the secretary to the commission.

(Ord. No. 59, 6-13-84; Ord. No. 111, 8-5-86)

Regular meetings of the planning commission shall be held on the first and third [Thursday] of each calendar month, at the hour of 6:30 p.m.

(Ord. No. 59, 6-13-84; Ord. No. 111, 8-5-86; Ord. No. 251, § 2, 7-12-95; Ord. No. 98-284, § 2, 1-28-98)

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code any commissioner who is absent from any three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the planning commission, unless excused from attendance by consent of such commission expressed by action recorded in its minutes, or who is absent without such absence being excused of record, from a total of five (5) regular meetings of the commission, in any six-month period, shall automatically forfeit his or her position as a member of the planning commission. In such case the name of such commissioner shall be automatically removed from the membership of the commission immediately after the adjournment of any such third consecutive meeting or of any such fifth meeting in any such six-month period, as the case may be, at which such commissioner has not appeared. The chairperson of the planning commission shall promptly notify the city council and any such person so ceasing to be a commissioner of the action and of the fact of such vacancy.

(Ord. No. 59, 6-13-84; Ord. No. 111, 8-5-86)

The planning commission shall have the power and duty, except as otherwise provided by law, to:

(a) Prepare and recommend to the city council a comprehensive long-term general plan for the physical development of the city and of any land outside its boundaries which in the planning commission's judgment bears relation to its planning.

(b) Investigate and make recommendations to the city council as to reasonable and practical means for putting into effect the general plan or parts thereof, in order that it will serve as a pattern and guide for the orderly physical growth and development of the city, and as a basis for the efficient expenditure of funds relating to the subjects of the general plan.

(c) Render an annual report to the city council on the status of the general plan and progress in its application.

(d) Endeavor to promote public interest in an understanding of the general plan, and regulations relating to it.

(e) Consult and advise with public officials and agencies, public utility companies, civic, educational, professional and other organizations, and citizens generally with relation to carrying out the general plan.

(f) Review proposals for major works that may be submitted to it by departments of the city and report to such departments with respect to conformity thereof with the general plan.

(g) Review proposals that may be submitted to it for acquisition of property for street, park or other public purposes and report to the appropriate city department as to conformity thereof with the general plan.

(h) Make recommendations to the city council with respect to a specific plan or regulation or any amendment to a specific plan or regulation, and report to the city council upon any change or addition proposed with respect thereto.

(i) Comply with all requests and directives of the city council.

(j) Exercise all of the powers, duties, rights, privileges and authorities of a city planning commission, all as provided for by the law of the State of California, and by the provisions of this Code, as said law or Code now exists and as the same may from time to time be amended.

(Ord. No. 59, 6-13-84; Ord. No. 111, 8-5-86)

The planning commission shall cause proper records to be kept of all its official acts and proceedings and shall make reports to the city council as provided for by the state planning and zoning law or as provided by the city council.

(Ord. No. 6-13-84; Ord. No. 111, 8-5-86)

Cross reference— City records, § 2500 et seq.

The planning commission shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its members, for a term of one (1) year, at its first regular meeting after appointment and annually each year thereafter. The commission may appoint such other officers as may be necessary for the administration of its business, at the same time and for like terms. The commission may adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its business. The secretary to the planning commission shall keep a record of all its minutes, resolutions, actions, findings and determinations. All said minutes, resolutions, and official records shall be filed with the city clerk.

(Ord. No. 6-13-84; Ord. No. 111, 8-5-86)

Each member of the planning commission shall receive compensation at the rate of fifty dollars ($50.00) for each meeting of the planning commission attended by such member, not to exceed a total compensation of one hundred dollars ($100.00) in any one (1) month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the city council specifically authorizes the planning commission to hold one (1) or more meetings in addition to its regularly scheduled meetings, each member of the planning commission shall receive fifty dollars ($50.00) for each such additional meeting attended by such member provided that the total compensation received by a planning commissioner in any one (1) month does not exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00). Such compensation shall be paid quarterly on the first payroll payment date following the end of the quarter. The director of planning and community development shall submit to the city manager at the end of each quarter a statement showing the number of meetings of the planning commission attended by each member during such quarter. No additional compensation shall be paid for expenses incurred by members of the commission in the performance of their duties, except as authorized in advance by the city council. The city council may from time to time authorize, in advance, expenditures for attendance at seminars, institutes, or other meetings which the city council finds to be beneficial to the commissioners in the performance of their duties and in the best interests of the city. Claims for such expenses shall be filed with the city manager on such forms as may be prescribed and shall be subject to audit and approval by the city council.

Any future changes to the compensation amount may be made by resolution and adopted by the city council.

(Ord. No. 69, 12-5-84; Ord. No. 103, 5-6-86; Ord. No. 111, 8-5-86; Ord. No. 122, 3-3-87; Ord. No. 175, § 1, 8-22-90)