Banning Municipal Code Ch. 2.45 Design Review Board

A. Members of the design review board shall have expertise in the areas of architecture or landscape architecture.

B. Recruitment for the members may occur outside the city limits.

C. Members may not be employees of the city.

(Ord. No. 1387, § 2 (part).)

A. Members of the design review board shall consist of three members.

B. Members of the design review board shall serve two-year terms. The initial appointments shall have two members with two-year terms and one member with a one-year term.

C. Appointments shall be made by the city council.

D. Applications shall be made available and the closing date announced at least two months prior to the expiration of the member's term to be filled.

E. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the council and may be removed at any time by a majority vote of the entire council.

F. Any member who is unexcused for two consecutive regular meetings of the board or six meetings within a twelve-month period, whether the six meetings are excused or not, will be deemed to have resigned their office and the city council shall appoint a new member to serve in the resigned board member's place for the remainder of their term.

G. To be excused from any such meeting, a member shall notify the planning department, at least forty-eight hours prior to any such meeting. If a member is unable to attend due to illness, injury or family matters, a statement by the member at the next regular meeting of the board shall constitute an excused absence.

(Ord. No. 1387, § 2 (part).)

A. Members of the design review board shall not receive compensation; reasonable traveling expenses to and from conferences and/or special field trips and training sessions shall be reimbursed.

B. Upon authorization by the city manager, the design review board and members of its staff may attend conferences or meetings, or hearings on relevant legislation, or matters affecting the development of the city. The reasonable expenses of such attendance shall be charged upon the funds allocated to the board.

C. All funding shall be established through the City of Banning budget, which shall be approved by the city council.

(Ord. No. 1387, § 2 (part).)

A. A quorum of the design review board shall consist of a majority of the members (including any vacancies). A quorum must be present in order for the design review board to hold a meeting.

B. The design review board shall adopt rules for the transaction of business and shall keep a record of its transactions, findings, and determinations. The Brown Act and "Robert's Rules in Plain English" by Doris P. Zimmerman (Harper Perennial) shall be incorporated into such rules.

C. The board shall follow all applicable city fiscal and administrative policies and procedures.

(Ord. No. 1387, § 2 (part).)

A. The design review board shall make recommendations as to design issues to be included in the staff report to the planning commission in accordance with the applicable provisions of the general plan and Zoning Code.

B. At the regular February meeting, the design review board shall select a chairman and a vice-chairman from among its members. The chairman and vice-chairman shall serve for a one term. Both positions shall rotate every one year. All members must be present to conduct this business.

1. The chairman shall preside at all regular and special meetings and rule on all points of order and procedure during the meetings.

2. The vice-chairman shall assume all duties of the chairman in their absence.

C. The design review board's scope of responsibility is:

1. The design review board shall make recommendations as to design issues to be included in the staff report to the planning commission;

2. The design review board will meet only one time on a given project;

3. The recommendations of the design review board shall be advisory only and not binding on the planning commission;

4. The design review board will consider both residential (tracts only, not individual homes or remodels) and commercial property improvement in accordance with the applicable provisions of the general plan and Zoning Code.

D. The design review board is an important function within the City of Banning, and as such, certain expectations are held by the city council in making the appointment of individuals to the board. These expectations include the following:

1. Members will attend all regular meetings and special meetings as they arise;

2. Members will communicate expected and unexpected absences to the planning department, in a timely manner;

3. Members will communicate any potential conflicts of interest on agenda items to the planning department in advance of the hearing to allow confirmation of a quorum;

4. Members will arrive on time to each meeting, fully participate, and remain in attendance until the end of each meeting;

5. Members will prepare themselves for each meeting by reading the agenda, reports and other materials, and visiting the site, as necessary, and communicate any questions to the secretary in advance of the hearing;

6. Pursuant to Resolution No. 2000-41, if a board member visits the site prior to a hearing on the matter, the board member shall disclose at the hearing such evidence and observation gathered during the site visit;

7. Members are encouraged to attend the annual conference, if any or an equivalent planning training program given by a University of California Campus (or approved equivalent) and may attend other conferences and or training classes as the need and opportunities arise. The city will also provide regular in-service training and make-up training where attendance is required;

8. New members are expected to become familiar with the city's general plan and relevant municipal code sections particularly those relevant to zoning;

9. Applicants to the design review board will be expected to attend a brief orientation session explaining the role of board member, the development process, and the expectations of members that are appointed; and

10. New members will attend an expanded orientation session with the liaison to the design review board and other staff as deemed necessary, to provide new appointees with a solid understanding immediately upon appointment. The orientation will include an overview of the development process, policies and bylaws, a summary of available documents and resources, and a review of the member's relationship with citizens, staff, developers, and the governing body.

F. The design review board may serve on regional boards or commissions as directed by the city council.

(Ord. No. 1387, § 2 (part).)

A. The State of California Political Reform Act requires design review board members to disclose interests in investments, real property, and incomederived within the City of Banning or from sources doing business within the City of Banning. Filings are required within ten days of assuming office and on an annual basis.

B. Members shall not work for the "pass" cities, which include Beaumont, Calimesa, and Riverside County in roles such as economic development, planning, or redevelopment.

C. If an apparent conflict of interest arises, the member shall inquire of the city attorney or staff prior to the meeting. Because the nature of some potential conflicts of interest may require legal research, please advise the city attorney several days prior to the meeting if possible. If a member has a conflict, the member shall state the nature of the conflict of interest when an agenda item comes before them and shall leave the meeting room.

(Ord. No. 1387, § 2 (part).)

A. The staff liaison to the design review board shall be the community development director.

B. The design review board liaison, supported by the secretary to the design review board (a staff position), shall be responsible for:

1. Confirming that a quorum will be present prior to each meeting;

2. Receiving and recording all exhibits, petitions, documents, or other material presented to the design review board in support of, or in opposition to, any issue before the design review board;

3. Signing all meeting minutes and resolutions upon approval;

4. Preparing and distributing agendas and agenda packets;

5. Facilitating the tape recording of meetings and preparation of minutes; and

6. Responding to all questions from design review board members regarding agenda items in advance of meetings.

(Ord. No. 1387, § 2 (part).)

A. The design review board shall meet the third Wednesday of each month at 11:30 A.M. at the City Council Chambers located at 99 E. Ramsey Street.

B. Members will attend special meetings as they arise.

(Ord. No. 1387, § 2 (part).)

This document, as adopted and amended by council resolution, shall serve as the bylaws for the design review board.

(Ord. No. 1387, § 2 (part).)