Chino Municipal Code Ch. 2.36 Planning Commission

Under and by virtue of section 65101 of the Government Code of the state, a planning commission is established in and for the city.

(Ord. 2004-09 (part), 2004: prior code § 2-32.)

A. The planning commission shall consist of nine members. Each member shall be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city council. In the event that a member is required to take a temporary leave of absence, the mayor may appoint a temporary replacement with the approval of the city council. In the event that a member resigns or dies before the end of his or her term, or for any reason is unable to complete the term, the mayor may appoint a member to fill the vacant position with the approval of the city council. Ex-officio positions may be left vacant for all or some of the term of the position in the event that no resident meeting the requirements to serve as ex-officio member, pursuant to subsection (C) below, applies for or is appointed to the position.

B. Seven members of the planning commission shall be residents of the city at the time of their appointment and throughout their terms of office, and shall serve for a term of four years (full commission membership).

C. Two members of the planning commission shall be residents of the city's Sphere of Influence area, as defined under California Government Code section 56076 and determined by the Local Agency Formation Commission of San Bernardino (LAFCO), at the time of their appointment and throughout their terms of office, and shall serve for a term of two years as ex-officio members. One ex-officio Sphere of Influence member shall be a resident of the North Sphere of Influence, and one member shall be a resident of the South Sphere of Influence. Should the portion of the city's Sphere of Influence area in which the commissioner resides be annexed into the city, the commissioner shall be removed from their position as ex-officio member at such time as their residence is annexed into the city and may thereafter apply for full membership to the planning commission under subsection (B).

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (A) above, members of the commission shall continue in office until their successors are appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city council.

(Ord. 93-01, 1993; prior code 2-33.)

(Ord. 2015-009, § 3, 2015: Ord. 2018-002, § 1, 2018; Ord. 2020-009, § 2, 2020; Ord. No. 2024-010, § 2, 2024.)

The planning commission shall select a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the non-ex-officio members, and the chairperson and vice chairperson shall serve a term of two consecutive years. The commission may create and fill such other offices as it may see fit.

(Prior code § 2-36.)

(Ord. 2015-009, § 4, 2015: Ord. 2018-002, § 2, 2018; Ord. No. 2024-010, § 3, 2024.)

Meetings of the planning commission shall be held regularly at least once a month. The planning commission shall adopt rules of procedure and shall keep a complete record of its proceedings, which shall constitute a public record.

(Prior code § 2-37.)

The planning commission shall review and recommend, and the city council shall adopt, a general plan in accordance with sections 65300 through 65404 of the Government Code of the state, insofar as such actions do not conflict with other provisions of the law.

(Ord. 2004-09 (part), 2004: prior code § 2-38.)

(Ord. 2015-009, § 5, 2015.)

The planning commission shall review and recommend, and the city council shall adopt, a general plan in accordance with the terms and provisions of section 65300 et seq. of the Government Code of the state, which is referred to and made part of this chapter. The planning commission shall have the power and duty to: (1) review and decide applications for tentative maps, special conditional use permits, site approvals, and major variances; (2) review and recommend to the city council, applications for general plan amendments, specific plan amendments, zone changes, zone ordinance amendments, and development agreements; and (3) participate in the development and design review process.

Ex-officio members of the planning commission, as defined in section 2.36.020(C), shall only have the ability to vote on matters or items which involve land within the Sphere of Influence area in which the ex-officio member resides. Each ex-officio member will also serve as an alternate to the other ex-officio member, so that if one member is absent, unavailable, or otherwise unable to participate in a matter or item, the other member may participate in his or her place.

(Ord. 2004-09 (part), 2004: prior code § 2-39.

(Ord. 2015-009, § 6, 2015; Ord. No. 2024-010, § 4, 2024.)

The city council shall appropriate such amounts as it may deem necessary to enable the planning commission to carry out its work.

(Prior code § 2-40.)

Each member of the planning commission shall be compensated for attending each planning commission meeting and each design review board meeting only when they attend as members of that body. The amount of the compensation shall be recommended by the city manager and adopted in the annual budget by the city council.

(Ord. 2004-09 (part), 2004: Ord. 2003-15 § 1, 2003: Ord. 84-9 § 1, 1984: prior code § 2-34.)

Any member of the planning commission may be removed by the mayor at any time with the approval of the city council. His or her successor may be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city council to serve the remainder of the term of office.

(Prior code § 2-35.)

(Ord. 2015-009, § 7, 2015.)