East Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 2.48 Planning Commission

There is created a planning commission for the city which shall consist of seven members and an alternate. The members of the commission shall be appointed by the council from among the list of qualified applicants who have submitted applications to the city clerk. The council shall make appointments at a public hearing after interviewing the applicants. Regular members shall be appointed to Planning Commission seats numbered one through seven and shall each serve for a period of three years, and the alternate member shall be appointed to seat number eight and serve for a period of one year. In order to achieve a balanced staggering of terms with minimal disruption to the commission's operations, the city council determines that the person appointed in June 2003 to seat number three shall serve in said seat until May 31, 2004. Thereafter the term for seat number three shall be three years. The person appointed in June 2003 to seat number four shall serve in said seat until May 31, 2005. Thereafter the term for seat number four shall be three years.

(Ord. 273 § 1 (part), 2003: prior code § 2-4.501)

Each member of the planning commission shall be a full-time resident of the city.

(Prior code § 2-4.502)

A member of the commission may be removed by a majority vote of the council. A vacancy is filled in the same manner as the original appointment. A person appointed to fill a vacancy serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(Prior code § 2-4.504)

A. The commission shall elect one of its members president and one of its members vice-president, who shall hold office for one year or until their terms as members of the commission expire, whichever occurs sooner. An officer or employee of the city designated by the city manager shall serve as secretary of the commission.

B. The commission shall establish a regular time and place of meeting and shall hold at least one regular meeting each month. Special meetings may be called by the president, or by a majority of the members of the commission upon written notice delivered personally or by mail to each member at least twenty-four hours prior to such meeting.

C. The commission may make and alter rules governing its organization and procedures which are not inconsistent with any applicable ordinance of the city.

D. A majority of the members appointed to the commission shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members appointed is required to take any action; provided, however, where, as a result of disqualification of members due to conflict of interest, the number of commissioners able to vote on a matter is reduced to five or less, a majority of the quorum shall be sufficient for taking any action on such matter.

E. The commission shall keep an accurate record of its proceedings and transactions and shall submit an annual report to the city council with a copy to the city manager.

(Ord. 135 § 1, 1991; prior code § 2-4.505)

Subject to the approval of the council in each case, the commission may designate one of its members to act as a liaison representative to any other board, commission or committee of the city. The functions of such liaison representatives are:

A. To attend meetings of such other board, commission or committee;

B. Advise this commission of the background, attitudes and reasons behind the actions of such other board, commission or committee; and

C. On request of any member of such other board, commission or committee, to advise such other board, commission or committee of policy, procedures and decisions of this commission that may bear upon matters under discussion by such other board, commission or committee.

Such liaison representative shall have no power to vote.

(Prior code § 2-4.506)

The director of the department of planning and development, or some person of his office regularly delegated by him, shall attend all meetings of the commission, function as secretary to the commission and shall keep a true and correct record of all proceedings of the commission. He/she shall have custody of all reports, books, papers and records of the commission, and he/she shall be given notice of all special meetings thereof.

(Prior code § 2-4.507)

The powers and functions of the city planning commission shall be as follows:

A. To hold hearings on all zoning matters as prescribed in the zoning ordinance;

B. To conduct such other hearings as are provided by law and in accordance with its own rules and regulations;

C. To report its decision and recommendations in writing to the city council;

D. To consider, formulate and propose surveys, maps and plans designed to provide for, regulate and direct the future growth, development and beautification of the city in order to secure to the city and its inhabitants a better environment, adequate and suitable parks and open spaces, harbor development, better transportation facilities, improved public service of all kinds, proper location of public buildings, and to secure a permanent and comprehensive plan for the most economic, healthful and harmonious growth of the city;

E. To prepare and recommend the adoption of a comprehensive long-term general master plan for the physical development of the city, to include among other things, a land use plan, a street and highway plan, a recreation plan, a transportation plan, a transit plan, a public services and facilities plan, and a community design plan, as such plans are defined in the Planning Act of the state;

F. To make, in its advisory capacity, any and all recommendations to the city council relating to the above matters, including changes or amendments to the master plan or any portion thereof.

(Prior code § 2-4.508)

The members of such commission shall receive a stipend to defray their expenses incurred for this service. The amount of the stipend and restrictions thereon shall be set by resolution.

(Ord. 238 § 1, 1999: prior code § 2-4.509)

This chapter shall supersede Ordinance 5-83, establishing a planning agency and fixing the time and place of planning agency meetings.

(Prior code § 2-4.510)