Chapter 2.20 — PLANNING COMMISSION

A Planning Commission of the City of Orinda is established. The Planning Commission consists of seven (7) members appointed by the City Council. (Prior code § 3-101)

Each member of the Commission shall be a resident of the city. (Ord. 04-07 § 2 (part): prior code § 3-102)

The term of office of each member is three (3) years. Each member serves until a successor is appointed.

(Ord. 04-07 § 2 (part): prior code § 3-103) (Ord. No. 11-07, § 2, 7-19-11)

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. (Prior code § 3-104)

If a member of the Commission is absent without cause from three (3) successive regular meetings of the Commission, the office becomes vacant automatically. The Commission shall immediately notify the City Council of the vacancy. A member is not absent without cause if the absence is: (1) due to illness; or (2) unavoidable and the member notifies the Secretary of the Commission before the day of the meeting that the member will be absent and gives the reason for the absence. (Prior code § 3-105)

The Commission shall provide by resolution for the time and place for holding regular meetings, the appointment of its officers and their duties, and such rules as it considers necessary for the conduct of its business and the performance of its powers and duties. (Ord. 97-5 § 1; prior code § 3-106)

Members of the Planning Commission do not receive compensation for attendance at Commission meetings, but are entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the course of their duties out of the city upon approval of the City Council. (Prior code § 3-107)

The Commission shall elect a Chair and Vice-Chair from among its members. The Chair and Vice-Chair serve for a term of one (1) year and until the successor of each is appointed and qualified. The City Manager shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the Commission. (Prior code § 3-108)

The Commission shall adopt rules for the transaction of its business and shall keep a public record of its resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations.

(Prior code § 3-109)

A majority of the actual members of the Planning Commission shall constitute a quorum. A member of the Planning Commission who: (1) has resigned and the effective date of the resignation has passed; (2) has three (3) successive absences without cause under Section 2.20.050; (3) has been removed by the City Council; (4) who has a conflict of interest; or (5) is for any other reason unqualified or unavailable, shall be disregarded in determining the number of actual member of the Planning Commission for purposes of determining a quorum. (Ord. 01-03 § 2: prior code § 3-110)

A. Chair. The Chair will preside at all meetings of the Commission, and shall appoint all committees and shall perform all the duties necessary or incidental to the office. B. Vice-Chair. The Vice-Chair is Chair in the absence or inability of the Chair to act. C. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep minutes of each meeting and shall record each hearing and official action. (Prior code § 3-111)

At the request of the City Council, the Planning Commission may create subcommittees of its members to advise the Planning Commission as a whole on policy matters within its jurisdiction. Planning Commission subcommittees shall consist of less than a quorum of Planning Commission members and shall meet on an ad hoc basis until such time as the specific tasks for which each subcommittee is created are complete. The meetings of Planning Commission subcommittees shall comply with all applicable public notice requirements that apply to regular meetings of the Planning Commission. (Ord. No. 10-04, § 2, 6-15-10)