Chapter 2.80 — DESIGN COMMISSION

This chapter shall be known as the "Design Commission Ordinance."

(Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

There is created and established a commission of the city to be known as the "design commission" and hereinafter called "commission."

(Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

A.

The commission shall consist of 9 members, who shall be appointed as follows:

The mayor shall nominate 5 members from persons nominated by the city council.

The transportation advisory commission, the arts and culture commission, the cultural heritage commission and the planning commission shall each nominate 1 member for a total of 4 members.

All appointments are subject to ratification by the city council.

B.

Members shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, and shall serve no more than 2 consecutive terms. A term of less than 1 year shall not be considered a full term. Terms expire on June 30th of the applicable years. A member shall continue in office for the term for which he/she was appointed or until his/her successor is appointed. No member who has served 2 consecutive terms shall be eligible for reappointment to the commission prior to the passage of a 2-year interval.

C.

If a member ceases to reside in the city prior to the expiration of a term, the member may complete the term only upon approval by the city council pursuant to Section 2.45.020.

D.

Any member of the commission may be removed by the city council at its pleasure.

(Ord. 7036 § 1, 2006; Ord. 6820 §§ 18, 45 (part), 2000; Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

A.

All members shall be residents of the city; provided, however, that a person nominated by a councilmember need not reside in said councilmember's district.

B.

The criteria for selection of members shall be a demonstrated interest in the community and professional expertise and experience in a design related field, including one or more of the following fields:

Architecture;

Landscape architecture;

City planning;

Historic preservation;

Artist;

Urban design;

Engineering; and

Transportation planning.

(Ord. 7036 § 2, 2006; Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

(Ord. No. 7378, § 14, 8-2-2021)

A.

In the event a member has 3 consecutive unexcused absences from meetings of the commission, the city council may declare the office of such member vacant. The staff to the committee shall advise the administrative assistant to the mayor of any such member with 3 consecutive unexcused absences. The chair of the commission may excuse absences.

B.

Vacancies, whether scheduled or unscheduled, shall be filled by the person who nominated the member to the vacant office, or by his/her successor, in the same manner as set forth in Section 2.80.030.

(Ord. 6820 § 45 (part), 2000; Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

(Ord. No. 7378, § 3, 8-2-2021)

At the first meeting of the commission, and thereafter at its first meeting of each subsequent calendar year, the members shall elect a chair and a vice chair. In the absence or incapacity of the chair and vice chair, the commission may designate a temporary chair. The director of planning and community development or his designee shall act as the nonvoting secretary to the commission. The city council, through the planning and community development department, shall provide the commission with adequate staff to perform the duties prescribed in this chapter.

(Ord. 6820 § 45 (part), 2000; Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

(Ord. No. 7364, § 4, 5-18-2020; Ord. No. 7378, § 4, 8-2-2021)

A.

The commission shall meet at least once a month. All its meetings shall be held in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and shall be open to the public except as provided by law. Special meetings may be called by the chair or a majority of the commission.

B.

A quorum shall be a majority of the commission seats filled by the city council. A seat is deemed to be filled after a nominee has been sworn in by the city clerk. No action of the commission shall be valid without the affirmative vote of at least three members.

C.

The commission shall keep a record, which shall be available for public inspection, of all of its resolutions, proceedings, and other actions.

(Ord. 6675 § 2 (part), 1996; Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

The commission shall adopt and amend, by the affirmative vote of 5 members, rules and regulations for the conduct of the commission's business consistent with this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall be submitted to the city council and shall not become effective until approved and ordered filed by the council.

(Ord. 6820 § 45 (part), 2000; Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

The commission shall submit an annual report and workplan to the city council no later than September 1st of each year. Attendance records of members shall be included as part of the annual report.

(Ord. 6930 § 8, 2003: Ord. 6820 § 45 (part), 2000; Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

Members of the commission shall be required to file annual statements of economic interest pursuant to the city's conflict of interest code.

(Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

A.

The city council declares that the achievement of quality in the architecture and urban design of the city is required in the interest of the prosperity, social and cultural enrichment, and general welfare of the people. The purpose of this commission is to:

Establish procedures for developing design policies for the city;

Establish procedures and criteria for review of alterations to the urban and natural environments to assure appropriate design;

Encourage public understanding of and involvement in the design quality of the city, and strengthen civic pride in the beauty of Pasadena;

Protect and enhance the city's attraction to residents seeking a pleasant way of life, increase its attraction for tourists and visitors, and support and stimulate business and industry by encouraging excellency of design;

Safeguard and enhance the visual and aesthetic character, diversity and quality of the city.

B.

The commission shall:

Conduct design review for "public projects" as defined and set forth in the zoning code (Title 17). Jurisdiction shall include architecture, materials, scale, massing, color, lighting, landscaping, open space and any other design concept. After the first meeting of the design commission at which a public project is considered, and at the request of a public agency with concerns about the effect of design review on exceeding a budget, impacting a schedule, or in direct conflict with neighborhood requests about design, the city manager or his/her designee may directly forward an application for design review of a "public project" to the city council. The general manager of the Rose Bowl Operating Company and the chief operating officer of the Pasadena Center Operating Company shall have this same authority with regard to applications submitted by their respective operating companies;

Develop and recommend to the city council objectives and criteria of design for all streetscapes and all features thereof within the public right-of-way, including, but not limited to, street lights, poles, benches, signs, hydrants, trash receptacles and other street furniture and street trees, sidewalks, parkways and special paving treatments for traffic islands and pedestrian crossings. This paragraph shall not affect the installation, maintenance or removal of traffic control devices

described in Title 10 of this code, provided, however, that the commission may advise on such matters as the mounting and positioning of traffic control devices within the context of developing overall streetscape design criteria;

Review and recommend to the city council the aesthetic design concepts of all construction undertaken by the city, including structures, streets, bridges, subways, sidewalks, street trees, parkways, landscaping, street furniture and street lights. This paragraph includes projects in which the city is a participant;

Develop and recommend to the city council general objectives and standards of aesthetic design for use by all departments of the city;

Undertake design reviews and hear such matters as are required by Title 17 of this code;

Develop and recommend to the city council general design objectives, goals and criteria for areas and districts in the city, and for areas of city development, such as the civic center area, redevelopment areas and park areas;

Develop and recommend to the city council policies relating to architecture and urban design;

Work closely with the planning commission, historic preservation commission, community development committee and other advisory bodies and city departments to assure changes to the built environment will be orderly and will not diminish the architectural, aesthetic or design quality of the city;

Comment and make recommendations for proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance or map, subdivisions, general plan amendments, significant public improvements, and such other land use proposals or projects that may affect the architectural, aesthetic or design quality of Pasadena;

Participate in revisions of the urban design element of the general plan of the city;

Review, advise and make recommendations to the city council relating to the city's master street tree plan and undertake such other reviews pertaining to public trees as are specified in the city trees and tree protection ordinance, Section 8.52.050 of this code.

(Ord. 7139 §§ 2—5, 2008; Ord. 6894 § 1, 2002; Ord. 6820 § 45 (part), 2000; Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

(Ord. No. 7250, § 3, 11-17-2014)

Unless is plainly evident from the context that a different meaning is intended, "committee" means the design review committee established by this chapter.

(Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

The design commission may delegate to the urban forestry advisory committee the following: the reviews, advice and recommendations with respect to street trees as are specified in Section 2.80.110 (B)(2) and (3), related to streetscapes and city construction, respectively; the reviews, advice and recommendations specified in Section 2.80.110(B)(11); and for projects sent to the commission for review under Title 17 of this code, the review of landscape design plans, and related permits and tree protection plans for protected trees on public and private property as well as for planting new trees on such property. The urban forestry advisory committee is a subcommittee of the design commission and shall be composed of 7 members which shall include the following: 2 members of the design commission, 2 representatives of the recreation and parks commission, 1 representative from the Pasadena Beautiful Foundation; in addition, 2 members of the public shall be appointed by the city council who have demonstrated knowledge and experience in arboriculture or, in the alternative, one of whom may be another representative of the Pasadena Beautiful Foundation.

(Ord. 6894 § 2, 2002)

Procedures for assigning commission members to the committees, for convening and recognizing committees and for conducting design and other reviews and recommendations, shall be established by resolution of the commission. Procedures to implement the objectives of this chapter where not specified in Title 17 of this code shall be adopted by resolution of the commission.

(Ord. 6894 § 3, 2002: Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)

The city council shall by resolution prescribe fees for all applications, reviews and appeals authorized by this chapter.

(Ord. 6820 § 45 (part), 2000; Ord. 6229 § 2 (part), 1987)