Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code Ch. 2.20 Planning Commission

A planning commission is created and established in accordance with the provisions of the planning and zoning law of the state, Government Code tit. 7 (Government Code § 65000 et seq.), and in particular pursuant to the provisions of Government Code tit. 7, div. 1, ch. 3 (Government Code § 65100 et seq.). The planning commission may be known and referred to as the "Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission" or as the "planning commission." When the term "planning commission" is referred to in this Code, it means the planning commission as defined in this chapter and does not mean the view restoration committee as defined in section 17.96.1820 (Sign, off-premises).

(Code 1981, § 2.20.010; Ord. No. 80, § 1(part), 1975; Ord. No. 274, § 7 exh. A(part), 1991)

A. The term of office for each member of the planning commission is four years.

B. The terms of office for members of the planning commission shall expire on June 30 of even-numbered years, or until a successor is appointed.

C. No person shall serve more than two consecutive terms of office as a member of the planning commission. Any member of the planning commission who has served for at least two years shall be deemed to have served a term of office. For the purpose of this section, the term "consecutive" means immediately following, without an intervening hiatus in service.

D. Any person who has served two consecutive terms as a member of the planning commission shall not be eligible to serve again until the expiration of at least six months after the end of that person's last term of office.

E. The term limits imposed by this section shall apply prospectively only to those terms of office that commence after the adoption of this section by the city council.

(Code 1981, § 2.20.020; Ord. No. 627, § 2, 10-1-2019)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, any commissioner who is absent from any three consecutive regular meetings of the planning commission unless excused from attendance by consent of the commission expressed by action recorded in its minutes or who is absent without such absence being excused of record from a total of five regular meetings of the commission in any six-month period shall, thereby, automatically forfeit their position as a member of the planning commission. In such case the name of such commissioners shall be automatically removed from the membership of the commission immediately after the adjournment of any such third consecutive meeting or of any such fifth meeting in any such six-month period, as the case may be, at which such commissioner has not appeared. The chairperson or secretary of the planning commission shall thereupon promptly notify the city council and any such person so ceasing to be a commissioner, of the fact of such vacancy.

(Code 1981, § 2.20.030; Ord. No. 80, § 1(part), 1975)

Regular meetings of the planning commission shall be held at the hour of 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each calendar month except as follows:

A. When a statewide or municipal election is conducted in the city on the second or fourth Tuesday of any month, the planning commission meeting shall be held on the next succeeding day which is not a holiday.

B. When an official city holiday falls on the second or fourth Tuesday of any month, the meeting shall be held on the next succeeding day which is not a holiday.

(Code 1981, § 2.20.040; Ord. No. 80, § 1(part), 1975; Ord. No. 278, § 1(part), 1992; Ord. No. 304, § 1, 1994)

The planning commission and the members thereof shall respectively have and exercise each and all of the powers, duties, rights, privileges and authorities of the city planning commission and of members of such commissions, all as set forth, provided for, and contemplated in this Code and in and under the provisions of the state planning and zoning law (Government Code § 65000 et seq.) as same now exists and as same may hereafter be amended, and shall perform the duties, acts and functions of such city planning commission, and members thereof, respectively, all as indicated, set forth and referred to in, and as contemplated by, the planning and zoning law and in the manner therein stated.

(Code 1981, § 2.20.050; Ord. No. 80, § 1(part), 1975)

The city council shall appoint the chairperson. The planning commission shall elect a vice-chairperson, from among its members, at the first organization meeting and thereafter at its first meeting where the incoming chairperson is presiding. The commission may also appoint such other officers as may be necessary for the administration of its business, at the same time and for like terms. Said officers shall enter in the duties of their office immediately after appointment. The commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the transaction of its business and shall keep a record of all its minutes, resolutions, actions, findings and determinations. Minutes, resolutions, and official records shall be filed with the city clerk.

(Code 1981, § 2.20.060; Ord. No. 80, § 1(part), 1975; Ord. No. 165, § 1(part), 1983; Ord. No. 627, § 3, 10-1-2019)

The planning commission shall assume the duties of the view restoration commission and shall make determinations regarding view restoration and view preservation applications pursuant to the provisions of section 17.02.040(C)(2). The planning commission shall draft regulations and policies to guide the commission's actions, which shall be binding after approval by the city council. In addition, the planning commission shall make recommendations to the city council regarding amendments to section 17.02.040(C)(2), which are necessary to effectuate and enhance its purposes, or to other sections of title 17 (Zoning) that address the preservation or restoration of views.

(Code 1981, § 2.20.070; Ord. No. 264, § 2, 1991; Ord. No. 386, § 2, 2003)