San Pablo Municipal Code Ch. 2.28 Planning Commission

Prior legislation: Prior code §§ 2.125—2.131, Ord. 98-001, Ord. 02-007, Ord. 2012-004, Ord. 2018-002.

There is created and established a Planning Commission to institute and maintain standards and policies to ensure the orderly development of the community consistent with the City's adopted plans and in accordance with state and federal laws.

(Ord. 2026-005, 5/18/2026)

A. The membership of the Planning Commission shall be comprised of five commissioners.

B. All commissioners shall be at least 18 years of age, reside within the City of San Pablo at the time of their appointment, and remain residents of the City during the term of their appointment.

C. If a commissioner ceases to be a resident of the City of San Pablo by permanently moving from the City, the commissioner shall immediately report such move to the City Clerk and the commissioner's position shall become vacant effective on the date of the move. Such vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment consistent with the requirements of this chapter.

D. Notwithstanding subsection C above, the City Council may permit a commissioner who temporarily relocates from the City during the commissioner's term to complete all or a portion of the term; provided that the commissioner has reported their temporary relocation to the City Clerk within 30 days of their relocation.

E. No councilmember, officer, or employee of the City of San Pablo may simultaneously serve on the Planning Commission.

(Ord. 2026-005, 5/18/2026)

A. The members of the Planning Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council.

B. Members of the Planning Commission shall serve staggered four year terms. Three commissioners shall have terms expiring on the last day of February in the same even-numbered year, and two commissioners shall have terms expiring on the last day of February in the next even-numbered year, with such expirations alternating every two years. Commissioners shall serve until the expiration of their terms and thereafter until their successors are appointed, qualified, and sworn in.

C. Nothing in this section shall limit the City Council's ability to make appointments or reappointments for an adjusted term period to maintain a staggered term structure. In implementing this subsection, no incumbent commissioner's term shall be shortened or otherwise reduced solely for purposes of adjusting term expirations or reestablishing the staggered schedule.

D. All commissioners shall serve without compensation, except that the Council may pay such expenses of the Planning Commission or its members as the Council deems necessary.

E. Nothing in this section shall limit or restrict the City Council's authority to remove a commissioner as otherwise provided by this chapter.

(Ord. 2026-005, 5/18/2026)

The Planning Commission shall hold regular meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Such regular meetings may be adjourned from time to time.

(Ord. 2026-005, 5/18/2026)

The Planning Commission may hold special meetings at the request of City staff, or a majority of the Commission members, when determined to be in the best interests of the City.

(Ord. 2026-005, 5/18/2026)

The Planning Commission shall have the powers and duties prescribed by this Code and applicable provisions of the California Government Code, including, without limitation, Government Code Sections 65100 et seq.

(Ord. 2026-005, 5/18/2026)

A. The City Clerk shall maintain attendance records for the Planning Commission and shall periodically report such records to the City Council. Any commissioner who is absent from two consecutive regular meetings without satisfactory excuse, or who is absent from more than 25% of the regular meetings held during any 12 month period, may be subject to removal by the City Council. Nothing in this subsection limits the City Council's authority to remove a commissioner as otherwise provided in this section.

B. All commissioners serve at the pleasure of the City Council. The City Council may remove any planning commissioner during the commissioner's appointive term for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to subsection A above.

(Ord. 2026-005, 5/18/2026)

A. Biennially, in even-numbered years, the City Council, through the City Clerk, shall conduct recruitments for scheduled commissioner vacancies. Following each biennial recruitment, the City Council may create a list of eligible commissioner candidates. The list will be maintained by the City Clerk.

B. For the purposes of this section, eligible commissioner candidates are those candidates that the City Council has determined to be qualified for appointment to a position on the Planning Commission at the time the candidate is added to the eligibility list. Criteria for such qualification may include, but are not limited to, expertise or in-depth knowledge in the subject matter of the Planning Commission; demonstrated leadership and commitment to public service; previous experience in serving on San Pablo boards and commissions including the candidate's commitment and attendance during the previous term; and prior experience serving on any commission or similar institution.

(Ord. 2026-005, 5/18/2026)

Any unscheduled vacancy on the Planning Commission may be filled by the City Council either from an established eligibility list pursuant to Section 2.28.080 above, or by open recruitment.

(Ord. 2026-005, 5/18/2026)