Signal Hill Municipal Code Ch. 2.36 Planning Commission

Sections:

* For provisions regarding the planning commission administrative committee, see Ch. 2.90 of this code.

There is created a planning commission for the city pursuant to the provisions of Section 65300 of the Government Code of the State of California.

(Prior code § 19.56.010) (Ord. 560 § 1 (part), 1964; Ord. 249 § 1, 1942)

A. The members of the planning commission shall be appointed by not less than three-fifths vote of all the members of the city council, after the provision of notice of the availability of the office pursuant to Government Code Section 54970, et seq. No person who holds office in the city government or who is employed by the city shall be appointed to the planning commission or serve thereon, and the members of the commission shall be qualified electors of the city for the duration of their tenure of office, and for at least thirty days prior to appointment. In the event that a planning commissioner changes his or her residence to one outside the city, he or she shall become ineligible to serve on the planning commission.

B. The offices of the planning commission shall be designated as offices one, two, three, four, and five. The city council shall appoint a commissioner to fill each office. As of June 1, 1994, three planning commissioner terms are scheduled to expire on September 1, 1995, and two terms are scheduled to expire on September 1, 1996. The terms scheduled to expire on September 1, 1995 are shortened to expire on September 30, 1994 and are designated as offices one, two, and three. The terms scheduled to expire on September 1, 1996 are hereby extended to May 31, 1997, and are designated as offices four and five. On or about October 1, 1994, new appointments will be made to fill offices one, two, and three. The initial terms of offices one and two shall be until May 31, 1999. The initial term of office three shall be until May 31, 1997. Thereafter, the succeeding terms shall be four years for each office. Each member of the commission shall serve until his/her successor is appointed and qualified. Vacancies on the commission arising from any cause whatsoever shall be filled by appointment by the city council for the unexpired term.

(Ord. 94-09-1185 § 2; Ord. 94-06-1180 § 3)

A. Any member of the planning commission may be removed prior to the expiration of his or her term of office, with or without cause, by an affirmative vote of at least three members of the city council. No prior notice needs to be given to any commissioner that the city council intends to take such action nor does the city council need to provide any statement of its reasons for taking such action. The city council may remove any commissioner for inadequate attendance in accordance with Section 2.36.070.

B. Prior to filling any vacancy created on the commission by the removal of any member pursuant to this section, the city council shall comply with Government Code Section 54974 and provide for the posting of notice of the vacancy and not make any final appointment for at least ten working days following posting of the notice in the clerk's office.

(Ord. 88-09-1014 § 1 (part))

All formal meetings of the planning commission shall be held in the council chamber of the city hall, located at 2175 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill, California. All informal study meetings shall be held in the committee room or in the council chamber of the city hall.

(Ord. 71-11-681 § 1 (part); Ord. 71-9-679 § 1 (part); Ord. 70-2-652 § 1 (part): prior code § 19.56.030(A); Ord. 249 § 3 (part), 1942))

The planning commission shall, upon its organization and annually thereafter at its first following formal meeting, elect its chairman from among its appointed members and may create and fill such other offices as it may determine; provided, however, in a year when new appointments are made to fill four-year terms, such meeting shall be postponed to the first formal meeting following the appointment of the new members.

(Ord. 71-11-681 § 1 (part); Ord. 71-9-679 § 1 (part); Ord. 70-2-652 § 1 (part): prior code § 19.56.030(B); Ord. 249 § 3 (part), 1942))

The planning commission shall adopt rules for the transaction of business and shall keep a record of its proceedings, which record shall be a public record.

(Ord. 71-11-681 § 1 (part); Ord. 71-9-679 § 1 (part); Ord. 70-2-652 § 1 (part): prior code § 19.56.030(C); Ord. 249 § 3 (part), 1942))

A. The planning commission shall meet in the Council Chamber of the City Hall on the third Tuesday of each month commencing at seven p.m. and on such other days at such other times as may be designated in order for a special meeting. Any meeting may be adjourned to a time and place stated in the order of adjournment.

B. A special meeting may be ordered in accordance with the provisions of Section 54946 of the Government Code of the State of California.

C. When the date for any meeting falls on a legal holiday, as established by any law of the state, any ordinance of the city, or proclamation of the President of the United States or Governor of the state, then such meeting shall be held at the same hour on the next succeeding business day, with the same effect as if it had been held on the day appointed in this section.

(Ord. 2015-09-1479 § 2; Ord. 2008-12-1393 § 2; Ord. 2002-07-1305 § 2; Ord. 86-11-982 § 1; Ord. 72-10-692 § l; Ord. 71-11-681 § 1 (part); Ord. 71-09-679 § 1 (part); Ord. 70-2-652 § 1 (part): prior code § 19.56.030(D); Ord. 249 § 3 (part), 1942))

The members of the planning commission shall receive such monthly compensation for their services as the city council may establish from time to time by resolution. This compensation shall be in addition to any funds paid and reimbursement for reasonable and actual costs and expenses.

(Ord. 95-06-1194 § 2)

A. It shall be the obligation of members of the planning commission to attend all meetings, whether regular or special, of the planning commission, except for good cause. If a commissioner knows he or she will be unable to attend a meeting of the commission, the commissioner must contact the chairperson of the commission or the staff member assigned to the commission prior to the time established for commencement of the meeting. The commissioner must explain his or her reasons for being absent. At the beginning of the commission meeting, the chairperson shall inform the commission of the reason for the absence of any commissioner, and the commission shall determine whether such absence stems from good cause and whether such absence is excused or unexcused. Failure by any commissioner to make said contact prior to the commencement of the commission meeting shall automatically be deemed an unexcused absence.

B. In the event that any commissioner arrives at a meeting after the commission determines that the commissioner's absence is unexcused, the commissioner may give his or her reasons for being late, and the commission may then rescind its prior action and find such absence to be excused, but otherwise, the late arrival shall be deemed an unexcused absence.

C. After a commissioner has accumulated three unexcused absences in any calendar year, and upon the occurrence of the next unexcused absence, the commissioner shall be deemed to be automatically removed from the commission, and their office shall be deemed vacated by operation of law.

D. A commissioner who misses any regular commission meeting due to an unexcused absence shall not be entitled to receive compensation for such meeting. Attending ad hoc or committee meetings on behalf of the city is on a volunteer basis and commissioners shall not receive any compensation for attending such meetings. (Ord. 2016-11-1943 § 2; Ord. 88-09-1014 § 1 (part))

All meetings of the planning commission shall be open to public attendance.

(Ord. 71-11-681 § 1 (part): Ord. 71-9-679 § 1 (part): Ord. 70-2-652 § 1 (part): prior code § 19.56.030(F) (Ord. 249 § 3 (part), 1942))

The order of business at all formal meetings of the planning commission, except as otherwise ordered by the commission, shall be as follows:

A. Call to order;

B. Roll call;

C. Approval of minutes;

D. Presentation of awards;

E. Public hearings;

F. Action items;

G. Information items;

H. New business;

I. Unfinished business;

J. Public business from the floor;

K. Study items;

L. Adjournment.

(Ord. 71-11-681 § 1 (part): Ord. 71-9-679 § 1 (part): Ord. 70-2-652 § 1 (part): prior code § 19.56.030 (G) (Ord. 249 § 3 (part), 1942))

The planning commission shall have all of the authority, powers, duties, and discretions conferred upon such bodies by the laws of the state or which under any ordinance of the city are provided to be vested in or performed or exercised by the planning commission of the city.

(Prior code § 19.56.040 (Ord. 560 § 1 (part), 1964: Ord. 249 § 4, 1942))