HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 15130 (Design Review Board Bylaws)
RESOLUTION NO. 15130
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
APPROVING BYLAWS OF THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to establish consistent rules and procedures for the
operation of its boards, commissions and committees, including the Design Review Board; and
WHEREAS, the Design Review Board bylaws in Exhibit A attached hereto are
recommended by staff and include specific rules and practices for the operation of the Board to be
consistent with recently approved bylaws for other City boards and commissions; and
WHEREAS, the attached bylaws include a provision for voluntary resignation of members
based on unexcused absences;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby adopts the Design
Review Board Bylaws as set forth in Exhibit A.
I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was
duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
San Rafael, held on Monday, the 19th day of September 2022, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
EXHIBIT A: DESIGN REVIEW BOARD BYLAWS
Design Review Board Bylaws
Page 1 of 2
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD BYLAWS
ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1.1. Name. The name of this body shall be the City of San Rafael Design
Review Board, hereinafter referred to as the “Board.”
Section 1.2. Purpose. The Board shall serve as an advisory body to the city for the
purpose of reviewing and formulating recommendations on all major physical
improvements requiring environmental and design review permits, except that an
alternate streamlined review process may be allowed for certain eligible projects by
ordinance or resolution of the city council. The Board may also serve as an advisory body
on other design matters, including minor physical improvements or administrative design
permits, referred to the board by the community development director, planning
commission or city council. The Board shall provide professional design analysis,
evaluation and judgment as to the completeness, competence and appropriateness of
development proposals for the use and setting and to recommend approval, approval with
conditions, redesign or denial based on design standards adopted by the city council.
Section 1.3. Board Responsibility. The Board’s responsibilities shall be in accord with
these Bylaws, as amended from time-to-time by the City Council. The Board’s authority
is advisory only. The Board has no power to act on behalf of the City of San Rafael or
any other entity.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP
Section 2.1. Number of Members. The Board shall consist of a total of five (5) regular
members and may include one alternate member appointed by the city council. The
design review board members shall be qualified as follows:
1. At least two (2) members shall be licensed architects or licensed building
designers;
2. At least one member shall be a licensed landscape architect;
3. At least one of the five (5) members shall have background or experience in urban
design;
4. The alternate member may have qualifications in any of the above fields of
expertise; and
5. In addition to the five (5) council-appointed Board members and one alternate
member, one planning commissioner shall attend Board meetings. This liaison
planning commissioner shall be appointed by the commission chairperson. An
additional commissioner shall be appointed to serve as an "alternate liaison" in
case of absence. The planning commission liaison should be present at all design
review board meetings to offer advice and direction to the board on matters of
commission concern.
Alternate Member. The alternate member may temporarily fill a vacancy created when a
regular member: (1) leaves office prior to completion of the member's term; (2) cannot
Design Review Board Bylaws
Page 2 of 2
attend a meeting; or (3) cannot participate on a particular matter due to a conflict of
interest.
Section 2.2. Eligibility. Board members shall be residents of the city of San Rafael.
Section 2.3. Appointment of Board Members. Regular voting members and alternate
members shall be appointed by the City Council. Appointments shall be published on the
website for the City of San Rafael in accordance with Government Code Section 54973,
as amended from time to time.
The liaison Planning Commissioner shall be appointed by the Commission Chairperson.
An additional Commissioner shall be appointed to serve as an “alternate liaison” in case
of absence.
Section 2.4. Terms of Appointment. Each Board member shall serve a term of four
(4) years. An effort will be made to ensure that the terms are staggered, and not all of the
appointments expire in the same year.
Section 2.5. Term Limits. Members of the Board shall be limited to three (3) consecutive
four-year terms. Additional terms may be served if there is a break between terms.
Section 2.6. Absence and Removal. An unexcused absence from two (2) consecutive
Board meetings without notification to the Staff Liaison shall be considered a voluntary
resignation from the Board. Previously dismissed Board members may be eligible for
reappointment to the Board. The members of the Board shall be subject to removal by
the affirmative vote of three members of the city council.
Section 2.7. Compensation. Board members serve without compensation.
ARTICLE III. MEETINGS
Section 3.1. Time and date of Regular Meeting. Notification of meeting place, date,
and time shall be rendered to the public through posting on the City of San Rafael website.
Regularly scheduled Board meetings shall be the first and third Tuesday of each month,
but these dates may be impacted by holidays. A schedule shall be approved annually by
the Board. The Board shall meet once per month. The schedule for the upcoming year
will be set by December of the previous year.