HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 15317 (Planning Commission Bylaw Amendment)
RESOLUTION NO. 15317
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
AMENDING BYLAWS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
WHEREAS, amendments to the Planning Commission bylaws shown in Exhibit A attached
hereto are recommended by staff and incorporate the recent changes made to the Planning
Commission’s scope and responsibilities with regard to the consolidation of the design review board
and the planning commission.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby amends the Planning
Commission Bylaws as more particularly set forth in Exhibit A (additions in underline.)
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 15th day of July 2024, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bushey, Kertz & Mayor Kate
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Hill & Llorens Gulati
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
EXHIBIT A: PLANNING COMMISSION BYLAWS
Planning Commission Bylaws
Page 1 of 3
PLANNING COMMISSION BYLAWS
ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1.1. Name. The name of this body shall be the City of San Rafael Planning
Commission, hereinafter referred to as the “Commission.”
Section 1.2. Purpose. The purpose of the Commission to make decisions or advise the
Council on land use and property development issues. The Commission assures that new
development is consistent with our long-range General Plan, State laws and other public
policies that advance the interests of our community.
Section 1.3. Committee Responsibility. The Commission’s authority is decision-
making.
It shall be the function and duty of the planning commission to act as a decision-making
body on matters including, but not limited to:
• Major subdivisions as delegated to the planning commission under Title 15 of this
Code.
• Conditional use permits delegated to the planning commission.
• Environmental and design review permits delegated to the planning commission.
• Appeals made by a lower body and appealed to the planning commission.
• Other matters including physical improvements, or environmental and design
permits referred by the community development direction to the planning
commission pursuant to powers and duties set forth in the Municipal Code.
It shall be the function and duty of the planning commission to act as an advisory body
to the city council on legislative matters related to but not limited to the following:
• General plan updates and amendments.
• Zoning text and zoning map amendments.
• Other land use matters requiring city council action.
It shall be the duty of the members of the planning commission to inform themselves on
matters affecting the functions and duties of the commission and all planning matters,
and, to that end, they may attend training and planning conferences and the reasonable
traveling expenses incidental to the attendance shall be charged upon the funds
allocated to the commission.
The planning commission shall provide professional design analysis, evaluation and
judgment as to the appropriateness of development proposals for the use and setting
and to recommend approval, approval with conditions, redesign or denial based on
design standards and findings of approval adopted by the city council.
Planning Commission Bylaws
Page 2 of 3
The planning commission shall endeavor to promote public interest and understanding
of plans developed, and the regulations relating thereto. The commission shall adopt
rules for the transaction of business and shall keep a record of its resolutions,
transactions, findings, and determinations, which records shall be a public record.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP
Section 2.1. Number of Members. The Commission shall consist of a total of nine (9)
members. Seven (7) regular voting members and two (2) alternate members as follows:
- District 1 Representative
- District 2 Representative
- District 3 Representative
- District 4 Representative
- At-large Member
- At-large Member (Design Professional)
- At-large Member (Licensed Architect)
- At-large Alternate Member (Licensed Architect)
- At-large Alternate Member (Licensed Architect)
Section 2.2. Eligibility. The commission shall be composed of seven (7) regular voting
members, comprised of one (1) commissioner from each of the city's four (4) city council
electoral districts, and three (3) at-large commissioners.
Requirements for eligibility:
1. District representatives: Each district representative must reside in the district they
represent.
2. At-large members: Must reside in city limits. At least one (1) at-large member shall
be a licensed architect and at least one (1) at-large member shall be a design
professional.
”Design professional” means an architect, engineer, landscape architect, building
designer, urban designer, urban planner, or other similar design specialist. They may, but
are not required to, be licensed or registered in their related field.
In addition, the commission shall include two (2) alternate members who shall be eligible
to vote when serving in the absence of any of the commission’s regular voting members.
Both alternate members shall reside in city limits and be licensed architects.
Section 2.3. Term Limits. Members of the Committee shall be limited to three (3)
consecutive four-year terms. Additional terms may be served if there is a break between
terms.
Planning Commission Bylaws
Page 3 of 3
Section 2.4. Absence and Removal. An unexcused absence from two (2) consecutive
Commission meetings without notification to the Staff Liaison shall be considered a
voluntary resignation from the Commission. Previously dismissed Commission members
may be eligible for reappointment to the Commission.
Section 2.5. Compensation. Commissioners may apply for stipends through the Stipend
Program at $50 per month, not to exceed $600 per year per member.
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 Commission meetings shall be the second and fourth Tuesday of
each month, but these dates may be impacted by holidays. A schedule shall be approved
annually by the Commission. The Commission shall meet once per month and shall be
scheduled annually. The schedule for the upcoming year will be set by December of the
previous year.