HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Design Review Board Vacancy____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: 10/07/2019
Disposition: Approved Staff Recommendation
Agenda Item No: 4.b
Meeting Date: October 7, 2019
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Department: City Clerk
Prepared by: Lindsay Lara, City Clerk City Manager Approval: _________
TOPIC: DESIGN REVIEW BOARD VACANCY
SUBJECT: CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO FILL ONE FOUR-YEAR ALTERNATE
MEMBER TERM ON THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD TO THE END OF
DECEMBER 2023 DUE TO THE EXPIRATION OF TERM OF DONALD
BLAYNEY
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Call for applications to fill one four-year alternate member term on the Design Review
Board to the end of December 2023 due to the expiration of term of Donald Blayney.
2. Set deadline for receipt of applications for Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. at
City Hall in the City Clerk’s Office, Room 209.
BACKGROUND:
The Design Review Board (DRB) consists of design professionals appointed by the City Council
to provide advice on new development projects and most exterior changes to existing buildings.
Applications are evaluated based on our General Plan and Zoning Ordinance design policies
and criteria, with the goal of having new projects harmonize with the natural environment and
surrounding area.
The Board is advisory, with final permit decisions made by the Planning Division staff, the
Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission or City Council, depending on the complexity of the
project. The scope of the DRB authority is to review and make recommendations on design
matters such as architecture, mass, bulk, site planning, site improvements, color, materials, and
landscaping. Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at San
Rafael City Hall in the Council Chambers, located at 1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901.
ANALYSIS:
The term of Alternate Member Donald Blayney is set to expire on December 31, 2019. The
board is composed of five members and one alternate member who are San Rafael residents
and qualified design professionals who are appointed by the City Council to four-year terms.
The alternate member only becomes a voting member at meetings where one or more regular
Board members are absent. In addition to the five council-appointed board members and one
alternate member, one Planning Commissioner attends DRB meetings and serves as a liaison.
The Planning Commission liaison is present at all DRB meetings to offer advice and direction to
the Board on matters of Planning Commission concern and to report back to the Planning
Commission on the discussion at the DRB meeting if that item appears before the Commission.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
By approving this item, staff will be able to release a Call for Applications for eligible and
interested community members to apply. Once applications are received and reviewed, the City
Clerk’s Office will schedule a special City Council meeting where the City Council will interview
candidates and make a selection to appoint candidates to the DRB.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. Call for applications to fill one four-year alternate member term on the Design Review
Board to the end of December 2023 due to the expiration of term of Donald Blayney.
2. Set deadline for receipt of applications for Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. at
City Hall in the City Clerk’s Office, Room 209.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Application Materials
1
City of San Rafael
Design Review Board
Boards and Commissions Application
Applicant Information
Full Name:
*Address:
Street Address Apartment/Unit #
City State ZIP Code
*Phone:*Email
Resident of San Rafael for years.
Employer:
Occupation:
Business Address:
Street Address Apartment/Unit #
City State ZIP Code
Education
Supplemental Questions
Participation in the following civic activities:
Member of the following civic organizations:
SAN RAFAEL
THE CITY WITH A MISS ION
2
My reasons for wanting to serve are:
Describe possible areas in which you may have a conflict of interest with the City:
Demographics (Optional)
The demographic information you choose to provide is VOLUNTARY and OPTIONAL and refusal to
provide it will not subject you to any adverse treatment. This information will be considered confidential,
kept separate from your application and will not be used for evaluating applications or making
appointments. The City of San Rafael will use this information solely to conduct research and compile
statistical reports regarding the composition of its Board and Commission applicants.
Ethnicity:
American Indian or Alaska Native: a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and
South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community
attachment.
Asian: a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia,
or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea,
Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Black or African American: a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
Hispanic or Latino: a person of Cuban, Mexican, Chicano, Puerto Rican, South or Central American,
or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: a person having origins in any of the original peoples of
Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
White: a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North
Africa.
Two or More Races: a person who primarily identifies with two or more of the above race/ethnicity
categories.
To which gender to your most identify?
Male
Female
Nonbinary or Third Gender
Prefer to self-describe
Prefer not to say
3
How old are you?
Under 18
18-24 years old
25-34 years old
35-44 years old
45-54 years old
55-64 years old
65-74 years old
75+ years old
Signature
Signature: Date:
Mail or deliver to: Filing Deadline:
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Time: 5:00 p.m.
City of San Rafael, Dept. of City Clerk
City Hall, 1400 Fifth Avenue, Room 209
San Rafael, CA 94903
*Information kept confidential, to the extent permitted by law.
One Vacancy
Design Review Board
APPLICATIONS to serve on the Design Review Board, City of San Rafael, to fill one four-year
term as an Alternate member to the end of December 2023, may be obtained at the City
Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 1400 Fifth Avenue, Room 209, San Rafael and on the website at:
https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/boards-commissions/. The deadline for filing applications is
Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. in the City Clerk’s Office.
There is no compensation paid to Board Members. Members must comply with the City’s ethics
training requirement of AB 1234, and reimbursement policy. See attached information.
ONLY RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL MAY APPLY
The Design Review Board regularly meets on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at
7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall.
The Design Review Board works in an advisory capacity only to the Planning Commission, and
reviews and makes recommendations on major development projects within the City of San
Rafael.
Interviews of applicants to be scheduled on a date to be determined.
An excerpt from the San Rafael Municipal Code re: Design Review Board membership, terms of
Board Members, powers and duties, etc., is also attached.
NOTE: All Design Review Board members are required to file Fair Political Practices
Commission Conflict of Interest Statements, which are open to public review.
[Resolution 12129]
________________________________
Lindsay Lara
City Clerk
City of San Rafael
Dated: October 8, 2019
14.25.070 Design Review Board.
A. Purpose and Authority. The Design Review 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 and on other design matters, including minor physical
improvements, referred to the Board by the Planning Director, Planning Commission, or City Council.
B. Membership of the Design Review Board. The Design Review 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;
5. All board members shall reside in the City of San Rafael; and
6. 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.
C. 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 attend a meeting; or
(3) cannot participate on a particular matter due to a conflict of interest.
D. Term of Office. The term of office for each Design Review Board member shall be four (4) years.
Of the members of the Board first appointed, one shall be appointed for the term of one year; one for the
term of two (2) years; one for the term of three (3) years; and two (2) for the term of four (4) years. The
term of office for the alternate board member shall be four (4) years concurrent with the term of the
chairperson.
E. Removal or Vacancy of Membership. Any member of the Board or the alternate member can be
removed at any time by a majority vote by the City Council. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner
as the original appointment. The person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the
unexpired term.
F. Meetings. At least one regular Design Review Board meeting shall be held each month on a date
selected by the Board, unless there is no business to conduct.
G. Quorum. Three (3) of the members of the Board, either regular members or two (2) regular members
and the alternate board member, shall be required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of the
business of the Board and the affirmation vote of a majority of those present is required to take any
action.
H. Compensation of the Design Review Board. All members of the Board shall serve as such without
compensation.
I. The Design Review Board may adopt, and amend as necessary, Rules of Order to ensure efficient and
responsive Board meetings. (Ord. 1838 § 53, 2005: Ord. 1794 § 2, 2003: Ord. 1625 § 1 (part), 1992).
NOTICE TO BOARD & COMMISSION APPLICANTS
REGARDING ETHICS TRAINING
On January 1, 2006, a new law became effective that requires two (2) hours of ethics training of
the local legislative bodies by January 1, 2007. This new law defines a local legislative body as
a “Brown Act” governing body, whether permanent or temporary, decision-making or advisory,
and created by formal action of the City Council. In other words, any person serving on a City
Council, Board, Commission, or Committee created by the Council is subject to this ethics
training requirement. After this initial class, training will be required every two years.
Ethics training can be accomplished by taking a 2-hour class, self-study, or an on-line class.
You may seek reimbursement for taking any authorized ethics class. The city staff member that
is assigned to your committee can help you with the reimbursement process.
After you have completed the ethics class, the original certificate needs to be given to the City
Manager’s Office for record-keeping, with a copy kept for your records.
AB 1234 (Salinas). Local Agencies: Compensation and Ethics
Chapter 700, Statutes of 2005
This law does the following:
• Ethics Training: Members of the Brown Act-covered decision-making bodies must take two
hours of ethics training every two years, if they receive compensation or are reimbursed
expenses. The training can be in-person, on-line, or self-study.
For those in office on 1/1/06, the first round of training must be completed by 1/1/07.
• Expense Reimbursement -- Levels: Local agencies which reimburse expenses of members
of their legislative bodies must adopt written expense reimbursement policies specifying the
circumstances under which expenses may be reimbursed. The policy may specify rates for
meals, lodging, travel, and other expenses (or default to the Internal Revenue Service’s
(IRS) guidelines). Local agency officials must also take advantage of conference and
government rates for transportation and lodging.
• Expense Reimbursement -- Processes: Local agencies, which reimburse expenses, must
also provide expense reporting forms; when submitted, such forms must document how the
expense reporting meets the requirements of the agency’s expense reimbursement policy.
Officials attending meetings at agency expense must report briefly back to the legislative
body at its next meeting.