Note: Prior ordinance history: Ord. 2.
A planning commission for the city is established with membership, powers and duties as provided in this chapter and by statutes of the state.
(Ord. 33 § 1, 1984)
A. 
The planning commission shall consist of five members to be appointed by the city council through an advertisement and recruitment process as established by council policy and/or resolution. Pursuant to that policy, the mayor shall solicit suggested nominees from members of the council; prior to making a motion for appointment, the mayor shall announce the names of all persons he or she intends to nominate, and in the order to be nominated; the mayor shall then make a motion putting forth each individual name to be approved for appointment; a second shall be required; and the council shall vote on each appointment individually. The term of the planning commissioner shall be for a period of two years. All appointments shall occur during the second regularly scheduled city council meeting held in December every even-numbered year, or as soon as possible thereafter. The existing term of each planning commissioner shall be extended until such new appointments occur. If a vacancy occurs otherwise than by expiration of a term, it shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term of office by the same nomination process described herein for a new term of office.
B. 
Nothing is this chapter is intended to preclude the reappointment of any planning commissioner upon the expiration of his or her term.
(Ord. 33 § 1, 1984; Ord. 241 § 3, 1998; Ord. 309 § 1, 2004; Ord. 379 § 3, 2009)
A. 
The members of the commission shall be residents and registered voters of the city. When a person serving on the planning commission ceases to be a resident of the city, the mayor shall declare vacant such person's position on the planning commission and shall nominate another eligible person to the unexpired term of such former member, pursuant to Section 2.36.020(A) of this chapter.
B. 
Members of the commission shall, where possible, be selected on the basis of special knowledge in the fields of real property, construction, law, zoning and architecture, or related subjects.
C. 
No members of the planning commission shall receive any compensation from the city or otherwise have any interest in any city contract. For purposes of this section, an interest in a city contract shall be measured as though the planning commission were the approving body for such contract, utilizing then relevant provisions of the California conflict of interest laws and regulations. The foregoing exclusions shall not apply to any stipend received by the commissioner for service on the commission, or any reimbursement for necessary expenses, to the extent such reimbursement is permitted by city policies. The foregoing exclusions shall also not apply to any contracts in existence as of the date the commissioner assumes office to the extent such continuing contract would not be precluded by state conflict of interest laws if the commissioner were a city councilmember.
(Ord. 33 § 1, 1984; Ord. 241 § 3, 1998; Ord. 379 § 4, 2009)
Any member of the planning commission may be removed by either of the following:
A. 
A majority vote of the legislative body;
B. 
Absence from three consecutive regular meetings without formal consent of the commission shall be deemed to constitute the resignation of the commissioner and the position declared vacant.
(Ord. 33 § 1, 1984)
A. 
If a member of the planning commission shall be absent from three successive regular meetings of the commission, without cause, the office of such member shall be deemed to be vacant and the term of such member ipso facto terminated and the secretary of the planning commission shall immediately inform the city council of such termination.
B. 
An absence due to illness or an unavoidable absence from the city and written notice thereof to the secretary of the planning commission on or before the day of any regular meeting of the commission shall be deemed absence for cause.
(Ord. 33 § 1, 1984)
Any member of the planning commission may resign from the commission. The resignation by the commissioner shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective immediately upon receipt by the city clerk regardless of the date specified in the resignation. The city clerk shall immediately inform the city council of any such vacancy by causing a copy of the resignation to be sent to each councilmember.
(Ord. 93 § 1, 1988)
A. 
At the first regular meeting of each year, the planning commission shall elect its chair from among the appointed members for the term of one year and, subject to other provisions of law, may create and fill such other offices as it may determine.
B. 
The commission shall hold regular monthly or bimonthly meetings as determined by the commission at its first meeting of each year, such determination to include the dates, time and place of such meetings. Should a need arise during the year, the commission may, by a majority vote, revise the dates, time and place of such meetings.
C. 
The commission may hold such additional adjourned or special meetings as may be called in accordance with the provisions of the Government Code.
D. 
If any regular meeting falls on a holiday, it shall be held on the next scheduled business day and all meetings otherwise scheduled or noticed to be held on a regular meeting day falling on a holiday shall be held at the meeting of the next business day without the necessity of any other or further notice.
(Ord. 33 § 1, 1984; Ord. 309 § 1, 2004)
The planning commission shall have power, except as otherwise provided by law, to:
A. 
Recommend to the proper office plans for the regulation of the future growth, development and beautification of the city in respect to its public and private buildings and works, streets, schools, parks, grounds and vacant lots;
B. 
Recommend to the proper office of the municipality, plans, consistent with the future growth and development of the city, in order to secure sanitation, proper service of all public utilities, shipping and transportation facilities;
C. 
Make recommendations to any public authorities or persons with reference to the location of any proposed buildings, structures or works;
D. 
Recommend to the council approval, conditional approval or disapproval of tentative maps of proposed subdivisions of land. The council designates the planning commission as its advisory agency with respect to the design and improvement of proposed subdivisions. Every such map or plat shall, prior to its final approval or disapproval by the council, be submitted to the commission for action thereon;
E. 
Do such other things as shall be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the Conservation and Planning Act of the state, amendments or any act substituted therefor.
(Ord. 33 § 1, 1984)
A regular meeting as provided by law or by rule of the planning commission, or any regularly advertised public hearing, shall be deemed a regular meeting.
(Ord. 33 § 1, 1984)
Members of the planning commission shall receive compensation for their attendance at each meeting of the commission as deemed appropriate by the city council by resolution.
(Ord. 33 § 1, 1984)
No member of the planning commission shall be eligible for employment by the city or to perform contractual work for compensation by the city during his or her appointment term and for a period of one year after leaving that appointed office, with the exception of the compensation received for the elected office of mayor or as an elected or appointed councilmember, after leaving the commission.
(Ord. 432 § 9, 2014)