A. 
Zoning Map. A request for an amendment to the Zoning Map may be initiated by:
1. 
The City Council,
2. 
The Planning Commission,
3. 
The Development Services Director, or
4. 
The owner of the property for which the amendment is sought. For properties under multiple ownership, the application may be initiated only with the approval of owners representing 60 percent or more of the area to be rezoned.
B. 
Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment. A request for an amendment to the text of the Zoning Ordinance may be initiated by:
1. 
The City Council,
2. 
The Planning Commission, or
3. 
The Development Services Director.
A. 
General. An application for a Zoning Ordinance Amendment shall be filed and reviewed in compliance with Chapter 17.43 (Permit Application Filing and Processing). The application shall include the information and materials specified in the Development Services Department handout for Zoning Ordinance Amendment applications, together with all required application fees. For amendments submitted by a resident, property owner, or business owner, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide evidence in support of the findings required by Section 17.48.060 (Findings and Decision).
B. 
Map Amendments for Properties under Multiple Ownership. A Zoning Ordinance Map Amendment application for properties under multiple ownership shall be signed by owners representing 60 percent or more of the area to be rezoned. The application may be withdrawn upon the written application of a majority of all the persons who signed such petition at any time prior to the hearing on the proposed amendment before the City Council.
C. 
Referral to Municipalities. Development Services Department staff shall refer all Zoning Ordinance Map Amendments that affect a municipality's General Plan Planning Area to that municipality for review and comment prior to a public hearing on the proposed amendment.
A. 
General. The Planning Commission shall conduct a public hearing on a proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment in compliance with Chapter 17.46 (Public Notice and Hearings).
B. 
Recommendation of Approval. The Planning Commission may recommend to the City Council the approval or conditional approval of the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment, based upon the findings specified in Section 17.48.060 (Findings for Decision). The Planning Commission shall forward a written recommendation, and the reasons for the recommendation, to the City Council within 90 days after the date the hearing was closed to the public. A recommendation for approval shall be made by a majority vote of the total membership of the Planning Commission.
C. 
Denial. The Planning Commission may deny the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment based upon the findings specified in Section 17.48.060 (Findings for Decision). For a Zoning Map Amendment, if the action of the Planning Commission is to recommend denial, the City Council is not required to take further action on the proposed amendment unless an interested party requests a hearing in writing with the Clerk of the City Council within five days after the Planning Commission recommendation is filed with the City Council.
A. 
Approval or Denial.
1. 
Upon receipt of the Planning Commission's recommendation on the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment, the City Council shall conduct a public hearing in compliance with Chapter 17.46 (Public Notice and Hearings), unless it chooses not to hear a Zoning Map Amendment on which the Planning Commission has recommended denial.
2. 
The City Council shall take action on the application based on the findings identified in Section 17.48.060 (Findings and Decision).
3. 
The action by the City Council shall be by a majority vote of the entire Council and shall be final and conclusive.
B. 
Referral to Commission.
1. 
If the City Council proposes to adopt a substantial modification to the Zoning Ordinance Amendment not previously considered by the Planning Commission, the proposed modification shall be first referred to the Planning Commission for its recommendation.
2. 
Failure of the Planning Commission to report back to the City Council within 40 days following the referral or such other time set by the Council shall be deemed approval by the Planning Commission of the proposed modification.
C. 
Adoption by Resolution. If the City Council approves a Zoning Ordinance Amendment, it shall do so by adoption of a resolution specifying the findings identified in Section 17.48.060 (Findings and Decision). The effective date of the Zoning Ordinance Amendment shall be the effective date of the ordinance approving the Zoning Ordinance Amendment.
The City Council may approve a Zoning Ordinance Amendment only if all of the following findings are first made:
A. 
Findings for all Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map Amendments.
1. 
The proposed amendment is consistent with the General Plan and any applicable community or specific plan as provided by Government Code Section 65860.
2. 
The proposed amendment will not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, or welfare of the City.
B. 
Additional Finding for Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments. The proposed amendment is internally consistent with other applicable provisions of the Zoning Ordinance.
C. 
Additional Finding for Zoning Map Amendments. The affected site is physically suitable in terms of design, location, shape, size, and other characteristics to ensure that the proposed uses and development will not endanger, jeopardize, or otherwise constitute a hazard to the property, surrounding properties, and the community at large.