RPVCCA_CC_SR_2013_10_15_03_Code_Amendment_Planning_Commissioners_TermsCITY OF
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
REVIEWED:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY ~C11L MEMBERS
CARLA MORREALE, CITY CLER~
OCTOBER 15, 2013
CODE AMENDMENT REGARDING THE TERM OF OFFICE FOR
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS
CAROLYN LEHR, CITY MANAGER~
RECOMMENDATION
1) Consider modifying the term of office for the Planning Commissioners from two years to
four years; and, 2) INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NO. _, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, AMENDING SECTION 2.20.020 OF THE RANCHO PALOS
VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE TERM OF OFFICE FOR PLANNING
COMMISSIONERS.
BACKGROUND
On December 2, 1975, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 80 creating the Planning
Commission (consisting of five members), establishing a two year term of office, and
establishing the parameters of that advisory body under the provisions of State Planning and
Zoning Law. On March 1, 1983, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 165 amending the
Municipal Code to state that the Planning Commission, consisting of five members who are
appointed by the City Council, shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council; amending the
term of office for each commissioner to four years; and determining the expiration of terms to
be on the first Council meeting in December of odd years, or until a successor is appointed.
On January 7, 1992, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 278 amending the Municipal
Code, to increase the membership of the Planning Commission from five to seven members;
to establish the term of office for each commissioner at two years, with the term of office to
expire on the date of the first regular City Council meeting in December of odd years, or until
a successor is appointed; and, to establish the regular meeting dates of the Planning
Commission.
On February 4, 1992, the City Council adopted City Council Policy No. 6 (City Advisory Board
Recruitment and Selection) establishing the process for recruitment to the City's Advisory
Boards, with terms of office at two years in length. On January 31, 2002, City Council Policy
3-1
Code Amendment-Term of Office for Planning Commissioners
Page2
October 15, 2013
No. 6 was amended indicating that the terms of service on City Advisory Boards would be for
the period of four years for each new appointee.
In late 2003, recruitment for open positions on the Planning Commission for appointments in
2004 was staggered in accordance with the policy. From 2005 to the present, recruitments
for open positions on the Planning Commission have been filled with the term of office
designated at four years in length.
During the most recent recruitment for Planning Commissioners (in 2012,) staff noted the
discrepancy between City Council Policy No. 6 and the Municipal Code. Accordingly, staff
suggests that the Municipal Code be modified so that both the Municipal Code and City
Council Policy No. 6 are in compliance, and to reflect the actual practice regarding the length
of terms of office for the Planning Commissioners to be four years.
DISCUSSION
Pursuant to City Council Policy No. 6, immediately following the regular election of Council
Members, the City Clerk is directed to begin advertising for openings on any of the City's
Advisory Boards. In November 2013, the Clerk's office will be recruiting for openings which
will occur early in 2014 on both the Planning Commission and the Storm Drain Fee
Oversight Committee. Since this process is about to be conducted again, Staff recommends
that the Code be amended to reflect the four year term of office that has been in place since
2003.
CONCLUSION
Staff suggests that the relevant language in Section 2.20.020 of the Municipal Code be
modified to read the following: "The term of office for each commissioner is four years" to
reflect the actual practice.
ALTERNATIVE
Modify City Council Policy No. 6 to establish the term of office for each Planning
Commissioner to be two years in length, in compliance with Municipal Code Section
2.20.020.
ATTACHMENTS
Ordinance No. _ -Regarding the Term of Office for Planning Commissioners
City Council Policy No. 6 -City Advisory Board Recruitment and Selection
3-2
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
AMENDING SECTION 2.20.020 OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES
MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE TERM OF OFFICE FOR
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS.
WHEREAS, on December 2, 1975, Ordinance No. 80 was adopted by the City
Council, adding Part A to Chapter 7 of Article II of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal
Code, creating the Planning Commission consisting of five members, establishing a two
year term of office, and establishing the parameters of that advisory body under the
provisions of State Planning and Zoning Law; and,
WHEREAS, on March 1, 1983, Ordinance No. 165 was adopted by the City
Council, amending Sections· 2.20.020 and 2.20.060 of the Rancho Palos Verdes
Municipal Code, to state that the Planning Commission, consisting of five members who
are appointed by the City Council, shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council; and
amending the term of office for each commissioner to four years, and determining the
expiration of terms to be on the first Council meeting in December of odd years, or until
a successor is appointed; and,
WHEREAS, on January 7, 1992, Ordinance No. 278 was adopted by the City
Council, amending Sections 2.20.020 and 2.20.040 of the Rancho Palos Verdes
Municipal Code, to increase the membership of the Planning Commission from five to
seven members; to establish the term of office for each commissioner at two years, with
the term of office to expire on the date of the first regular City Council meeting in
December of odd years, or until a successor is appointed; and, to establish the regular
meetings of the Planning Commission to be held at the hour of seven o'clock p.m. on
the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, unless the regular meeting date falls on
a holiday, in which case the meeting shall be held on the next succeeding day which is
not a holiday;
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to change the term of office of the Planning
Commissioners back to a four year term of office;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: Section 2.20.020 of Chapter 2.20 of Article 2 of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
2.20.020 Members. The term of office for each commissioner is four years. The
terms of office shall expire on the date of the first regular city council meeting in
December of odd years, or until a successor is appointed.
Ordinance No.
Page 1 of 2
3-3
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this_ day of ____ , 2013.
Mayor
Attest:
City Clerk
State of California )
County of Los Angeles ) ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
I, Carla Morreale, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the
whole number of members of the City Council of said City is five; that the foregoing
Ordinance No. _ passed first reading on October 15, 2013, was duly and regularly
adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting thereof held on __ _
2013, and that the same was passed and adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
City Clerk
Ordinance No.
Page 2 of 2 3-4
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
NUMBER: 6
DATE ADOPTED/AMENDED: 02/04/92 (amended 01/31/02 and 09/16/03)
SUBJECT: City Advisory Board Recruitment and Selection
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the City Council to fill vacancies on City-appointed Boards
as follows:
Service Criteria
1. Terms of service on City Boards will be four years for each new appointee.
Initially, half (plus one) of the terms will be four years and half (less one) of
the terms will be two years.
2. Appointments will be made to Boards in even numbered years on a schedule
to be established by the City Council and following as soon as possible the
seating of a new Council.
3. Terms will be staggered to maintain continuity.
4. Following the appointment of Board members, those appointees indicating an
interest in being considered for chair, will be interviewed separately by the
City Council specifically for the purpose of selection of the chair.
5. Terms of service for the Chair will normally be one year. Appointments/re-
appointments will be made annually on a schedule to be established by the
City Council.
6. In the event a Board meets before a Chair is appointed/reappointed, the
Mayor may appoint an interim Chair. If the former Chair is reappointed to the
Board, he/she may act as Interim Chair. If the Chair is not reappointed to the
Board then the Vice Chair may act as Interim Chair.
7. The Vice Chair of each Board will be elected by the Board members.
Recruitment Process
1. Immediately following the regular election of City Council members the City
Clerk shall advertise that applications shall be open for the positions that shall
be filled following the seating of a new City Council. Applications shall be
3-5
accepted from the date following the election until mid-December of that year,
or such other date, as the City Council shall direct. The newly-seated City
Council shall determine the interview schedule.
2. The vacancy shall be advertised in the Palos Verdes Peninsula News, Daily
Breeze and LA Times newspapers. Advertising may take the form of a press
release. Additionally, the vacancy shall be posted at the City's regular
posting places and be placed on the Government Access Reader Board. The
City Clerk shall include a summary of duties in the recruitment flyer, press
release and any other recruitment material. A deadline for receipt of
applications will be established by the City Council.
3. Interested applicants, including incumbents seeking reappointment, will be
required to fill out applications.
4. Applications will be reviewed by the City Council. Each applicant shall be
interviewed by the City Council and appointments made at a public meeting.
Interview Process
1. Interviews of applicants for Boards will be conducted by the City Council in
small groups on a schedule to be established by the Council.
2. The City Clerk will notify applicants of their interview times and advise them of
their status during the selection process.
3. The City Clerk will advise successful applicants of the opportunity to be
interviewed for Chair if they so desire. The City Clerk will notify applicants for
Chair of their interview times and advise them of their status in the selection
process.
4. The City Clerk will provide new Board members a copy of the Commission
and Committee Handbook and Statement of Economic Interest forms if
applicable to their Board appointment.
5. The City Attorney will brief new Board members of their responsibilities under
the Brown Act and Conflict of Interest Laws and other legal obligations
mandated by their appointment.
BACKGROUND:
On December 4, 2001, January 12, 2002, January 31, 2002, and September 16,
2003 the City Council considered the process for recruitment and selection of
City Commission and Committee members. After discussing various
alternatives, the Council agreed on September 16, 2003 to the procedure
contained in this policy in order to encourage residents to apply for and serve on
3-6
City Boards, to create a procedure that allows the City Council to become familiar
with the applicant's qualifications, and to maintain continuity on the various
Boards by staggering the terms of service.
3-7