Chapter 2.46
PLANNING COMMISSION
Sections:
2.46.010 Commission established.
2.46.020 Creation of Planning Commission districts.
2.46.030 Composition and appointment of Commissioners.
2.46.040 Terms of office – Vacancies.
2.46.050 Compensation of members.
2.46.070 Meetings – Time and place.
2.46.080 Notification of unexcused absences.
2.46.090 Duties of the Commission.
2.46.010 Commission established.
The Planning Commission of the City of Palmdale is established pursuant to Government Code Section 65100 et seq. (Ord. 1236 § 2, 2004)
2.46.020 Creation of Planning Commission districts.
The boundaries of the Planning Commission districts shall be congruent with the boundaries of the electoral districts of the City Council as identified in PMC 4.10.010. The Planning Commission districts shall use the same numerical designations as the electoral districts of the City Council. (Ord. 1484 § 1, 2016; Ord. 1236 § 2, 2004)
2.46.030 Composition and appointment of Commissioners.
(A)(1) The Planning Commission shall consist of five commissioners, each of whom shall be appointed from Planning Commission districts. All Commissioners shall be voting members of the Planning Commission.
(2) No Commissioner shall be a member of the City Council.
(3) To be appointed, each Commissioner must be a resident of the district from which they are appointed.
(4) In general, if a district Commissioner ceases to be a resident of the district from which he or she is appointed, that Commissioner’s appointment will automatically terminate. However, if a Commissioner ceases to be a resident of the district from which he or she is appointed because the district boundaries changed to a new district, such Commissioner may continue in office until any new Commissioners are appointed, at which time all Commissioners shall be required to reside in the district for which they have been appointed.
(5) Commissioners serve at the pleasure of the City Council and may be removed prior to the expiration of their term by a vote of a majority of the members of the City Council.
(B) Each Councilmember, with the approval of the City Council, shall appoint the Planning Commissioner for their corresponding district as follows:
(1) The district Planning Commissioner position shall be advertised, seeking volunteers willing and desiring to be appointed to the Planning Commission. Any person seeking to be so appointed must complete and submit the City volunteer application, together with any other information requested by the Councilmember.
(2) All such applications shall be provided to the City Council for review. The Councilmember for the corresponding district shall, at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting, nominate, from among such applicants, the person whom the City Councilmember desires to appoint to the Planning Commission.
(3) If the nomination by the Councilmember is approved by a majority vote of the City Council, the City Councilmember may then proceed to appoint the person to the Planning Commission.
(4) If the nomination by the Councilmember is not approved by a majority vote of the City Council, the City Councilmember will nominate a different candidate until someone is approved by majority vote of the City Council. (Ord. U-1590 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1505 § 1, 2017; Ord. 1357 § 6, 2008; Ord. 1236 § 2, 2004)
2.46.040 Terms of office – Vacancies.
(A) The terms for districts 1, 3 and 4 expire on June 30th of every even-numbered year. The terms for districts 2 and 5 expire on June 30th of every odd-numbered year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Commissioners will hold office until their successors are qualified and take office.
(B) All vacancies will be filled in accordance with PMC 2.46.030 to fill the unexpired term of the vacated seat. (Ord. U-1590 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1505 § 2, 2017; Ord. 1484 § 2, 2016; Ord. 1357 § 7, 2008; Ord. 1236 § 2, 2004)
2.46.050 Compensation of members.
Planning Commissioners shall be compensated at a rate set by resolution of the City Council. (Ord. 1236 § 2, 2004)
2.46.060 Organization.
The members of the Planning Commission will select a chairperson and vice chairperson each of whom will serve for a term of one year. (Ord. 1236 § 2, 2004)
2.46.070 Meetings – Time and place.
Meetings of the Planning Commission shall be held on such days and at such time and location as may be established by the Commission for conduct of its business and ratified by the City Council. Notice of the meetings must be given as required by law and the Ralph M. Brown Act is applicable to all meetings of the Commission. (Ord. 1236 § 2, 2004)
2.46.080 Notification of unexcused absences.
If any Commissioner has three consecutive unexcused absences from regular meetings of the Commission, the chairperson must give written notice of those absences to the City Council. (Ord. 1236 § 2, 2004)
2.46.090 Duties of the Commission.
The Commission will discharge the duties and responsibilities set forth in PMC Chapter 17.13 (Delegation of Authority) and in Government Code Section 65100 et seq. (Ord. 1614 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023; Ord. 1236 § 2, 2004)