Chapter 2.30
PLANNING COMMISSION
Sections:
2.30.030 Application, appointments, and terms of office.
2.30.070 Duties and functions of the planning commission.
Prior legislation: Ord. 18-2003.
2.30.010 Establishment.
Pursuant to Section 65100 of the Government Code of the state of California, there is hereby established a planning commission which shall have the powers and duties and serve the purposes enumerated in said Section 65100 and this chapter, and which shall have jurisdiction within the incorporated boundaries of the city of Rancho Cordova; provided, however, that from the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section until March 1, 2023 (Phase 1), the planning commission shall only have the power to take action on the following applications, projects, approvals, permits and appeals related to:
A. Processing, considering, and approving tentative and final parcel maps under Chapter 22.20 RCMC.
B. Processing, considering, and approving major design review for new residential projects under RCMC 23.104.030 and Table 23.104-1.
C. All other planning commission responsibilities regarding applications, projects, approvals, permits, and appeals in the Rancho Cordova Municipal Code are suspended from the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section until March 1, 2023. During this time, all appeals which would otherwise be heard by the planning commission shall be heard by the city council.
And further provided, from March 1, 2023, until June 1, 2023 (Phase 2), in addition to all powers granted during Phase 1, the planning commission shall also have the power to take action on the following applications, projects, approvals, permits and appeals related to:
D. Processing, considering, and approving tentative and subdivision maps under Chapter 22.20 RCMC.
E. Processing, considering, and approving major design review for commercial and industrial projects under RCMC 23.104.030 and Table 23.104-1. [Ord. 2-2024 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 15-2022 § 3; Ord. 2-2022 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 22-2021 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 5-2011 § 1; Ord. 56-2004 § 3].
2.30.020 Membership.
The planning commission shall consist of seven commission officers. [Ord. 2-2024 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2-2022 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 22-2021 § 3 (Exh. A)].
2.30.030 Application, appointments, and terms of office.
Appointments to the planning commission shall be made by the city council as follows:
A. An application period of three weeks shall be opened for any vacant planning commissioner seat. All applications shall be provided to individual members of the city council needing to fill the vacant seat for review and consideration for possible nomination.
B. Five commissioners shall be nominated by the individual members of the city council and confirmed by a majority vote prior to the first meeting of the council in February 2022. A commissioner’s term for those council seats up for re-election in 2024 shall coincide with the term of the councilmember that nominated that commissioner. A commissioner’s term for those council seats up for re-election in 2022 shall serve an initial two years. After the conclusion of the initial two-year term, the councilmember elected in 2022 shall have the ability to nominate a new commissioner for the remainder of the term if desired. Thereafter, following each election of the city council, re-elected or newly elected members of the council shall each nominate one member to serve on the planning commission within 90 days of taking office. All commissioners nominated by an individual member of the city council shall be confirmed by a majority vote of the city council.
C. Two commissioners shall be designated at-large members and shall be selected by the city council as a body from a pool of nominees. At-large members may be nominated by any member of the city council and confirmed by a majority vote prior to the first meeting of the council in February 2022. The term of the at-large commissioners will be terms of four years. [Ord. 2-2024 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2-2022 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 22-2021 § 3 (Exh. A)].
2.30.040 Qualifications.
Minimum qualifications for the position of planning commissioner are as follows:
A. Must be at least 18 years of age.
B. Shall not be an elected or appointed official of another public entity whose jurisdiction includes any part of the city.
C. Shall reside within the incorporated boundaries of the city of Rancho Cordova.
D. Professional experience in a field closely related to development such as land use or environmental planner, surveyor or engineer, designer, architect, building contractor or other closely related professions is desired for the two at-large members. [Ord. 2-2024 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2-2022 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 22-2021 § 3 (Exh. A)].
2.30.050 Removal from office.
A planning commissioner may be removed from office by the city council without cause, notice or hearing. [Ord. 2-2024 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2-2022 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 22-2021 § 3 (Exh. A)].
2.30.060 Vacancies.
Vacancies which occur within the commission shall be filled for the unexpired portions of the terms pursuant to RCMC 2.30.030. [Ord. 2-2024 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2-2022 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 22-2021 § 3 (Exh. A)].
2.30.070 Duties and functions of the planning commission.
The planning commission shall have the duties and functions as specified below.
A. Serve as the approval authority as specified in Chapter 23.104 RCMC;
B. Promote public interest in, and understanding of, the general plan, specific plans, special planning areas, and regulations relating to such plans;
C. Consider and provide recommendations to the city council on amendments to the general plan, zoning code, specific plans and special planning areas;
D. Consider subdivision matters arising from the Subdivision Map Act and this code;
E. Consider appeals of the community development director;
F. Perform other powers and duties as directed by the city council. [Ord. 2-2024 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2-2022 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 22-2021 § 3 (Exh. A)].
2.30.080 Rules.
The planning commission shall adopt, subject to city council approval, rules of procedure which shall govern the conduct of hearings and other business of the commission. Copies of the rules shall be published and shall be available with the city clerk’s office. [Ord. 2-2024 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2-2022 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 22-2021 § 3 (Exh. A)].
2.30.090 Organization.
At the initial meeting of the commission, and annually thereafter at the first meeting of the calendar year for the commission, the members of the commission shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson and shall determine the time, place, and frequency of regular meetings. [Ord. 2-2024 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2-2022 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 22-2021 § 3 (Exh. A)].
2.30.100 Meetings.
The planning commission shall meet at least twice a month at a regularly scheduled time and date, and at other such times as the chairperson deems necessary to perform the duties of the commission. [Ord. 2-2024 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2-2022 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 22-2021 § 3 (Exh. A)].
2.30.110 Voting.
Four members of the seven-member planning commission shall constitute a quorum, and a quorum is required for the commission to take action on any item on its agenda. [Ord. 2-2024 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2-2022 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 22-2021 § 3 (Exh. A)].
2.30.120 Compensation.
A. Each member of the planning commission shall receive compensation for services as follows: Each member of the commission shall receive $75.00 compensation for each planning commission meeting attended, including regularly scheduled or special meetings.
B. The city may, at the discretion of the city manager, approve payment to a member for necessary and actual expenses incurred by a member acting in an official capacity as a member of the planning commission. [Ord. 2-2024 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 2-2022 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 22-2021 § 3 (Exh. A)].