| Item No. 1. | |
| MEETING DATE: April 26, 2021 |
|
| TO: | PLANNING COMMISSION |
| FROM: | ROY N. RAMSLAND JR., PLANNING MANAGER By: Roy N. Ramsland, Jr., Planning Manager |
| VIA: | ANDREW HO, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
| SUBJECT: | PLANNING COMMISSION REORGANIZATION |
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA):
This action is not subject to CEQA.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Planning Commission approve separate minute motions for the following positions:
A minute motion of the Planning Commission of the City of La Habra appointing Commissioner ____________________as Chair
A minute motion of the Planning Commission of the City of La Habra appointing Commissioner ___________________ as Vice Chair
A minute motion of the Planning Commission of the City of La Habra appointing Commissioner ____________________as Chair
A minute motion of the Planning Commission of the City of La Habra appointing Commissioner ___________________ as Vice Chair
DISCUSSION:
Pursuant to Section 2.24.040(C) of the La Habra Municipal Code, the Planning Commission is to select a Chair and Vice Chair for the coming year, typically at the first regular meeting in April.
Traditionally, the positions of Chair and Vice Chair have been rotated equitably between the members of the Planning Commission. However, there is no Municipal Code or City Council policy that governs this process. The following table shows the Planning Commission appointment history for the past five years.
On April 15, 2019, the Council reappointed Daren Nigsarian and newly appointed Jason Manley, each to 4-year terms. On June 1, 2020, the City Council reappointed Michelle Bernier and appointed Manuel Munoz, each to a 4-year term. On February 1, 2021, the City Council voted to postpone the appointment of any new Commissioners to March 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and asked the existing Commissioners to continue to serve. Commissioner Powell, whose term was set to expire, consented to serve one more year.
The Commission has a couple of options to consider:
Chair - It has been the Commission’s past practice to nominate the Vice Chair to fill the Chair position. In 2020 the Commission appointed Commissioner Nigsarian. Commissioner Fernandez, who was next in the rotation opted not to apply for reappointment to the Commission, and Commissioner Nigsarian was next in the rotation. Under the current rotation Commissioner Manley would be next. The Commission may also choose to deviate from standard/past practice by nominating another Commissioner.
1. Open nominations for the Chair position (the same process is used for the Vice Chair position).
“Nominations are now open for the position of Chair (or Vice Chair)”
2. Nominate a Commissioner.
“I nominate Mr./Ms./Mrs. X.”
3. Second the Nomination (optional but not needed).
4. Nominee to Accept or Decline Nominations. Once a nomination has been made, the nominee should accept or decline the nomination.
“I accept/respectfully decline the nomination.”
5. Call for other Nominations.
“For Chair (or Vice Chair), Mr./Ms./Mrs. X has been nominated. Are there any further nominations for Chair (or Vice Chair)?”
6. Close nominations and vote by roll call or electronically.
“Are there any further nominations for Chair (or Vice Chair)? If not…[pause], nominations are closed.”
Traditionally, the positions of Chair and Vice Chair have been rotated equitably between the members of the Planning Commission. However, there is no Municipal Code or City Council policy that governs this process. The following table shows the Planning Commission appointment history for the past five years.
Recent Appointment History
| Year | Chair | Vice Chair |
|---|---|---|
| 2016-2017 | Jerry Powell | Mark Handler |
| 2017-2018 | Mark Handler | Jerry Powell |
| 2018-2019 | Jerry Powell | Michelle Bernier |
| 2019-2020 | Michelle Bernier | Ray Fernandez |
| 2020-2021 | Darren Nigsarian | Jason Manley |
On April 15, 2019, the Council reappointed Daren Nigsarian and newly appointed Jason Manley, each to 4-year terms. On June 1, 2020, the City Council reappointed Michelle Bernier and appointed Manuel Munoz, each to a 4-year term. On February 1, 2021, the City Council voted to postpone the appointment of any new Commissioners to March 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and asked the existing Commissioners to continue to serve. Commissioner Powell, whose term was set to expire, consented to serve one more year.
The Commission has a couple of options to consider:
Chair - It has been the Commission’s past practice to nominate the Vice Chair to fill the Chair position. In 2020 the Commission appointed Commissioner Nigsarian. Commissioner Fernandez, who was next in the rotation opted not to apply for reappointment to the Commission, and Commissioner Nigsarian was next in the rotation. Under the current rotation Commissioner Manley would be next. The Commission may also choose to deviate from standard/past practice by nominating another Commissioner.
Vice Chair – It has also been the Commission’s past practice to nominate a fellow Commissioner to serve as the Vice Chair with the expectation that the following year this Commissioner would become the Chair. The positions of Chair and Vice Chair have been rotated equitably between the members of the Planning Commission in the past. If Commissioner Manley is appointed as Chair, the next Planning Commissioner up for Vice Chair would be Commissioner Munoz. Again, the Commission may also choose to deviate from standard/past practice by nominating another Commissioner for the Vice Chair position.
It is suggested that the following process be implemented and allow the Director of Community and Economic Development to facilitate the Commission’s nomination through the following process (generally from Robert’s Rules of Order):
It is suggested that the following process be implemented and allow the Director of Community and Economic Development to facilitate the Commission’s nomination through the following process (generally from Robert’s Rules of Order):
1. Open nominations for the Chair position (the same process is used for the Vice Chair position).
“Nominations are now open for the position of Chair (or Vice Chair)”
2. Nominate a Commissioner.
“I nominate Mr./Ms./Mrs. X.”
3. Second the Nomination (optional but not needed).
4. Nominee to Accept or Decline Nominations. Once a nomination has been made, the nominee should accept or decline the nomination.
“I accept/respectfully decline the nomination.”
5. Call for other Nominations.
“For Chair (or Vice Chair), Mr./Ms./Mrs. X has been nominated. Are there any further nominations for Chair (or Vice Chair)?”
6. Close nominations and vote by roll call or electronically.
“Are there any further nominations for Chair (or Vice Chair)? If not…[pause], nominations are closed.”
FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:
This is an administrative action with no fiscal impacts.
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES):
This administrative action is not subject to NPDES requirements.
GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE:
While the Planning Commission reviews projects for conformity to the General Plan, this administrative action does not specifically relate to any of the General Plan Goals or Policies.