Consider Change of Regular Meeting Day to Third Monday of Each Month

As the Board will recall, at the January meeting Staff raised the question of potentially shifting the regular meeting date of the Environmental Policy Board (EPB) from the first Monday of each month to the third Monday of each month.  There was general consensus amongst the Board that changing the regularly scheduled meeting day to the third Monday of each month was acceptable as long as that change didn't impact the EPB's opportunity to have more involvement with review of certain land use applications.

In reviewing the development review timeline, shifting the regular monthly meeting to the third Monday will actually improve that process.  As part of the discussion regarding the EPB's purpose and function, which included active participation in the review of certain land use applications, the Board and City Staff were in agreement that the EPB review should occur prior to the Planning Commission meeting.  This would ensure that any comments or recommendations of the EPB were available prior to any public hearing, typically held by the Planning Commission.  Currently, there are some months in which the Planning Commission meeting, which is held on the first Thursday of each month, occurs prior to the EPB meeting, which could impact the City's ability to maintain compliance with the sixty (60) day rule established in state statute.  Changing the meeting date to the third Monday of the month will ensure that the EPB's review would occur prior to the Planning Commission but would still fall within the existing development review framework and timeframe.

Motion to officially change the regular meeting day of the Environmental Policy Board to the third Monday of each month beginning in April, 2015.