Title
Planning Board Rules and Procedures. Approve Revisions to the Planning Board Rules and Procedures to Improve the Public Hearing Process. A change to the Rules and Procedures is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act.
Body
BACKGROUND
The Planning Board Rules and Procedures are periodically amended by the Planning Board to improve the Planning Board’s ability to carry out its role and responsibilities under the City of Alameda Charter and City of Alameda Municipal Code.
Over the last few years, given the increase in development activity in Alameda it is often difficult for the Planning Board to conduct its business, including holding public hearings and rendering decisions, on more than one or two applications without extending the meeting beyond 11:00 p.m.
From staff’s perspective, this is a problem for several reasons. Applicants and members of the public often work very hard to prepare for these meetings, and they can become frustrated with the City if their application or their opportunity to speak gets continued for two weeks or more, because the Planning Board was unable to address their application before 11:00 pm. Neither applicants, nor members of the public, appreciate sitting in the council chambers for several hours waiting for their application to be heard. Sometimes members of the public leave and do not participate in the public hearing due to the late hour.
ANALYSIS
On October 26, 2015, the Planning Board conducted a review of the Rules and Procedures. Based upon that discussion, the Assistant City Attorney prepared a series of revisions to the Planning Board’s Rules and Procedures. The revisions are shown in the draft resolution for Planning Board consideration. (Exhibit 1) The proposed revisions are designed to:
• Improve the Planning Board’s ability to effectively and efficiently conduct multiple public hearings within a reasonable amount of time, while still preserving ample opportunities for public comment at each hearing.
• Update the rules and procedures to reflect existing City and State requirements related to open government and transparency in public decision making.
• Eliminate outdated or unnecessary rules and procedures related to staff operations and procedures, which are governed by other City or State regulations.
Staff believes that these three changes will improve the public hearing process, enable the Planning Board to make decisions on individual applications earlier in the evening, and reduce waiting time for members of the public who choose to come to Planning Board meetings to participate in the public decision making process.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
A change to the Rules and Procedures is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act. No further review is required.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution amending the Planning Board Rules and Procedures.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Thomas,
Assistant Community Development Director
Exhibit:
1. Draft Resolution