Item 1: Ordinance on Chapter 2 Amendments

Home Browse Search

ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Public Hearing: An Ordinance Concerning the Planning Commission; and Amending Sections 2.013, 2.330, 2.332, 2.335, 2.345, 2.350, and 2.355 of the Eugene Code, 1971 Meeting Date: May 19, 2008 Agenda Item Number: 1 Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Steve Nystrom www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541/682-8385 ISSUE STATEMENT The City Council will hold a public hearing to consider proposed amendments to Chapter 2 regarding the Planning Commission Bylaws. BACKGROUND The Eugene Planning Commission has two sets of provisions that govern their membership, conduct and duties. First, Chapter 2 of the Municipal Code (Sections 2.325 – 2.365) establishes the duties, powers and function of the Planning Commission. Second, the commission has a set of bylaws which they adopted and can modify as needed. These bylaws incorporate many of the provisions set forth in Chapter 2 as well as other more detailed procedural and functional requirements. In January 2007, the Planning Commission reviewed their existing bylaws to determine if any revisions or updates were warranted. The Planning Commission Bylaws were last amended in 1984 and included provisions that the Planning Commission determined were in need of updating. Many of the Planning Commission’s proposed amendments to the bylaws are also included in Chapter 2. Therefore, in order for the Planning Commission to approve changes to their bylaws, Chapter 2 must first be amended by the City Council to address those corresponding provisions. A draft ordinance reflecting these amendments in legislative format is attached. In addition, staff has attached a matrix which provides a description of each proposed amendment and reason for the proposed change. The proposed changes are limited in scope and number and intended to improve the function and operation of the Planning Commission, and provide consistency with other appointed commissions. Perhaps the most notable of the proposed amendments is the elimination of the ex officio membership on the Planning Commission. Currently, the commission is made up of seven voting members (appointed by the City Council) and two non-voting, ex officio members. The ex officio members are appointed by the City Manager and have historically been represented by the Planning and Development Director, Planning Director, or representatives from other divisions or departments. Both the Planning Commission and staff believe that elimination of the ex officio positions is warranted for the following reasons: Assuming the purpose of the ex officio positions is to provide an opportunity of staff input at the ? meetings, staff believes these opportunities already exist; Having staff sit on the Planning Commission, even in a non-voting capacity, is potentially ? awkward, especially when formal land use actions, such as appeals, are being considered by the commission; Y:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080519\S0805191.doc