TO: HONORABLE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING
COMMISSION
FROM: Carl Stiehl, City Planner
PREPARED BY: Carl Stiehl, City Planner
SUBJECT:
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Planning Commission Training and Workshop on Commission Functions, the Public Process, Public Record Act Requests, Ethics, the Brown Act and State law.
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RECOMMENDATION
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Receive a workshop presentation by staff regarding a general overview of the Planning Commission functions related to the public process, Public Record Act Requests (PRARs), Ethics, the Brown Act and State law. Have a discussion regarding these topics, provide comments and/or ask questions of staff, and then allow for the public to provide comments or ask questions.
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BACKGROUND
The purpose of the workshop is to provide the Planning Commission with training in a workshop format on the functions of the Commission, the project review process, PRARs, and how they can affect the public perception of a project, and the context of State law related to ethics, the Brown Act and the myriad of laws applicable to the public review process. It is beneficial to the members of the Commission to have regular training on matters pertaining to the public process, public meetings, and being a planning commissioner in California. For example, it’s helpful to regularly update the members of the Commission on existing and recently adopted State laws and how they can affect projects and the public review process. The staff has brought forward many different projects ranging from automotive uses to various types of new housing in recent years, which are in need of consistent consideration and review by the Commission. With more projects and items coming in the next few years, additional background in advance should be helpful in streamlining the Commission’s review and consideration of these items as they come forward for implementation. For a comprehensive review of these topics, the link provided below may be utilized to find additional details on topics that staff will be covering. The League of California Cities provides many resources, not just at the annual Planning Commissioner’s Conference, which are helpful and can be utilized by the Commission at any time for more clarity on these topics.
References on these topics can be found on the League of California Cities’ website (search public records requests, Legislative Report, Ethics or Brown Act): <https://www.calcities.org/home/resources>
ATTACHMENTS
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