Item Coversheet

Agenda Item No: 13.






AGENDA REPORT

DATE:

April 20, 2021 

TO:

Mayor and City Council

FROM:

Stefan T. Chatwin, City Manager


SUBJECT:Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance 2021-06 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Amending Article V of Chapter 2 of the Fairfield Municipal Code to Establish an Attendance Standard for the Planning Commission

RECOMMENDED ACTION 
Provide second reading and adopt Ordinance 2021-06
STATEMENT OF ISSUE 
The City Council considered establishing an attendance standard for the Planning Commission. The proposed ordinance would establish the attendance standard.
DISCUSSION

At the City Council meeting of March 16, 2021, the City Council discussed an ordinance addressing the length of Planning Commissioners’ terms and setting for Commissioners an attendance requirement. Councilmembers concluded that they did not wish to change the length of Planning Commissioners’ terms but wanted to establish an attendance standard. Currently, the Municipal Code establishes no requirement. Per Council direction, the Proposed Ordinance sets a standard allowing the removal of Planning Commissioners if they miss three consecutive regularly-scheduled meetings or five regular meetings in a 12-month period without being excused and prescribes removal by the City Council.

The proposed attendance standard includes a provision to allow absences due to family or medical emergency. This language is consistent with language in place for the Youth Commission, as described to the City Council by the Deputy City Clerk at the March 16, 2021, Council meeting.

The proposed ordinance adds a new section 2.24.1 to Municipal Code Chapter 2, Article V (Planning Commission), and reads:

 

2.24.1 Failure to attend meetings.

Any Planning Commissioner who fails to attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings or five (5) regular meetings in any twelve-month period, without consent of the Planning Commission, will be subject to removal by the City Council. Absences due to medical or family emergency shall be exempt from this Section, pending a review and approval by the Planning Commission.


FINANCIAL IMPACT
There are no financial impacts to the City.
PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION 
A notice was published in the Daily Republic newspaper on March 5, 2021, and the City Council took testimony on March 16, 2021.

No advisory body has reviewed or provided input on the proposed ordinance. On June 8, 2016, the Planning Commission discussed recommending that the City Council establish an attendance standard, but voted 3-1 to not do so.

ALTERNATIVE ACTION 
The City Council may choose to not adopt the Ordinance, adopt portions of the ordinance, or direct that staff return with revisions to the ordinance.
STAFF CONTACT 
David Feinstein, Planning Division Manager
(707) 428-7448
dfeinstein@fairfield.ca.gov

COORDINATED WITH 

ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Proposed Ordinance
REVIEWERS:
ReviewerActionDate
Feinstein, DavidApproved4/5/2021 - 9:57 PM
Gassaway, DavidApproved4/12/2021 - 11:15 AM
Alexander, AmberApproved4/12/2021 - 11:52 AM
Alexander, AmberApproved4/12/2021 - 1:58 PM