PREPARED BY: SARAH MAROOF DATE OF MEETING: 5/04/2026
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AMENDING TITLE 2, CHAPTER 2.28, OF THE SAN PABLO MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
CEQA: The proposed amendment is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Waive first reading; introduce Ordinance
Body
Compliance statements
FY 2025-2027 Council Priority Workplan Compliance Statement
Updating the Planning Commission Ordinance to provide for more clearly defined appointment and removal procedures, a staggered term structure, and updated attendance standards and recruitment procedures promotes the City Council Major Policy Goals of: 1) Build A Healthy Community and 2) Expand Housing Options.
CEQA Compliance Statement
The proposed amendment is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment as the Ordinance solely involves text changes to the municipal code and does not authorize any construction activities.
BACKGROUND
Other than a handful of amendments related to changing meeting dates/times (2018, 2012, 2002) and the number of commissioners (1998), Municipal Code Section 2.28, Planning Commission, has remained essentially unchanged for several decades and will benefit from greater specificity in the provisions regarding appointments, removals, coordination and staggering of term expirations, attendance standards, and scheduled recruitment.
The proposed ordinance generally provides and/or confirms the following:
• All commissioners must be 18 years old and residents of the City;
• Commissioners (like Councilmembers) will generally serve staggered 4-year terms with 3 commissioners having terms that expire in the same year, and 2 commissioners having terms that expire 2 years later;
• All commissioners serve without compensation;
• No councilmember, officer, or employee of the City may also simultaneously serve on the Planning Commission;
• The creation of more specific attendance standards to be monitored by the City Clerk, with attendance information to be provided to the City Council for its periodic review;
• Confirmation that commissioners may be removed at any time by majority vote of the City Council; and
• Optional maintenance of an eligibility list for future appointments to the Planning Commission so that the City Council can either appoint from the list or conduct an open recruitment (at its discretion).
FISCAL IMPACT
No substantial fiscal impact is anticipated as a result of this ordinance amendment, and any such minimal impact will be absorbed within the normal operational budgets of any affected departments of the City.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council review and introduce the attached ordinance amending (Title 2) Chapter 2.28 pertaining to the Planning Commission.
ATTACHMENTS
Att A - Proposed City Council Ordinance 2026-###