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Home My WebLink AboutOrd2012-001 Sponsored by: Planning and Zoning Commission introduction Date: January 9, 2012 Public Hearing Date: January 23, 2012 Enactment Date: January 23, 2012 low CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2012 -001 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, AMENDING SEWARD CITY CODE 2.30.220 AND 2.30.221 (a) AND (c) TO CHANGE THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING START TIMES TO 7:00 P.M. AND SET ADJOURNMENT NO LATER THAN 10:30 P.M. AND FURTHER CLARIFY THE MEETING ADJOURNMENT REQUIREMENTS WHEREAS, the Commission wishes to have the Planning and Zoning meeting times changed so as to be consistent with the times of the City Council meeting and familiar to the public; and WHEREAS, at the November 15, 2011 Planning and Zoning meeting the Commission discussed and requested staff bring forward an ordinance for Council consideration amending the Seward City Code to change the Commission meeting time requirements by 30 minutes; and WHEREAS, sections 2.30.220(a) Meetings and quorum; 2.30.221.(a) & (c) Meetings time restrictions, of the Seward City Code need to be amended to reflect this change; and WHEREAS, upon enactment of this ordinance, section 2.30.221(a) is amended to further "` clarify the meeting adjournment requirements of the city; and WHEREAS, in addition to amending the Seward City Code, the Planning and Zoning Rules of Procedure will need to be amended by resolution following the enactment of this ordinance to implement this request; and WHEREAS, at the December 6, 2011 meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing and recommended City Council approval of the proposed City Code amendments. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF SEWARD ORDAINS that: Section 1. Seward City Code is hereby amended to read as follows: (Strikethr s = deletions and are bold; Underline = additions and are bold Italic) U« Chapter 2.30. Boards and Commissions 2.30.220. Meetings and quorum (a) The Seward Planning and Zoning Commission shall meet at 7:30 7:00 p.m. in the City Council chambers on the first Tuesday of each month. Special meetings may be held at the call of the chairman or the city manager, and at such other times as the commission may determine. [the remainder of SCC2.30.220 remains unchanged] CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2012 -001 2.30.221 Meetings — Time restrictions j (a) The Commission shall take no official action or address any other items on the agenda after x-1:00 10:30 p.m. The time for conclusion of business and adjournment is mandatory. In the event the Commission's business has not been completed by the time set herein, the Commission may adjeufn recess the meeting to another day, call a special meeting to complete the agenda and adjourn, or adjourn. (b) [remains unchanged] (c) The Commission shall not adjourn prior to 11:00 10:30 p.m. unless all presentations and comments by members of the general public have been heard. Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect ten (10) days following enactment. ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, this 23 day of January 2012. THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA awl DaSM Seaward, or AYES: Valdatta, Bardarson, Keil, Shafer, Casagranda, Terry, Seaward NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ATTEST: ,A _ J I hanna Kinney, CMC •ity Clerk (City Seal) 41. imaj City Council Agenda Statement Meeting Date: January 9, 2012 . of Through Jim Hunt, City Manager Ron Long, Assistant City Manager From: Donna Glenz, Planner Agenda Item: Ordinance 2012 - DO$ amending Seward City Code 2.30.220 and 2.30.221 (a) and (c) to start Planning and Zoning meetings at 7:00 p.m. and set adjournment no later than 10:30 p.m. and to better clarify the adjournment requirements of the City Code. BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION: In April of 2008 the City Council amended Title 2 of the Seward City Code changing the start and adjournment times of the City Council meetings by 30 minutes. Council also better clarified the City's adjournment rules. At that time the Planning and Zoning Commission chose not to amend the Commissions portion of the City Code addressing meeting times due to a possible conflict for one of the Commissioners. This Commissioner is no longer able to serve on the Commission and has resigned the position. The Commission now wishes to change the meeting times to be consistent with the times of the City Council meeting which will better serve the familiarity of the public. While amending these sections of the code, staff is requesting the same amendment Council approved clarifying the adjournment rules. In the past there has been some debate that the Commission cannot take action past the adjournment time, but could still allow citizen and commission comments when in fact the body must adjourn the meetings by the required time and is not permitted to address any other agenda items. Therefore staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend the following changes to the code (Strikethroughs = deletions and are bold; Underline = additions and are bold Italic) Chapter 2.30. Boards and Commissions 2.30.220. Meetings and quorum (a) The Seward Planning and Zoning Commission shall meet at 7:30 7:00 p.m. in the City Council chambers on the first Tuesday of each month. Special meetings may be held at the call of the chairs or the city manager, and at such other times as the Commission may determine. [the remainder of SCC2.30.220 remains unchanged] 2.30.221 Meetings — Time restrictions (a) The Commission shall take no official action or address any other items on the Seward City Council Agenda Statement — Ordinance 2012- oO\ Page 2 of 3 agenda after 44410 10:30 p.m. The time for conclusion of business and adjournment is mandatory. In the event the Commission's business has not been completed by the time set herein, the Commission may adjourn the meeting to another day, call a special meeting to complete the agenda and adjourn, or adjourn. (b) [remains unchanged] (c) The Commission shall not adjourn prior to 1-00 10:30 p.m. unless all presentations and comments by members of the general public have been heard. CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST: Where applicable, this agenda statement is consistent with the Seward City Code, Charter, Comprehensive Plans, Land Use Plans, Strategic Plan and City Council Rules of Procedures or Other Plans or Policies: Yes No Comprehensive Plan (2020) X 3.7.3 Continue to improve the quality and efficiency of city govermnental services. Bullet 1 Continue to review and update of the Seward City Code. (page 27) Planning and Zoning Rules of Procedure: P &Z Rules of Procedure will need to be amended by resolution following the enactment of this ordinance to implement this request. INTENT: Amend the Seward City Code 2.30.220 and 2.30.221 (a) and (c) to start the Planning and Zoning meetings at 7:00 p.m. and set adjournment no later than 10:30 p.m. and to better clarify the adjournment requirements of the City Code. FISCAL NOTE: None Approved by Finance Department: *9144 1444 ATTORNEY REVIEW: Yes: X No: PUBLIC COMMENT: At the time of this publication the Community Development Department and City Clerk's Office have received no public comment. Seward City Council Agenda Statement — Ordinance 2012- ( \ Page 3 of 3 P & Z ACTION: At the December 6, 2011 Planning and Zoning meeting the Commission approved Resolution 2011 -15, recommending the City Council adopt the attached Ordinance to start planning and zoning meetings at 7:00 p.m. and set adjournment no later than 10:30 p.m. and to better clarify the adjournment requirements of the City Code. RECOMMENDATION: Council introduces Ordinance 2012- 00\ , on January 9, 2012 and conducts a public hearing and adopts Ordinance 2012 - (P\ on January 23, 2012, amending sections of SCC 2.30.220 and 2.30.221 (a) and (c) to start Planning and Zoning meetings at 7:00 p.m. and set adjournment no later than 10:30 p.m. and to better clarify the adjournment requirements of the City Code.