DATE: June 20, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Andreas Borgeas, Supervisor District 2
SUBJECT: Passage of Amendment to Residency Requirement for Planning Commissioners and Appointment of Commissioner Peterangelo Vallis
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Conduct second hearing and adopt ordinance amending the Fresno County Ordinance Code, Title 2, Chapter 2.48, by amending Section 2.48.020, relating to residency requirements for Planning Commissioners, and waive the reading of the ordinance in its entirety.
2. Make a finding that the appointment of Peterangelo Vallis, resident of Supervisorial District 2, would serve the interests of the residents of Fresno County and appoint Mr. Vallis to at large seat on Planning Commission, effective July 21, 2017, with term of office expiring on January 6, 2020.
REPORT
The proposed amendment to the residency requirements for Planning Commissioners would permit the Board to appoint up to three members who reside in a single Supervisorial District where the Board finds that doing so would be in the interests of the residents of Fresno County. The second recommended action would make the finding required by the Ordinance and appoint Mr. Vallis to the Planning Commission.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, residency requirements for Planning Commissioners will remain unchanged.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action.
DISCUSSION:
The Fresno County Planning Commission is comprised of nine members. (Fresno County Charter, § 18; Ord. Code, § 2.48.010.A. Each member’s term is four (4) years. (Ord. Code, § 2.48.010.A.) The Ordinance Code requires that each Supervisor nominate one person who resides in the Supervisor’s district to serve on the Commission, with the appointment of such person subject to confirmation by a majority of the Board (hereafter “District Member(s)”). (Ord. Code, § 2.48.010.A.) A District Member must reside in the Supervisorial District from which he or she was nominated for his or her entire term. The remaining four members of the Commission are appointed “at large”, meaning that nominating Supervisor need not reside in the same Supervisorial District as the nominee (hereafter, “At Large Member(s)”).
However, currently, no more than two members of the Planning Commission may reside in a single Supervisorial District. (Ord. Code, § 2.48.020.) While the goal of geographical diversity is appropriate, this limitation can restrict the Board’s ability to appoint qualified persons to the Planning Commission and may present potential challenges if those on the Planning Commission relocate their residence to another district.
The Proposed Ordinance addresses this problem by (A) as a general rule, maintaining the limit of two members of the Planning Commission from any single Supervisorial District, but (B) in limited circumstances, permitting the Board to appoint up to three (3) members of the Planning Commission who reside in the same District, where the Board determines that doing so would be in the interest of Fresno County. It is submitted that the Proposed Ordinance strikes the appropriate balance between ensuring geographical diversity of the membership of the Planning Commission, and ensuring that the Board can appoint qualified individuals to seats on the Commission when they become available.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #6, June 6, 2017
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Ordinance
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander