ITEM TITLE:
Approval of Amended Planning & Zoning Commission Procedures
SUBMITTED BY: Kate Huber, Planning Director
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve amended Planning & Zoning Commission Procedures
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
At the January 11, 2020 regular meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission, Commissioner Haase requested that staff bring back changes to the commission procedures that would allow for a public hearing and decision/approval to occur during the same meeting.
Staff has prepared that change to the procedure document. In the event that questions or concerns are brought forward by the public during a hearing, or in any case that the commissioners do not believe they have sufficient information to make a decision, the commission may vote to postpone a decision to the next meeting.
Upon further review of the Planning & Zoning Commission Procedures, the City Clerk and Planning Director decided to submit additional language to allow the procedures to align with the policies of the City Council.
Additionally, given the current situation in Valdez, as we respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic, on March 20, 2020, the Valdez City Council passed an emergency amendment to the City Council Procedures to allow for telephonic participation and voting by the City Council and Planning & Zoning Commission when physical attendance poses a risk to health and human safety, as determined by the mayor. An amendment has been included in this update to reflect that change.