Planning commission adopts amended rules of procedure

The Murrieta City Planning Commission voted unanimously to adopt an amended set of planning commission Rules of Procedure after a staff presentation and brief commissioner discussion.

The revised resolution, received and accepted by the commission, was the product of staff edits and a brief consolidation of duplicate language. Deputy Department Services Director Jared Romaya gave the presentation and told the commission the revisions are intended to clarify hearing conduct, chair responsibilities and procedural steps tied to state law.

The updated rules reiterate key state requirements, including the Brown Act mandate that meetings be noticed and open to the public and the 72-hour public-agenda posting requirement. Romaya told commissioners that the California Political Reform Act’s conflict-of-interest guidance is reflected in the rules; staff checks a 500-foot and a 1,000-foot radius for potential conflicts and will advise commissioners when proximity to a project may require recusal or other action. Romaya said the rules spell out the order of testimony at public hearings — applicant, proponents, opponents, then rebuttal — and noted applicants should request rebuttal time up front.

Romaya also reviewed public-comment timing and crowd-management options included in the rules: a typical three-minute speaker limit for individuals, a 15-minute allowance for applicants and a 10-minute rebuttal allowance if requested. He said chairs may ask repetitive speakers to narrow their remarks and that the commission can consider shorter time allotments when very large crowds make lengthy testimony impractical.

Carl Steele, the city planner, and Romaya told the commission staff would produce a redline showing the specific edits before the next cycle and that the change is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act. Commissioner discussion focused on practical enforcement of the rules and on preserving public access while maintaining order.

“I purposely included that because I think this town of all cities in the state really understands that, that if you don't listen to every speaker, you probably can't make an informed decision,” Jared Romaya said during his presentation.

The commission’s formal motion read, in part, “Receive and accept the resolution of the amended Planning Commission rules and procedure and find the action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act.” The motion passed on a unanimous roll-call vote, 3–0.

Staff told commissioners they will post a redline version of the rules for review and that the rules will be part of an annual review process.