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Commission names chair, Commissioner Mead to zoning code steering committee; debate over representation and Brown Act limits
Summary
The Planning Commission appointed two members to the steering committee for the citywide development (zoning) code update and debated how to include additional commissioners without creating Brown Act issues.
The Planning Commission voted to appoint Chair Malecoff and Commissioner Mead to serve on the steering committee for Cathedral City's development-code update, a multi-month effort to rewrite the zoning code. The motion was moved by Vice Chair Daniel Lee and seconded by Commissioner Mead; the record shows the motion passed with a 4–1 tally.
Associate Planner Cynthia Schultz outlined the proposed steering committee's role as a policy-level advisory group that would meet six times (initial in-person meeting followed by five virtual sessions). Staff said the steering committee will be complemented by a technical advisory group composed of city staff to review draft code modules, such as land use, design and administration. Schultz said community engagement will include workshops, walking tours and public open houses; staff identified planned March walking tours and a Feb. 26 public workshop as early engagement opportunities.
Commissioners debated how to allocate two seats from the planning commission given several volunteers. Several commissioners with prior experience volunteering on the consultant selection process described their qualifications. Commissioners and staff discussed Brown Act constraints: staff cautioned that selecting multiple commissioners could create a risk of serial communications and clarified that the steering committee and technical advisory groups are internal bodies with differing roles and meeting schedules. The commission majority endorsed appointing the chair and Commissioner Mead; commissioners asked that the steering-committee designees provide regular reports back to the full commission so other members can offer input.
Schultz and staff said the steering committee will include city-council representation, an architectural-review-committee member, potential business and Agua Caliente Tribal appointees and staff from economic development and public works. The commission requested a regular agenda item to receive updates on the zoning-code project.
