Larkspur City Planning Commission agrees to try one meeting a month and a 6:30 p.m. start

The Larkspur City Planning Commission on Feb. 24 agreed by consensus to reduce its regular meeting schedule to one meeting per month and to try a 6:30 p.m. start time on a trial basis.

Staff framed the proposal as an administrative efficiency measure: consolidating items reduces the need to post cancellation notices and is easier for staff and the team that televises meetings. Staff also noted there is no municipal code provision mandating the commission’s meeting frequency or start time; the change would therefore be administrative and reversible.

Commissioners discussed trade-offs. Supporters said monthly meetings would save staff time and reduce cancellations; several commissioners warned that meeting once a month could produce longer single-night agendas and asked staff to manage item scheduling to avoid late-night sessions. One commissioner said a 7:00 p.m. start better accommodates childcare and commutes, while others said a monthly cadence would make a 6:30 p.m. start workable.

The commission expressed general consent to proceed: commissioners agreed to the one-meeting-per-month schedule and to trial the earlier start time, with the understanding the schedule could be revisited. Staff said it would circulate Outlook calendar invites, update the city website and public notices, and schedule special meetings as needed if agendas grow.

The commission’s administrative consent does not appear to have been adopted through a formal bylaw or ordinance; staff said the change can be implemented informally and adjusted later if it proves impractical.