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Contract planner gives refresher on CEQA, Brown Act and commissioners’ duties
Summary
Amy Rasek of Harrison Associates led a training for the Willows City Planning Commission reviewing the general plan, zoning, CEQA document types and Brown Act rules, urging commissioners to stay within the ‘four corners’ of project proposals and to contact staff with questions ahead of hearings.
Amy Rasek, contract planner with Harrison Associates, opened a training session for the Willows City Planning Commission on July 7, saying, “the general plan is the blueprint for future development.” She summarized the distinction between the general plan and zoning and described the four main CEQA document types: exemption, checklist/negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration and environmental impact report.
Rasek emphasized procedural obligations for commissioners, including making findings required by the municipal code and staying within the “four corners” of a project’s proposal. She reviewed the Brown Act’s prohibition on polling and the requirement that a quorum (three of five members) be present for formal decisions. “You do have to be objective and leave your personal opinions out of the decision making,” she said, urging commissioners to take trainings and to review staff reports in advance.
