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Rules and By-Laws of the Page 1 of 5
South San Francisco Planning Commission July 15, 1999
RULES AND BY-LAWS
of the
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING COMMISSION
ARTICLE I
NAME
Section 1.
The name of this Commission shall be the South San Francisco Planning Commission.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE OF RULES AND BY-LAWS
Section 1.
The City Council of the City of South San Francisco created the Planning Commission
and granted to it responsibilities in the area of land use and planning. These Rules and By-Laws
are intended to assist the Planning Commission in performing its responsibilities and conducting
its meetings. They are meant to be used by the Commission. They are not intended to and do
not create any rights enforceable by applicants for development projects, other agencies or
members of the public. If there is ever a conflict between these By-Laws and the South San
Francisco Municipal Code, the Code shall control.
ARTICLE III
DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION
Section 1. General Plan
The Planning Commission shall review, evaluate, and recommend for adoption a
comprehensive, long range, general plan for the physical growth and development of the City of
South San Francisco and environs.
Section 2. Specific Plans
The Planning Commission shall review, evaluate, and recommend for adoption specific
plans designed to effectuate and implement the General Plan.
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South San Francisco Planning Commission July 15, 1999
Section 3. General Duties
The Planning Commission is the planning agency for the City of South San Francisco.
The Planning Commission shall perform all of those duties related to planning and land use
which have been deligated to it by the City Council. These duties are set out in Title 19
(subdivisions) and Title 20 (zoning) of the South San Francisco Municpal Code, and include
making decisions on use permits, making recommendations on zoning amendments and
participating in the CEQA compliance process.
ARTICLE IV
COMMISSION OFFICERS AND DUTIES THEREOF
Section 1. Officers
The officers of the Planning Commission shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-
Chairperson, (Chairperson Pro Tem), a Secretary and a Secretary Pro Tem.
Section 2. Selection
The offices of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be elective and persons so elected
shall serve for a term of one year.
On the first Thursday of January of each year, the Commission shall elect a Chairperson,
Vice-Chairperson, and appoint a Secretary and Secretary Pro Tem.
The office of Secretary shall be held by the Director of Community and Economic
Development, City of South San Francisco.
Section 3. Duties
The duties of the officers of the Planning Commission shall be as follows: It shall be the
duty of the Chairperson to preside over all meetings of the Planning Commission and to appoint
committees. The Chairperson shall represent the Planning Commission at meetings and
conferences.
It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chairperson to assist the Chairperson in the execution of
his/her office and to act in his/her stead during his/her absence from conferences or meetings.
It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of all meetings of the Planning
Commission. Said record to be prepared for inclusion in the agenda packet for the next meeting.
Rules and By-Laws of the Page 3 of 5
South San Francisco Planning Commission July 15, 1999
ARTICLE V
THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Section 1.
The Director shall be appointed by the City Manager. The Director shall function as a
chief planning officer of the City of South San Francisco and technical advisor to the Planning
Commission.
ARTICLE VI
QUORUM
Section 1.
Four (4) members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting routine
business.
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular Meetings
Regular meetings of the Planning Commission shall be held on the first and third
Thursdays of each and every month in the Municipal Services Building, 33 Arroyo Drive, unless
otherwise designated or canceled by the Chairperson at a prior meeting. Said meetings shall be
held at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise designated by the Chairperson at a prior meeting. Regular
meetings may adjourn and reconvene at any specified time and place upon a majority vote of the
Commission.
Section 2. Special Meetings
Special meetings may be held upon at least twenty-four (24) hours notice to each member
of the Commission, said meetings to be held at such times and places as ordered by the
Chairperson. Said notice shall state the purpose for such special meetings.
ARTICLE VIII
AGENDA
Section 1. Preparation and Distribution
Five o’clock P.M. as shown in the approved Planning Commission Meeting Schedule is
the deadline for the receipt of items to be included in the agenda for each regular meeting. The
Rules and By-Laws of the Page 4 of 5
South San Francisco Planning Commission July 15, 1999
agenda shall be distributed to members of the Commission four days prior to the meeting days.
Section 2. Consent Calendar
A Consent Calendar for approval of routine items may be used, including but not limited
to adoption of the minutes, designation of dates for various matters to be heard, time extension
requests, and Final Parcel Maps. The Commission shall adopt the Consent Calendar by a
majority vote.
Section 3. Contents
The agenda shall show the Order of Business of each regular meeting, as follows:
a. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance
b. Roll Call/Chairperson Comments
c. Agenda Review
d. Oral Communications
e. Consent Calendar
f. Public Hearing Items
g. Items from Staff
h. Items from Commission
i. Items from Public
j. Adjournment
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 1.
These By-Laws may be amended, revised or repealed at any regular meeting of the
Planning Commission by a vote of a majority of a quorum.
ARTICLE X
RULES OF CONDUCT
Section 1. Commissioners
All meetings of the Commission shall be public meetings, and shall be conducted in
accordance with parliamentary law and Robert’s Rules of Order.
Commissioners are discouraged from suggesting any change to any project to the
applicant or staff, before the project is considered by the Commission as a whole.
When speaking to the press, Commissioners should be very specific in stating that they
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South San Francisco Planning Commission July 15, 1999
are speaking for themselves only and not for the Commission. The Chair shall be the
spokesperson for the decisions of the Commission as a whole.
Commissioners should maintain a professional demeanor during public meetings at all
times. Commissioners should be careful to ensure decorum and to show respect to fellow
Commissioners, City Staff and the Public.
Commissioner comments during meetings should be clear and concise in order to keep
the discussion focused on the agenda item and the major policy issues involved. Commissioners
should avoid focusing on insignificant or secondary matters that can be addressed with staff
before or after the meeting.
Commissioners should raise potential agenda items, concerns and relevant issues for Staff
at Commission meetings, not individually to Staff.
Section 2. Applicants
Applicants and their representatives shall be limited to a total maximum time limit of
twenty minutes for presentation and explanation of any project. Non-applicants shall be limited
to five minutes per speaker. Questions by Commissioners to any applicant or non-applicant may
be answered using additional time exceeding the above-stated limits.
The foregoing By-Laws were adopted by a majority vote of THE SOUTH SAN
FRANCISCO PLANNING COMMISSION this 2nd day of December , 1999.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING COMMISSION
By: /s/ Judith Honan
Chairperson
By: /s/ Thomas C. Sparks
Secretary
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