RulesCommunications Highlights 2009 0526

Home

City Council Rules and Communications Committee May 26, 2009 2 Committee Member Souza commented that she was glad that both bodies agreed with the recommendation. She stated that, in the long term, she would like the City to consider combining the two advisory bodies. Committee Members Stephens stated that he was not in favor of combining the two groups, but expressed support for reducing the number of monthly meetings. Discussion ensued regarding whether there would be a need for a separate body to hear appeals if the Planning Commission and BZA were combined. The Committee concurred with staff's recommendation to retain both the Planning Commission and BZA for the present time, with a reduced meeting schedule for each body, and indicated interest in moving toward a combined body at a later time. Staff will bring forward for Council approval changes to the relevant code sections to reflect the changes to the meeting schedules, and will create a plan for combining the two bodies in the next year or two. Charles Gilcrest, member of the Board of Zoning Adjustments, stated that the BZA supported reducing the number of meetings, as well as using a subcommittee to hear appeals of Code Enforcement violations. BZA members commented that retaining both advisory bodies promoted greater community participation in City decision making. Committee Recommendation: The Committee recommends retaining both the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) for the present time, with a reduced meeting schedule for each body. Staff will work toward implementing a merger of the two bodies in the next 18-24 months. The Committee further recommends scheduling Council consideration of changes to the relevant code sections to reflect the changes to the Planning Commission and BZA meeting schedules. 2. Review of Draft Amendments to Smoking Ordinance Community Relations Representative Kathy Ornelas gave a summary of the Committee's discussion on this subject to date. She provided a draft smoking ordinance, based on direction by the Committee at its last meeting, and requested additional direction from the Committee regarding some of the specific terms of the ordinance. The Committee discussed smoking regulations for multifamily housing. Ms. Ornelas noted that only a few cities have so far adopted such regulations, and she requested direction regarding how to define amulti-unit residence, and whether the regulations should apply only to rental units, or to owner-occupied units as well. The Committee chose to define amulti-unit residence as one with 16 units or more, and to apply the smoking regulations only to rental units. The Committee discussed a landlord's ability to designate smoking areas or buildings.