HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-10 City Council (6)City of
C ty Manager’s Repor
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
ATTENTION: POLICY AND SERVICES COMMITTEE
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
DATE:FEBRUARY 10, 2003
SUBJECT:PROPOSED POLICY REGARDING
CONTINUANCES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
CMR:163:03
REQUESTS FOR
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Policy and Services Committee review the proposed policy on
requests for continuances of development application hearings and recommend its
adoption by the City Council.
BACKGROUND
Continuances, whether requested by the applicant or the project opponents, have been
granted on an ad hoc basis. Many times unforeseen circumstances result in requests for
continuances being made at the last minute and after public notices have akeady
occurred. Stakeholders can only find that an item has been continued at the evening
meeting. On October 15, 2002, the City Council referred to the Policy and Services
Cotrmaittee the development of a policy to address this concern.
DISCUSSION
A consistent and equitable policy regarding continuances can serve to minimize
continuances and increase the public’s participation in the hearing process. Therefore,
staff recotmr~ends that the Policy and Services Con-~nittee consider the following
language:
"Requests for continuances, whether made by applicants, project
proponents, project opponents, or appellants, shall be considered by
reviewing bodies such as the Historic Resources Board, Architectural
Review Board, Planning and Transportation Commission or City Council.
Because unforeseen circumstances may prevent one or more parties from
participating in the proceeding, initial requests from any interested party
shatl be generally acceptable. After one initial request, no further
CMR:163:03 Page 1 of 2
consideration of requests for continuance will be considered from any
interested party unless extreme, extraordinary conditions are present in the
determination of the reviewing body. In short, one continuance from either
the project proponent or opponent will be considered."
DEPARTMENT HEAD: .
~ TE~’I~ E~SLIE
Director of Planning and Community Environment
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
HARRISON
Assistant City Manager
CMR: 163:03 Page 2 of 2