Meeting Procedure

Quorum

A quorum is the number of Commissioners who must be present to legally conduct business. Four or more members of the Commission constitute a quorum. A majority vote of the total membership (i.e., a vote of four members) shall be required to transact business; no act of the Commission shall otherwise be valid or binding. On a tie vote, the motion fails. When an alternate member replaces a regular member, he or she is considered a regular voting member.

Public Participation

All meetings of the Commission and its standing committees shall be open to the public. Property owners, registered voters, interested parties and members of the public are encouraged to attend Commission meetings and state their views.

1. Any interested persons may address the Commission on any matter not on the agenda during the time allotted on the agenda for "General Public Comment."
2. The Chair will announce the opportunity for public comment during public hearings on items on the Commission’s agenda.
3. The Commission will hear and consider all oral or written comments presented by any affected agency or any interested person on any agenda item.
4. The Commission Chair may regulate the order of such presentations and may direct the focus of public comment for any given proposal.
5. Comments of approximately three minutes per speaker are generally allowed. The Chair has full discretion and authority to impose time limits or grant additional time to any speaker. When the Commission considers a proposal, the Chair may allow more time to an applicant and/or his or her representative or proponent and/or to an organized opposition group.
6. Persons wishing to speak to the Commission should approach the Commission and, upon being recognized by the Chair, are asked to state their names and addresses for the record.
7. Only those issues that are brought up at the public hearing or in written correspondence delivered to the Commission at or prior to a meeting may be raised in any legal challenge to actions taken by the Commission. 

Public Hearing

All statements and questions from interested parties shall be directed to the Commission. To expedite proceedings, the Commission may regulate the order of such presentations and limit the time of each party's presentation. However, the Commission shall permit sufficient time to obtain necessary information on which to render its decision.

Vote

In the absence of an objection, the Chair may order the motion unanimously approved by the members present. This rule, however, shall not prohibit any member of the Commission from making a motion if he or she so wishes.

Roll Call Vote

The roll need not be called in voting upon a motion unless ordered by the Chair or requested by a member. When the roll is called on any motion, all members shall vote audibly. The Chair shall be called last, and the vote of each Commissioner shall be recorded.

Calendar

The Commission, in a single action, may act on more than one item at one time if those items are listed on the agenda under the heading "Consent Calendar.”

Upon the request of any Commissioner, however, any item on the Consent Calendar shall be placed on the Regular Calendar. Items meeting the following criteria may be placed on the Consent Calendar:

1. No notice is required under law.
2. The proposal is consistent with applicable general or specific plans.
3. The proposal is submitted with appropriate environmental documentation.
4. The proposal has one or more of the following characteristics:
   1. The reason for the proposal is to obtain services primarily for existing uses.
   The proposal meets the requirements of Government Code Section 56375.3(a), prohibiting Commission denial of proposed annexations of territory substantially surrounded by the annexing city under specific circumstances. The Commission defines "substantially surrounded" territory as territory contiguous to the annexing city on at least 75 percent of its boundaries.
   2. The affected territory is fewer than 10 acres.
   3. Approval of the change of organization or reorganization is expected to result in residential development potential of fewer than 10 single-family units, or if comprised of commercial, industrial, or mixed uses, would potentially utilize sewer capacity of fewer than 10 equivalent single-family dwellings.
   4. The reason for the proposal is to obtain services other than sewer or water service.
   5. The proposal is otherwise not controversial.

Suspension of Order of Business

The order of business may be suspended at the discretion of the Chair, unless a majority of the Commissioners present expresses opposition.

Non-Agenda Items

Non-agenda items shall not be acted upon except as allowed by the Brown Act.

Records of Proceedings

Proceedings of Commission meetings shall be reported in writing and shall be permanently maintained in an appropriate Minutes File, which may be in digital form. A copy of the minutes of the preceding regular meeting and any intervening special meeting shall be mailed or otherwise distributed to each Commissioner along with the agenda. After Commission action, the approved minutes shall constitute the official record of the Commission.