HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024_10_08 - SpecialMINUTES
Special joint meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission of the City of Redlands held in
the Council Chambers, Civic Center, 35 Cajon Street, on October 8, 2024 at 6:00 P.M.
Present: Eddie Tejeda, Mayor
Paul Barich, Mayor Pro Tempore
Denise Davis, Council Member
Jenna Guzman -Lowery, Council Member
Mario Saucedo, Council Member
Karah Shaw, Planning Chair
Matthew Endsley, Planning Vice Chair
Rosemary Gonzales, Planning Commissioner
Maryn Wells, Planning Commissioner
Marc Shaw, Planning Commissioner
Rich Smith, Planning Commissioner
Absent: Conrad Guzkowski, Planning Commissioner
Staff:
Charles M. Duggan, Jr., City Manager; Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney; Jeanne
Donaldson, City Clerk; Chris Boatman, Assistant City Manager; Brian Desatnik,
Development Services Director
Mayor Tejeda and Chairperson Shaw called the Joint Special Meeting of the City
Council and Planning Commission to order at 6:00 P.M.
The Mayor offered the public an opportunity to provide comment on any subject within the
jurisdiction of either the City Council or the Planning Commission, which was not already
scheduled on this agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None forthcoming
STUDY SESSION WORKSHOP
Land Use Decision -Making and the California Environmental Quality Act
City Attorney Garcia introduced Todd R. Leishman of Best Best & Krieger, who presented
an overview of legal requirements related to land use decision -making and the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Topics reviewed and discussed included:
• The role of Planning Commissioners
• Adjudicative and Deciding Role - To sit as "Judge"; As judge, decisions must be
based on what rules are today, not on what we want them to be (be unbiased)
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• Legislative and Advising Role - To advise the Council and make recommendations;
Legislative changes to the rules can only be accomplished through the legislative
process, not through a project -application approval
• Making Findings - To make decisions based on findings of fact; explain facts; why
met / not met and weigh evidence; be substantive; provide specific examples of
policies that are supported by and are consistent with the project
• Addressing and managing opposition - When findings meet to approve, then must
approve; Use Rule of Law; Respect for facts and evidence; Changing rules is through
the legislative process
• Role in CEQA - To make fact -based findings and recommendations; Rely on
Substantial evidence and relevant information; Substantial Evidence shall include
facts, reasonable assumptions predicated upon facts and expert opinion supported by
facts; Significant effect and threshold of significance were defined; Requirements of
an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Negative Declaration and Mitigated Negative
Declaration; City not allowed to require EIR if no substantial evidence of unanalyzed
impacts
• Considerations before denying - A review of several areas to consider before
denying a project
Throughout the workshop, Mr. Leishman responded to various questions, carried on
meaningful dialogue, and offered specific examples to better clarify the roles of the
Planning Commission and the City Council.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further action required, Planning Chair Shaw and Mayor Tejeda adjourned
the Special Joint City Council and Planning Commission meeting at 7:58 p.m.
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