2022/10/13 Planning Commission Minutes RoNNexr PAtt
TALI Y()RN\N
Minutes of the Planning Commission Meeting
of the City of Rohnert Park
Thursday, October 13, 2022
6:00 P.M.
130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Lam called the regular meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Chairperson Lam.
3. ROLL CALL
Present: Daniel A. Blanquie, Commissioner
Fanny Lam, Chairperson
Marc Orloff, Commissioner
Absent: Tramaine Austin-Dillon, Commissioner
Charles Striplen, Vice Chairperson
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR- ADOPTION OF MINUTES
5.1 Approval of the Draft Minutes of the Planning Commission Meeting of August 11, 2022
ACTION: Moved/seconded (Orloff/Blanquie) to adopt Minutes of the Planning Commission
Meeting of August 11, 2022.
Motion carried by the following(3-0-2) roll call vote: AYES: Blanquie, Orloff, and Lam;
NOES: None; ABSENT: Austin-Dillion and Striplen; ABSTAIN: None.
6. AGENDA ITEMS
6.1 STUDY SESSION—Municipal Code Amendment—Outdoor Dining Areas—Discussion and
Direction
Jeffrey Beiswenger, Planning Manager, reported that staff would like to continue this item to the
October 27, 2022 meeting.
ACTION: Moved/seconded(Blanquie/Orloff)to continue this item to the October 27, 2022
meeting.
Motion carried by the following unanimous (3-0-2) roll call vote: AYES: Blanqie, Orloff, and
Lam; NOES: None; ABSTAIN: None; ABSENT: Austin-Dillon and Striplen
6.2 STUDY SESSION—Municipal Code Amendment—Signs—Discussion and Direction
Jeffrey Beiswenger, Planning Manager provided a power point presentation on proposed
amendments to the sign code. Mr. Beiswenger indicated that the current sign code is serving the
city well; however strategic updates are needed to address recent supreme court cases and the
desire of the Council to look into more flexibility for businesses as a post COVID response.
Key topics of discussion included: prohibited signs, exempt signs, temporary signs, building
signs, freestanding signs.
The Commission participated in the discussion and offered the following comments:
• Support limited changes to temporary sign regulations to support businesses, while avoid
visual clutter.
• Look at directional signage as a way to provide more visibility.
• Carefully consider banner regulations to comply with Supreme Court decision on content
neutrally. Avoid rules that allow too many banners with commercial messages.
• Support changes that allow for more creative signs.
ACTION: Staff received comments and direction from the Planning Commission.
6.3 Appointment of Planning Commission Member to City Subdivision Review Committee
Jeffrey Beiswenger, Planning Manager, presented the item. Section 16.04.460 of the Rohnert
Park Municipal Code establishes the City's Subdivision Review Committee as "a committee of
the city consisting of the director [of the development services department] or his/her designee,
the city engineer or his/her designee and one planning commissioner designated by the planning
commission." Staff is requesting that the Commission designate a member to sit on the
Subdivision Review Committee at this time.
ACTION: Moved/seconded (Blanquie/Lam) nominating Mark Orloff as the Planning
Commission representative to the Subdivision Review Committee.
Motion carried by the following unanimous (3-0-2) roll call vote: AYES: Blanqie, Orloff, and
Lam; NOES: None; ABSTAIN: None; ABSENT: Austin-Dillon and Striplen
7. ITEMS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION
ITEMS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICE STAFF
9. ADJOURNMENT
airperson Lam ed the regular meeting at 7:06.
C airp rson Recording Secretary