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8 <br /> 1 ➢ Make a decision at the conclusion of the hearing (this would allow the <br /> 2 process to move more quickly for items that are not particularly <br /> 3 controversial) <br /> 4 • Planning Board quorum not required to hold public hearing <br /> 5 o Planning Board encouraged to attend public hearings <br /> 6 • More opportunities for public comment and earlier in the process <br /> 7 o Comment at both Planning Board meeting and formal public hearing <br /> 8 o Nearby property owners would receive letter about the Planning Board meeting <br /> 9 and signs would be posted on the property <br /> 10 o For quasi-judicial matters, Planning Board meeting could be considered a "dry <br /> 11 run" for the formal public hearing <br /> 12 <br /> 13 BOCC Discussion <br /> 14 • Should existing process be revised? <br /> 15 • If so, how? <br /> 16 o When Planning Board's recommendation occurs <br /> 17 ➢ Before or after public hearing <br /> 18 o Require Planning Board quorum in order to hold public hearing? <br /> 19 o Number of public hearings per year <br /> 20 ➢ Could be different for legislative vs. quasi-judicial <br /> 21 o Closure of public hearings so items would no longer appear on the "Public <br /> 22 Hearing" portion of BOCC agendas with no additional comment accepted <br /> 23 ➢ Removal of requirement for written comments will be necessary OR <br /> 24 change heading on BOCC agendas <br /> 25 <br /> 26 Commissioner Price said is the option of keeping or removing the planning board from <br /> 27 the process at the sole discretion of the BOCC. <br /> 28 John Roberts said the Planning Board can be given any authority that the BOCC sees <br /> 29 fit. He said currently the Planning Board is primarily an advisory board. He said the BOCC <br /> 30 can delegate more or less responsibilities, as it so chooses. He said the BOCC can remove the <br /> 31 Planning Board from the Quarterly Public Hearing process. <br /> 32 Chair McKee asked if the requirement of having the Planning Board members to be <br /> 33 present in a quorum at Quarterly Public Hearings was made during Commissioner Jacobs' <br /> 34 tenure. <br /> 35 Commissioner Jacobs said this decision predates his tenure. He said when he was <br /> 36 Planning Board Chair, 30 years ago, it was a requirement to have a quorum and to make a <br /> 37 recommendation after the Public Hearings. <br /> 38 Commissioner Price referred to the slide titled Differences from Existing Process, asking <br /> 39 if the public would be able to make only oral comments; or would written comments also be <br /> 40 allowed. <br /> 41 Perdita Holtz said for legislative items, residents can make oral and written comments. <br /> 42 She said for legislative items, the State requires that at least one Public Hearing be held. She <br /> 43 said there are no constraints on the public's involvement in such meetings. She said restraints <br /> 44 on the public's involvement only exist in quasi-judicial matters. She said the current Public <br /> 45 Hearing process in Orange County blended the two processes together leaving only one Public <br /> 46 Hearing for both legislative and quasi-judicial matters. She said this blending of matters into <br /> 47 one meeting can be difficult, as there are times when people are unable to speak at later <br /> 48 meetings. <br />