18.04.040 Preparation of the proposed amendment list (PAL).
A. Annual List of Suggested Amendments. The development and business services director shall compile and maintain for public review an annual list of suggested amendments to the comprehensive plan or subarea plans that are citywide in nature and that are not for personal gain, project-related or site-specific.
B. Public Participation Process – Suggested Amendments.
1. The annual amendment process shall generally follow the citizen involvement program contained in the introduction element of the comprehensive plan and shall provide for early and continuous public involvement with broad dissemination of proposals and alternatives, opportunity for written comments, public meetings after effective notice, provisions for open discussion, communication programs, information services, and consideration and response to public comments.
2. The deadline for receipt of suggested plan amendments shall be 5:00 p.m. on April 1st of each year, or the nearest working day if April 1st falls on a weekend.
3. General public notice shall be given at least 60 days prior to the application deadline to inform the public of the annual plan amendment process, the deadline for plan amendment suggestions and applications and how to obtain additional information.
C. Planning Commission and City Council Review.
1. Immediately following the April 1st deadline for suggested amendments, the director of development and business services shall recommend a list of suggested amendments for inclusion on the proposed amendments list for processing. The director shall base the recommendation on a preliminary evaluation of the need, urgency, and appropriateness of the suggested plan amendments, and the criteria set forth in the implementation element of the comprehensive plan.
2. The director’s recommendation, and a brief description of each suggested plan amendment, shall be forwarded to the planning commission for review and consideration. The planning commission shall hold a public hearing to accept public comments on any or all of the suggested amendments and to consider any additional suggestions for inclusion on the proposed amendments list that may be offered. The planning commission’s recommended proposed amendments list shall then be finalized and forwarded to the city council. The commission shall base its recommendations on its preliminary evaluation of the need, urgency and appropriateness of the suggested plan amendments, and the criteria set forth in the implementation element of the comprehensive plan.
3. The city council shall consider the planning commission’s recommendations, and may hold another public hearing. The city council shall determine which items shall be included in the annual amendment process. The city council shall base this decision on the same criteria used by the planning commission. (Ord. 3399 § 2 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 2441 § 2, 2003; Ord. 2239 § 1, 1999; Ord. 2085 § 2, 1996)