Boards and Commissions Transition TaskforceApril 28, 2014

Draft PDR Work Group Report — original pdf

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DRAFT  Planning  &  Development  Review  Department    Working  Group  Subcommittee  Report  April  30,  2014    EXECUTIVE  SUMMARY  The  Planning  and  Development  Review  (PDR)  Working  Group  was  formed  as  a  Working  Group  under  the  full  Boards  and  Commissions  (B&C)  Task  Force  to  understand  and  evaluate  B&C  roles  and  membership  requirements  for  those  Boards  and  Commissions  associated  primarily  or  tangentially  with  the  Planning  and  Development  Review  Department,  and  provide  our  recommendations  to  the  full  B&C  Task  Force.    The  PDR  Working  Group  evaluated  the  following  Boards  and  Commissions:    • Board  of  Adjustment  • Bond  Oversight  Committee  (Capital  Planning  Office)  • Building  and  Fire  Code  Board  of  Appeals  • Building  and  Standards  Commission  • Land  Development  Code  Advisory  Committee  • Construction  Advisory  Commission  • Design  Commission  • Downtown  Commission  (Economic  Development  Department)  • Electric  Board  • Mechanical,  Plumbing,  and  Solar  Advisory  Board  • Historic  Landmark  Commission  • Planning  Commission  • Residential  Design  and  Compatibility  Commission  • Sign  Review  Board  • Waterfront  Planning  Advisory  Board  • Zoning  and  Platting  Commission    The  PDR  Working  Group  consisted  of  Dave  Sullivan  (scientist),  Jeff  Jack  (architect),  Gabe  Rojas  (planner),  and  Dave  Anderson  (engineering),  and  met  as  a  group  nine  (9)  times  in  March  and  April  2014,  in  addition  to  the  regular  meetings  of  the  full  Boards  and  Commissions  Task  Force.    The  PDR  Working  Group  also  presented  at  the  City  Council  Work  Session  on  April  8,  2014,  where  they  responded  to  questions  and  received  comments  that  were  integrated  into  the  recommendations    The  PDR  Working  Group’s  recommendations  are  summarized  in  the  Table  ES-­‐1.    Table  ES-­‐1.    Summary  of  Recommendations      Board/  Commission  Recommended  Action  Recommended  #  Members  Board  of  Adjustment  Maintain  duties  of  the  Board  of  Adjustment,  without  the  two  additional  Sign  Review  Board  members  as  currently  organized  11  Bond  Oversight  Committee  Reassign  duties  to  a  newly-­‐created  Economic  and  Capital  Budget  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission      Building  &  Fire  Code  Board  of  Appeals  Join  the  duties  of  the  Building  and  Fire  Code  Board  of  Appeals  with  the  duties  of  the  Electric  Board  and  the  Mechanical,  Plumbing,  and  Solar  Board  into  a  new  Life  Safety  Board  of  Appeals  11  Building  &  Standards  Commission  Maintain  duties  of  Buildings  and  Standards  Commission  as  currently  envisioned.  22  Land  Development  Code  Advisory  Committee  Maintain  duties  of  Land  Development  Code  Advisory  Committee  as  currently  envisioned  11  Construction  Advisory  Commission  Reassign  duties  to  a  new  Municipal  Contracts  and  Construction  Commission.    Design  Commission  Maintain  duties  of  Design  Commission;  reassign  the  duties  of  the  Residential  Design  and  Compatibility  Commission  to  the  Design  Commission.  11  Downtown  Commission  Reassign  duties  to  a  newly-­‐created  Small  Area  Planning  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission.    Electric  Board  Reassign  duties  to  a  new  Life  Safety  Board  of  Appeals    Mechanical,  Plumbing,  &  Solar  Advisory  Board  Reassign  duties  to  a  new  Life  Safety  Board  of  Appeals    Historic  Landmark  Commission  Maintain  duties  of  the  Historic  Landmark  Commission  11  Planning  Commission  Reassign  duties  to  focus  on  planning  oriented  activities  City-­‐wide,  including  the  Comprehensive  Plan,  Area  Plans  (i.e.,  TOD  plans,  corridor  plans,  etc.),  evaluating  the  CIP  and  other  economic  and  budget  initiatives,  reviewing  and  initiating  code  amendments  &  ordinances.  Utilize  newly-­‐created  Joint  Subcommittees  with  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission.  13  Residential  Design  and  Compatibility  Commission  Reassign  duties  to  the  Design  Commission    Sign  Review  Board  Reassign  duties  to  the  Board  of  Adjustment,  without  the  two  additional  Sign  Review  Board  members  as  currently  organized    Waterfront  Planning  Advisory  Board  Reassign  duties  to  a  newly-­‐created  Small  Area  Planning  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission    Zoning  and  Platting  Commission  Reassign  duties  to  focus  on  transactional  activities  City-­‐wide,  including  re-­‐zoning,  platting  and  plat  amendments,  site  plans,  conditional  overlays.  Utilize  newly-­‐created  Joint  Subcommittees  with  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission.  11   1. PURPOSE  &  BACKGROUND  The  Planning  and  Development  Review  (PDR)  Working  Group  was  formed  as  a  Working  Group  under  the  full  Boards  and  Commissions  (B&C)  Task  Force  to  understand  and  evaluate  B&C  roles  and  membership  requirements  for  those  Boards  and  Commissions  associated  primarily  or  tangentially  with  the  Planning  and  Development  Review  Department,  and  provide  our  recommendations  to  the  full  B&C  Task  Force.  Most  of  the  boards  and  commissions  reviewed  operated  primarily  in  cooperation  with  PDR.  For  boards  and  commissions  whose  primary  association  is  with  another  city  department,  that  department  is  referenced.      The  PDR  Working  Group  evaluated  the  following  Boards  and  Commissions:    • Board  of  Adjustment  • Bond  Oversight  Committee  (Capital  Planning  Office)  • Building  and  Fire  Code  Board  of  Appeals  • Building  and  Standards  Commission  • Land  Development  Code  Advisory  Committee  • Construction  Advisory  Commission  • Design  Commission  • Downtown  Commission  (Economic  Development  Department)  • Electric  Board  • Mechanical,  Plumbing,  and  Solar  Advisory  Board  • Historic  Landmark  Commission  • Planning  Commission  • Residential  Design  and  Compatibility  Commission  • Sign  Review  Board  • Waterfront  Planning  Advisory  Board  • Zoning  and  Platting  Commission    The  PDR  Working  Group  analyzed  how  the  number  of  appointees  to  each  B&C  impacts  the  ability  of  that  entity  to  operate  effectively  and  evaluated  the  positive/negative  impacts  that  may  be  realized  by  integrating,  separating,  or  re-­‐defining  the  roles  and  responsibilities  of  each  B&C.    2. ORGANIZATION  The  PDR  Working  Group  consisted  of  the  following  four  members:    1. Dave  Sullivan  (Scientist)  –  Former  Chairperson  of  the  Planning  Commission,  current  Chairperson  of  the  CodeNEXT  Land  Development  Code  Advisory  Group,  current  Chairperson  of  the  Bond  Oversight  Committee,  and  current  Zero  Waste  Advisory  Commission  member  2. Jeff  Jack  (Architect)  –  Current  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Adjustment  and  Ex-­‐Officio  member  of  the  Planning  Commission  3. Gabriel  Rojas  (Planner)  –  Current  member  of  the  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission   4. Dave  Anderson  (Engineer)  –  Current  Chairman  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  former  Chairman  of  the  Environmental  Board    3. MEETINGS  The  PDR  Working  Group  has  met  continually  since  early  March:    1. March  10  2. March  17  3. March  22  4. March  24  5. March  28  6. March  31  7. April  7  (Working  Group  representative  at  a  meeting  with  City  Clerk)  8. April  8  (Working  Group  representative  at  presentation  at  Council  Work  Session)  9. April  16    The  Working  Group  has  also  provided  ongoing  updates  to  the  full  Boards  and  Commissions  Task  Force  at  regular  meetings  as  appropriate.  4. CITY  COUNCIL  INQUIRIES  At  the  April  8  City  Council  Work  Session,  Council  Members  asked  specific  questions  about  the  PDR  Working  Group’s  progress.    This  section  presents  their  questions,  and  our  responses.  4.1  Could  ZAP  be  rolled  into  Planning?  We  don’t  believe  that  there  is  enough  capacity  in  one  board  to  do  both  traditional  zoning  &  platting  and  look  long-­‐term  at  planning.    One  of  us    (Sullivan)  served  on  a  9  member  Planning  Commission  from  1994  –  1999  that  met  weekly,  but  other  members  feel  weekly  meetings  are  a  deterrent  to  attracting  members.      The  City  Clerk’s  Office  shared  the  City  Council  resolution  that  split  the  Building  Standards  Commission  into  two  “panels”  within  one  commission,  as  shown  in  the  excerpt  from  Council  Resolution  20131003-­‐100  below.  Council  member  Riley  encourages  the  Task  Force  to  consider  such  a  split  for  a  unified  PC-­‐ZAP.    The  PDR  Working  Group  evaluated  this  option  and  while  it  has  merit  in  the  fact  that  it  provides  one  body  performing  both  zoning  &  platting  and  planning  roles   (which  ensures  the  two  concepts  remain  connected  within  one  Commission),  it  may  not  provide  enough  emphasis  on  the  planning  aspects  of  the  role  of  the  Planning  Commission  –  something  all  within  the  PDR  Working  Group  agreed  must  be  improved.    Furthermore,  the  make-­‐up  of  the  Planning  Commission  is  dictated  by  Article  X  of  the  City  Charter  and  is  constrained  to  the  number  of  members  of  the  City  Council  plus  two,  which  is  currently  nine  and  will  become  13.  Thus,  there  is  no  even  way  to  divide  the  PC,  unless,  say,  the  chairperson  served  on  both  panels.    4.2  Provide  a  list  of  the  number  appointees  that  would  be  impacted  by  the  proposed  mergers?  The  following  table  summarizes  the  impacts  to  the  number  of  appointees  due  to  the  changes  proposed  by  the  PDR  Working  Group.    Existing  Proposed  Board/Commission  #  Appointees  Board/Commission  #  Appointees  Board of Adjustment 7  Board of Adjustment 11  Bond Oversight Commission 7      Building & Fire Code Board of Appeals 7  Life Safety Board of Appeals 11  Building & Standards Commission 14  Building & Standards Commission 22  Land Development Code Advisory Cmte 11  Land Development Code Advisory Cmte 11  Construction Advisory Commission 7      Design Commission 7  Design Commission  11  Downtown Commission 7      Electric Board 7      Mechanical, Plumbing, & Solar Advisory Board 7      Historic Landmark Commission 7  Historic Landmark Commission 11  Planning Commission 9  Planning Commission 13  Residential Design & Compatibility Commission 7      Sign Review Board 2      Waterfront Planning Advisory Board 7      Zoning & Platting Commission 7  Zoning & Platting Commission 11  TOTALS 120      101  *  Please  see  Section  5  for  specific  recommendations  related  to  this  table.    The  PDR  Working  Group  is  also  evaluating  the  addition  of  additional  outside  citizens  with  specific  expertise  to  joint  permanent  subcommittees.    4.3  The  use  of  the  word  “innovative”  rather  than  “eliminate”.  Final  recommendation  will  be  sensitive  in  word  choice.   4.4  Are  we  just  shifting  the  bulk  of  the  work  from  Planning  to  ZAP?      No.  Currently  the  Planning  Commission  (PC)  has  more  work  than  the  Zoning  and  Platting  (ZAP)  Commission.  This  is  based  on  the  relative  length  of  regular  meetings.  According  to  the  Channel  6  Website,  between  October  2010  and  August  2011,  ZAP  meetings  lasted  1:22  on  average,  while  PC  meetings  averaged  2:46.      Additionally,  PC  holds  monthly  subcommittee  meetings  for  four  standing  subcommittees,  and  has  individual  appointees  to  several  other  Boards  and  Commissions.      Further,  Working  Group  representatives  estimate  that  about  1/3  of  PC  work  is  zoning  related  where  for  ZAP  is  the  percentage  exceeds  50%  (see  Section  4.5  below).    The  intent  of  the  Working  Group’s  recommendations  is  to  move  toward  a  more  even  allocation  of  work.  4.5  What  portion  of  Planning  is  currently  devoted  to  zoning  cases?      PDR  Working  Group  representatives  estimate  that  about  1/3  of  PC  work  is  zoning-­‐related,  while  for  ZAP  the  percentage  exceeds  50%.  4.6  Is  there  a  better  way  to  balance  the  workload?  The  Working  Group  recommends  a  combination  of  the  use  of  joint  subcommittees  and  improved  information  technology  may  make  work  easier.  4.7  Provide  a  method  for  joint  subcommittee  members  to  have  on-­‐going  interaction  with  zoning  cases  as  a  way  to  keep  them  informed  and  provide  a  broad  understanding  of  zoning  issues.  The  PDR  Working  Group  believes  that  the  Small  Area  Plan  and  the  Comprehensive  Plan  joint  subcommittees  will  allow  both  Commissions  to  keep  abreast  of  zoning  and  comprehensive  planning  issues.  4.8  Is  there  anything  in  the  Charter  about  the  Planning  Commission’s  role  in  zoning  cases?  The  Charter  is  explicit  in  Section  X  that  the  “Planning  Commission”  is  responsible  for  making  zoning  recommendations  to  the  City  Council.  The  City  Legal  Department  has  interpreted  this  to  mean  that  a  Land  Use  Commission,  either  called  the  “Zoning  and  Platting  Commission”  or  the  “Planning  Commission”  may  make  such  recommendations.    4.9  Are  there  PUD  requirements  for  the  Planning  Commission?  Yes,  the  Small  Area  Plan  joint  subcommittee  would  pass  on  recommendations  to  the  Planning  Commission,  as  may  be  required  by  the  current  PUD  Ordinances.  There  has  been  some  suggestion,  however,  that  the  use  of  PUD  zoning  may  be  affected  by  the  CodeNEXT  project.   4.10  How  to  best  keep  the  joint  committees  active  since  past  efforts  have  not  been  successful?  By  maintaining  a  regular  schedule  as  the  Planning  Commission  subcommittees  have  for  several  years  will  help  sustain  effective  joint  subcommittee  work.  4.11  Review  the  model  used  with  the  Building  and  Standards  Commission  –  2  panels  rather  than  splitting  duties.    Would  this  work  with  Planning  and  ZAP?  Please  see  Response  in  Section  4.1.  4.12  Gauge  commitment  to  board  meetings  and  committee  meetings  to  ensure  we  have  enough  commissioners  for  the  proposed  joint  committees.  This  is  what  one  of  the  advantages  of  the  splitting  the  roles  of  the  PC  and  ZAP  are  –  each  Commission  can  spread  out  subcommittee  involvement  to  those  willing  and  able  to  serve.    Further,  each  Commission  can  also  develop  rules  to  provide  alternates  in  either  an  ad  hoc  or  rotation  schedule  to  further  ensure  that  commitments  are  met.    However,  new  Single  Member  Districts  and  the  higher  likelihood  that  Board  and  Commission  members  may  come  from  more  suburban  areas  may  create  travel  issues  for  folks  in  those  outlying  areas.  These  may  be  mitigated  in  the  future  by  Project  Connect  mass  transit  improvements.        Alternatively,  it  may  be  possible  for  the  Legislature  to  liberalize  Open  Meetings  rules  to  allow  online  participation  in  subcommittee  meetings.    4.13  Life  Safety  Board  –  reach  out  to  the  B/C  being  considered  for  this  body  and  review  the  expertise  required  and  if  that  expertise  can  be  covered  in  one  Board?  The  PDR  Working  Group  has  sent  an  email  to  the  Chairperson  of  each  Commission  and  is  awaiting  response.  5. RECOMMENDATIONS  The  following  subsections  are  organized  by  the  Boards  and  Commissions  that  the  PDR  Working  Group  evaluated  as  part  of  our  charge.    Each  subsection  concludes  with  the  Working  Group’s  recommendations.  5.1  Board  of  Adjustment  The  purpose  of  the  Board  of  Adjustment  is  defined  in  City  of  Austin  Land  Development  code  Section  25-­‐2  and  Section  241.034  of  the  Local  Government  Code  to  1)  hear  and  decide  a  request  for  a  variance  from  the  requirements  of  Chapter  25-­‐2  (Zoning),  except  as  otherwise  provided  by  the  Code;  2)  hear  and  decide  an  appeal  of  an  administrative  action  under  Chapter  25-­‐2  (Zoning);  3)  hear  and  decide  on  a  request  for  a  variance  from  the  requirements  of  airport  zoning  regulations  under  Section  241.034,  Local  Government  Code;  and  4)  perform  other  duties  prescribed  by  ordinance  or  state  law.     The  Board  of  Adjustment  met  in  conjunction  with  the  Sign  Review  Board  eleven  (11)  times  in  2013,  and  the  Board  of  Adjustment  By-­‐Laws  provide  the  rules  under  which  the  Sign  Review  Board  operates.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Integrate  the  duties  of  the  Sign  Review  Board  into  the  duties  of  the  Board  of  Adjustment,  without  the  two  additional  Sign  Review  Board  members  as  currently  organized;  and  2. Increase  the  Board’s  membership  to  11,  with  one  person  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  the  remaining  ten  appointed  by  Council  Members.  5.2  Bond  Oversight  Commission  The  Bond  Oversight  Commission  ensures  efficiency,  equity,  timeliness,  and  accountability  in  the  implementation  of  the  2006  and  2010  bond  programs,  as  well  as  all  future  bond  programs.  The  committee  reviews  the  annual  appropriation  and  spending  plan  of  bond  funds.  See  Resolution  No.  20110127-­‐034,  Resolution  No.  20070215-­‐028  and  Resolution  No.  20061214-­‐041  for  additional  information.    While  the  Bond  Oversight  Committee  usually  meets  monthly  immediately  following  a  bond  issuance,  it  currently  meets  quarterly.    The  Planning  Commission  is  charged  by  City  Charter  to  review  annually  the  Capital  Improvement  Program  (CIP)  budget.    This  is  accomplished  through  the  use  of  a  standing  CIP  Subcommittee.    Since  it’s  inception,  this  subcommittee  has  not  met  every  month.    The  recent  addition  of  Capital  Planning  Office’s  Long  Range  Strategic  Plan  has  provided  the  CIP  Subcommittee  with  additional  workload,  but  it  still  has  capacity  to  take  on  additional  work.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Bond  Oversight  Committee  into  a  newly-­‐created  Economic  and  Capital  Budget  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission;  and  2. Specify  a  membership  of  the  Joint  Subcommittee  of  at  least  seven  (7)  members  from  the  PC  &  ZAP.    3.  Allow  up  to  four  additional  members  appointed  by  the  City  Manager  (or  Capital  Planning  Office)  and  approved  by  the  City  Council  with  specific  experience  related  to  the  GO  bonds.  For  example,  these  could  be  veterans  of  the  most  recent  bond  election  advisory  committee,  citizens  with  specific  public  finance  experience,  or  representatives  of  key  stakeholder  groups.  4.  Although  the  PC  would  receive  and  make  a  final  decision  on  the  CIP  each  year  (as  required  by  Charter),  a  separate  report  on  the  GO  Bond  program  would  go  directly  to  the  City  Manager  and  City  Council.   5.3  Building  and  Fire  Code  Board  of  Appeals  The  Building  and  Fire  Code  Board  of  Appeals  reviews  any  appeal  filed  in  accordance  with  Title  25  (Land  Development).  It  hears  and  decides  appeals  of  orders,  decisions,  or  determinations  made  by  the  building  official  relating  to  the  application  and  interpretations  of  the  Building  Code  and  Fire  Code.  Section  2-­‐1-­‐121  of  the  City  Code.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Join  the  duties  of  the  Building  and  Fire  Code  Board  of  Appeals  with  the  duties  of  the  Electric  Board  and  the  Mechanical,  Plumbing,  and  Solar  Board  into  a  new  Life  Safety  Board  of  Appeals;  2. Increase  the  new  Board’s  membership  to  11,  with  one  person  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  the  remaining  ten  appointed  by  Council  Members;  and  3. Require  the  necessary  expertise  currently  distributed  amongst  the  three  (3)  Boards.  5.4  Building  and  Standards  Commission  The  Building  and  Standards  Commission  was  established  to  hear  cases  concerning  alleged  violations  of  the  City's  housing  and  dangerous  buildings  regulations.  It  shall  have  the  powers  and  duties  and  comply  with  the  procedures  established  by  Texas  Local  Government,  Chapter  54,  Subchapter  C  (Quasi-­‐Judicial  Enforcement  of  Health  and  Safety  Ordinances),  Texas  Local  Government  Code  Chapter  214  (Municipal  Regulation  of  Housing  and  Other  Structures),  Subchapter  A  (Dangerous  Structures),  and  City  Code  Chapter  25-­‐12,  Article  9  (International  Property  Maintenance  Code).  See  Section  2-­‐1-­‐122  of  the  Austin  City  Code.    In  2014,  the  City  Council  initiated  a  Code  amendment  (and  Code  was  accordingly  processed)  to  increase  the  size  of  the  BSC  to  14  Commission  members  for  the  purpose  of  creating  two  panels  that  will  allow  the  BSC  to  meet,  as  panels,  more  than  once  a  month,  with  the  Mayor  appointing  two  members  and  each  Council  Member  appointing  two  (2)  members.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Maintain  duties  of  Buildings  and  Standards  Commission  as  currently  envisioned;  and  2. Increase  the  Board’s  membership  to  22  members,  with  the  Mayor  appointing  two  (2)  members  and  each  Council  Member  appoint  two  (2)  members,  for  the  purpose  of  creating  two  panels  that  will  allow  the  BSC  to  meet,  as  panels,  more  than  once  a  month.  5.5  Land  Development  Code  Advisory  Committee  The  Land  Development  Code  Advisory  Committee  Act  as  an  advisory  group  to  assist  in  public  outreach  and  provide  feedback  on  the  development  and  implementation  of  a  revised  land  development  code  for  the  City  of  Austin.  See  Resolution  No.  20121206-­‐074  for  additional  information.    The  Land  Development  Code  Advisory  Committee  shall  be  terminated  automatically  by  the  end  of  September  2015  or  upon  adoption  of  the  new  Land  Development  Code,  whichever  is  earlier.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Maintain  duties  and  membership  of  Land  Development  Code  Advisory  Committee  as  currently  envisioned.  5.6  Construction  Advisory  Commission  The  Construction  Advisory  Commission  monitors  enforcement  of  prevailing  wage  scales  and  job  classifications  on  municipal  construction  contracts.  They  advise  Council  and  City  Manager  regarding  categories  and  specific  projects  of  maintenance  and  construction  work  that  should  be  accomplished  by  contract  through  competitive  bidding  processes  instead  of  by  use  of  City  personnel  and  equipment.  They  review  implementation  of  state  laws,  Charter,  ordinances  and  council  policies  relating  to  the  award  of  construction  contracts  and  purchase  or  rental  of  construction  equipment  materials  and  services,  including  advertising  policies,  specifications  and  lease  purchase  agreements.  They  advise  Council  and  City  Manager  on  other  construction  matters  affecting  the  quality,  cost  and  improvement  of  City  construction  programs.  See  Section  2-­‐1-­‐128  of  the  City  Code  for  additional  duties.    The  MBE/WBE/Small  Business  Enterprise  Procurement  Program  Advisory  Committee  is  responsible  for  reviewing  the  City  Manager's  report,  as  described  in  Sections  2-­‐9A-­‐18,  2-­‐9B-­‐18,  2-­‐9C-­‐18  and  2-­‐9D-­‐18  (Program  Review);  and  recommending  changes  to  the  City  Code  provisions,  adopting  rules  and  regulations,  and  programming  operations.  Section  2-­‐1-­‐163  of  the  City  Code.    As  there  are  several  overlapping  roles  in  the  two  Commissions,  the  PDR  Working  Group  evaluated  whether  or  not  to  combine  the  two.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Construction  Advisory  Commission  to  a  new  Municipal  Contracts  and  Construction  Commission.  5.7  Design  Commission  The  Design  Commission  provides  advisory  recommendations  to  the  city  council  (as  requested  by  the  Council)  to  assist  in  developing  public  policy  and  to  promote  excellence  in  the  design  and  development  of  the  urban  environment.  See  Section  2-­‐1-­‐129  of  the  City  Code  for  additional  duties.    The  Residential  Design  and  Compatibility  Commission  (RDCC)  makes  determinations  on  requested  modifications  of  certain  residential  design  standards  for  specific  developments,  as  prescribed  in  Chapter  25-­‐2,   Subchapter  F  (Residential  Design  and  Compatibility  Standards).  See  Section  2-­‐1-­‐167  of  the  City  Code  for  additional  duties.    While  one  Commission  addresses  urban  design  issues,  the  other  addresses  residential  design  issues;  but,  they  are  similar  issues  and  could  be  considered  part  of  the  work  of  one  Commission.    Additionally,  the  workload  of  the  RDCC  has  been  decreasing  in  the  recent  past,  which  may  make  it  easier  for  another  Commission  to  absorb  their  work.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Residential  Design  and  Compatibility  Commission  to  the  Design  Commission;  2. Increase  the  Design  Commission  membership  to  11,  with  one  person  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  the  remaining  ten  appointed  by  Council  Members;  and  3. Ensure  that  both  urban,  commercial  and  residential  design  expertise  is  included  in  a  new  11-­‐member  Commission.  5.8  Downtown  Commission  The  Downtown  Commission  advises  the  City  Council  and  City  staff  regarding  policies  and  projects  impacting  downtown  Austin;  the  Commission  serves  as  stewards  for  the  Downtown  Austin  Plan;  maintain  liaison  relationships  with  city  staff  and  other  Boards  and  Commissions;  and  perform  other  activities  as  directed  by  the  City  Council.  See  Section  2-­‐1-­‐141  of  the  City  Code  for  additional  duties.    The  PDR  Working  Group  is  recommending  a  Small  Area  Planning  Joint  Subcommittee  to  address  issues  surrounding  planning  and  zoning  in  areas  such  as  Downtown,  along  Corridors  and  Centers,  in  and  around  Neighborhoods,  on  the  Waterfront,  in  Planned  Unit  Developments,  in  Transit  Oriented  Developments,  etc.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Downtown  Commission  to  a  newly-­‐created  Small  Area  Planning  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission;  and  2. Specify  a  membership  of  the  Joint  Subcommittee  of  at  least  seven  (7)  members.  5.9  Electric  Board  The  Electric  Board  hears  and  decides  appeals  of  orders,  decisions,  or  determinations  made  by  the  building  official  relating  to  the  application  and  interpretation  of  the  Electrical  Code.  The  board  may  not  waive  the  requirements  of  the  Electrical  Code.  See  Section  2-­‐1-­‐142  of  the  City  Code  for  additional  duties.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Electric  Board  of  Appeals  with  the  duties  of  the  Building  &  Fire  Code  of  Appeals  and  the  Mechanical,  Plumbing,  and  Solar  Board  into  a  new  Life  Safety  Board  of  Appeals;  2. Increase  the  new  Board’s  membership  to  11,  with  one  person  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  the  remaining  ten  appointed  by  Council  Members;  and  3. Require  the  necessary  expertise  currently  distributed  amongst  the  three  (3)  Boards.  5.10  Mechanical,  Plumbing,  and  Solar  Board  The  Mechanical,  Plumbing,  and  Solar  Board  hears  and  decides  appeals  of  orders,  decisions,  or  determinations  made  by  the  Building  Official  relating  to  the  application  and  interpretation  of  the  Mechanical  Code,  Plumbing  Code  and  Solar  Code.  Section  2-­‐1-­‐161  of  the  City  Code.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Mechanical,  Plumbing,  and  Solar  Board  with  the  duties  of  the  Building  &  Fire  Code  of  Appeals  and  the  Electric  Board  into  a  new  Life  Safety  Board  of  Appeals;  2. Increase  the  new  Board’s  membership  to  11,  with  one  person  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  the  remaining  ten  appointed  by  Council  Members;  and  3. Require  the  necessary  expertise  currently  distributed  amongst  the  three  (3)  Boards.  5.11  Historic  Landmark  Commission  The  Historic  Landmark  Commission  prepares  and  periodically  revises  an  inventory  of  the  structures  and  areas  that  may  be  eligible  for  designation  as  historic  landmarks.  The  Commission  prepares,  reviews  and  proposes  amendments  to  the  Historic  Landmark  Preservation  Plan.  It  reviews  requests  to  establish  or  remove  a  historic  designation,  makes  recommendations  on  the  requests  to  the  Land  Use  Commission,  as  determined  in  accordance  with  Section  25-­‐1-­‐46  (Land  Use  Commission).  Section  2-­‐1-­‐147  of  the  City  Code.    The  duties  of  the  Historic  Landmark  Commission  are  to:  • Promote  historic  preservation  activities  in  Austin;  • Review  applications  for  heritage  grant  monies;  • Review  applications  for  historic  zoning  cases;  • Review  certificates  of  appropriateness  and  tax  exemption  applications  for  city  landmarks;  and  • Review  sign  and  building  permits  in  historic  districts.    RECOMMENDATION:  1. Maintain  the  duties  of  the  Historic  Landmark  Commission;  and  2. Increase  the  Board’s  membership  to  11,  with  one  person  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  the  remaining  ten  appointed  by  Council  Members.   5.12  Planning  Commission  The  Planning  Commission  makes  and  amends  master  plans,  recommends  approval  or  disapproval  of  proposed  zoning  changes  and  controls  land  subdivision  within  neighborhood  planning  areas  and  submits,  annually,  a  list  of  recommended  capital  improvements.  See  Article  X  of  the  City  Charter  and  Section  2-­‐1-­‐166  of  the  City  Code  for  additional  duties.    The  PDR  Working  group  evaluated  how  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission  could  work  together  to  ensure  that  the  decisions  made  in  implementing  zoning  and  platting  are  in  line  with  the  overall  City  planning  initiatives.    City  Staff  (Jerry  Rusthoven)  provided  a  history  of  how  and  why  the  two  commissions  were  formed  originally  –  and  that  the  initial  intent  was  to  have  two  commissions  organized  as  the  PDR  Working  Group  has  proposed.    Historically,  all  Boards  and  Commissions  had  the  two  additional  members  required  of  the  Planning  Commission  via  City  Charter  –  and  those  were  intended  to  represent  an  environmental/neighborhood  interest  and  a  development  interest.  At  some  point  in  the  past,  these  additional  members  were  removed  from  all  Commissions  but  the  Planning  Commission.    The  PDR  Working  Group  felt  that  it  is  important  for  there  to  be  citizen  oversight  of  the  Planning  and  Development  Review  Department,  as  there  is  currently  not  an  existing  citizen  advisory  board  that  has  these  duties  (i.e.,  the  Environmental  Board  reviews  the  metrics  and  budget  for  the  Watershed  Protection  Department  annually).    The  PDR  Working  Group  felt  that  economic  impacts  (both  positive  and  negative)  have  not  been  addressed  adequately  in  making  planning  decisions  in  the  past,  and  that  there  should  be  a  place  for  this  kind  of  analysis  in  the  future.  This  becomes  increasingly  more  possible  through  the  roles  and  responsibilities  of  a  planning-­‐oriented  Planning  Commission.    The  Waterfront  Planning  Advisory  Board  (WPAB)  has  both  planning  and  transactional  responsibilities.    The  PDR  Working  Group  evaluated  whether  this  remain  a  stand-­‐alone  board  or  if  it  was  possible  to  reassign  some  of  the  roles  into  different  Boards  or  Commissions.    The  Downtown  Commission  reports  to  the  Economic  Development  Department,  but  certainly  has  issues  that  inform,  and  are  informed  by,  planning  and  transactional  decisions  made  at  the  Planning  Commission  and/or  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission.    The  PDR  Working  Group  evaluated  whether  reassigning  some  of  the  Downtown  Commissions  duties  to  other  Boards  and  Commissions  made  sense.     The  Planning  Commission,  by  City  Charter,  must  annually  review  the  City  of  Austin  Capital  Improvement  Program  (CIP)  program  –  which  includes  in  its  entirety  the  expenditure  of  GO  Bonds  approved  by  voters.    The  PDR  Working  Group  evaluated  whether  it  makes  sense  that  this  entity  rolls  up  under  the  Planning  Commission  duties.    Members  of  the  PDR  Working  Group  presented  their  work  at  the  2014  Planning  Commission  Retreat  on  March  17,  2014.  Several  Planning  Commissioners  noted  the  importance  for  their  to  be  an  official  coordinating  process  or  structure  in  place  to  ensure  that  decisions  made  by  the  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission  were  in  line  with  the  activities  of  the  Planning  Commission.    There  was  concern  that  the  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission  –  who  may  end  up  having  a  heft  workload  –  would  not  have  the  benefit  of  the  2  additional  members  required  by  City  Charter,  while  the  Planning  Commission  –  with  potentially  a  smaller  workload  –  would  still  have  that  benefit.    The  PDR  Working  Group  evaluated  a  recommendation  to  address  this  inconsistency  via  a  City  Charter  amendment.    City  Staff  (Greg  Guernsey)  recommended  we  investigate  a  periodic  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committees  of  the  two  commissions  with  some  frequency  to  ensure  that  decisions  were  being  made  that  were  complementary.    He  also  advised  that  we  should  be  including  the  Historic  Landmark  Commission  in  our  discussions  –  as  it  is  associated  with  the  Planning  and  Development  Review  Department.    At  the  Planning  Commission  retreat,  the  idea  of  standing  joint  subcommittees  was  offered  as  another  mechanism  to  tie  the  two  commissions  together.    An  idea  was  also  put  forward  to  reduce  the  number  of  appointees  for  both  commissions,  either  by  grouping  districts  together,  or  by  instituting  a  process  similar  to  the  selection  of  re-­‐districting  members  to  the  Independent  Re-­‐districting  Committee,  for  appointments.    It  was  offered  that  this  process  should  address  a  review  of  the  inclusion  of  Ex-­‐Officio  members  to  boards  and  commissions.    Figure  5-­‐1.  Recommended  Planning  Commission,  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission  and  Joint  Subcommittee  Structure        RECOMMENDATION:  1. Figure  5-­‐1  presents  a  pictorial  representation  of  the  PDR  Working  Group  recommendation  of  realigning  the  Planning  Commission  duties;  2. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Planning  Commission  to  focus  on  planning  oriented  activities  City-­‐wide,  including  the  Comprehensive  Plan,  Area  Plans  (i.e.,  TOD  plans,  corridor  plans,  etc.),  evaluating  the  CIP  and  other  economic  and  budget  initiatives,  reviewing  and  initiating  code  amendments  &  ordinances,  etc.  3. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Downtown  Commission  to  a  newly-­‐created  Small  Area  Planning  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission;  4. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Waterfront  Planning  Advisory  Board  to  a  newly-­‐created  Small  Area  Planning  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission;  5. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Bond  Oversight  Commission  to  a  newly-­‐created  Economics  and  Capital  Budget  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Planning  Commission  Zoning  &  Platting  Commission  Codes  &  Ordinances  Small  Area  Planning  Economics  &  Capital  Budget  Comprehensive  Plan  CIP  Long  Range  Strategic  Plan  Economic  Studies  Bond  Oversight  Neighborhood  Plans  Area  Plans  Planned  Unit  Developments  Transit  Oriented  Developments  Corridor  Plans  Town/Neighborhood  Center  Plans  Downtown  Plan  Waterfront  Planning  Joint  Subcommittees  (Minimum  of  7  Members)   Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission,  plus  up  to  four  additional  members  appointed  by  the  City  Manager  (see  Section  5.2);  6. Specify  a  membership  of  the  Joint  Subcommittees  of  at  least  seven  (7)  members;  and  7. Increase  the  Commission’s  membership  to  13,  with  three  people  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  the  remaining  ten  appointed  by  Council  Members  –  satisfying  the  requirements  of  the  City  Charter.  5.13  Residential  Design  and  Compatibility  Commission  The  Residential  Design  and  Compatibility  Commission  (RDCC)  makes  determinations  on  requested  modifications  of  certain  residential  design  standards  for  specific  developments,  as  prescribed  in  Chapter  25-­‐2,  Subchapter  F  (Residential  Design  and  Compatibility  Standards).  See  Section  2-­‐1-­‐167  of  the  City  Code  for  additional  duties.    The  Design  Commission  provides  advisory  recommendations  to  the  city  council  (as  requested  by  the  Council)  to  assist  in  developing  public  policy  and  to  promote  excellence  in  the  design  and  development  of  the  urban  environment.  See  Section  2-­‐1-­‐129  of  the  City  Code  for  additional  duties.    While  one  Commission  addresses  urban  design  issues,  the  other  addresses  residential  design  issues  (and  specifically  McMansion  issues);  but,  they  are  similar  and  could  be  considered  part  of  the  work  of  one  Commission.    The  workload  of  the  RDCC  has  been  decreasing  in  the  recent  past,  which  may  make  it  easier  for  another  Commission  to  absorb  their  work.    There  has  also  been  input  from  the  community  that  there  is  a  need  for  a  Commission  to  protect  the  fabric  of  Austin’s  neighborhoods  and  to  advise  City  Council  on  neighborhood  issues.    RECOMMENDATION:  1. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Residential  Design  and  Compatibility  Commission  to  the  Design  Commission;    2. Increase  the  Board’s  membership  to  11,  with  one  person  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  the  remaining  ten  appointed  by  Council  Members;  and  3. Ensure  that  urban,  commercial  and  residential  design  expertise  is  included  in  a  new  11-­‐member  Commission;  and  4. Ensure  that  neighborhood  planning  duties  are  explicitly  stated  in  the  role  of  the  newly-­‐created  Small  Area  Planning  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission.  5.14  Sign  Review  Board  The  purpose  of  the  Board  of  Adjustment  is  defined  in  City  of  Austin  Land  Development  Code  Section  25-­‐10  to  1)  hear  and  decide  a  request  for  a  variance  from  requirements  of  Chapter  25-­‐10  (Sign  Regulations);  2)  exercise  the  power  to  revoke  or  suspend  a  sign  registration  under  Section  25-­‐10-­‐236  (Revocation   and  Suspension);  and  3)  advise  the  Council  regarding  Chapter  25-­‐10  (Sign  Regulations).    The  Board  of  Adjustment  met  in  conjunction  with  the  Sign  Review  Board  eleven  (11)  times  in  2013,  and  the  Board  of  Adjustment  By-­‐Laws  provide  the  rules  under  which  the  Sign  Review  Board  operates.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Sign  Review  Board  to  the  duties  of  the  11-­‐member  Board  of  Adjustment,  without  the  two  additional  Sign  Review  Board  members  as  currently  organized.  5.15  Waterfront  Planning  Advisory  Board  The  Waterfront  Planning  Advisory  Board  provides  recommendations  to  the  council  and  city  boards  that  assist  in  promoting  excellence  in  design,  development  and  protection  of  the  City's  waterfront;  and  helps  provide  harmonious  interaction  and  transition  between  urban  development  and  the  parkland  and  shoreline  of  Lady  Bird  Lake  and  the  Colorado  River.  It  provides  recommendations  on:  project-­‐level  recommendations  regarding  proposed  development  within  the  Waterfront  Overlay  (WO)  combining  district,  as  required  under  Section  25-­‐2-­‐715  (Review  and  Recommendation  of  the  Waterfront  Planning  Advisory  Board).  It  also  provides  planning-­‐level  recommendations  regarding  proposed  amendments  impacting  the  WO  combining  district,  as  required  under  Section  25-­‐2-­‐715  (Review  and  Recommendation  of  the  Waterfront  Planning  Advisory  Board.)  Section  2-­‐1-­‐187  of  the  City  Code.    The  Waterfront  Planning  Advisory  Board  (WPAB)  has  both  planning  and  transactional  responsibilities.    The  PDR  Working  Group  evaluated  whether  this  remain  a  stand-­‐alone  board  or  if  it  was  possible  to  reassign  some  of  the  roles  into  different  Boards  or  Commissions.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Waterfront  Planning  Advisory  Board  to  a  newly-­‐created  Small  Area  Planning  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission;  and  2. Specify  a  membership  of  the  Joint  Subcommittee  of  at  least  seven  (7)  members.  5.16  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission  The  Zoning  and  Platting  (ZAP  Commission  performs  duties  relating  to  land  use  and  development,  as  prescribed  by  Title  25  (Land  Development)  of  the  City  Code  and  other  duties  as  assigned  by  the  council.  Section  2-­‐1-­‐188  of  the  City  Code.     ZAP  reviews  and  makes  recommendations  to  the  City  Council  on  all  proposals  to  adopt  or  amend  land  development  regulations  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  the  relationship  of  such  proposal  to,  and  its  consistency  with,  the  adopted  Comprehensive  Plan,  or  element  or  portion  thereof.  “Land  development  regulations”  includes  zoning,  subdivision,  building  and  construction,  environmental,  and  other  police  power  regulations  controlling,  regulating,  or  affecting  the  use  or  development  of  land.  Pursuant  to  ordinances  adopted  by  the  City  Council,  ZAP  exercises  control  over  platting  and  subdividing  land  within  the  corporate  limits  and  the  extraterritorial  jurisdiction  of  the  city  to  ensure  the  consistency  of  any  such  plats  or  subdivision  with  the  adopted  Comprehensive  Plan,  or  element  or  portion  thereof.    The  PDR  Working  Group  evaluated  the  role  of  the  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission  in  conjunction  with  the  Planning  Commission.    A  detailed  description  of  the  evaluation  is  included  in  Section  5.12  above.    RECOMMENDATION:    1. Figure  5-­‐1  presents  a  pictorial  representation  of  the  PDR  Working  Group  recommendation  of  realigning  the  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission  duties;  2. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission  to  focus  on  transactional  activities  City-­‐wide,  including  re-­‐zoning,  platting  and  plat  amendments,  site  plans,  conditional  overlays,  etc.  3. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Downtown  Commission  to  a  newly-­‐created  Small  Area  Planning  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission;  4. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Waterfront  Planning  Advisory  Board  to  a  newly-­‐created  Small  Area  Planning  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission;  5. Reassign  the  duties  of  the  Bond  Oversight  Commission  to  a  newly-­‐created  Economics  and  Capital  Budget  Joint  Subcommittee  of  the  Planning  Commission  and  Zoning  and  Platting  Commission;    6. Specify  a  membership  of  the  Joint  Subcommittees  of  at  least  seven  (7)  members;  and  7. Increase  the  Commission’s  membership  to  11,  with  one  person  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  the  remaining  ten  appointed  by  Council  Members.