COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD - RULES OF PROCEDURE, REV 06/05/20130
rwater
CITY OF CLEARWATER
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD
RULES OF PROCEDURE
ARTICLE I BOARD NAME AND PURPOSE
The name of this board shall be the Community Development Board of the City of
Clearwater, hereinafter referred to as the "Board."
The Board shall be governed by these rules of procedure; for any matters not covered by
these rules, the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern.
ARTICLE II AUTHORITY AND JURISDICTION
The purpose of the Board is to implement the provisions of the Community Development
Code of the City of Clearwater and it shall perform the functions and exercise the
authority granted to it in the Code. The Community Development Code is codified as
Subpart B of Part II of the City's Code of Ordinances, as originally adopted on January
21, 1999, made effective on March 8, 1999 and as may be amended from time to time.
The Board shall have jurisdiction for all property within the corporate limits of the City
of Clearwater pursuant to the Community Development Code.
ARTICLE III MEMBERS AND OFFICERS
Section 1. Members
The City Council shall appoint seven regular members and one alternate member of the
Board who are residents of the City in accordance with the provisions of the Community
Development Code. The length of a regular member's term shall be four years and a
member may be re- appointed for one successive four -year term. For the appointment of
the initial Board, terms shall be staggered such that no more than two members' terms
shall expire in any calendar year. The alternate board member shall serve at the pleasure
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of the City Council for a four -year term and may be reappointed for one successive term.
In the event the alternate member is appointed as a regular member, the term already
served, as an alternate shall not be considered part of the allowable term as a regular
member. (CDC Article 5, Division 2)
Amended by Ordinance 6680 -01, effective April 5, 2001, Amended at the April 15, 2012
CDB meeting.
Section 2. Officers
The Board shall annually elect a Chairperson and a Vice - Chairperson at its meeting in
April. All officers shall serve a one -year term and may be re- elected by the Board.
Should the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson not be able to serve out the entirety of his
term, the Board shall hold an election to fill the vacancy of the office. The newly elected
officer shall serve only until the next regular election of officers. (CDC Section 5 -204)
Amended at the February 18, 2003 CDB meeting
Section 3. Duties of Officers
The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Board and shall have the duties
normally conferred upon the office by parliamentary rules. The Chairperson shall have
the privilege of discussing all matters before the Board and shall have the same voting
rights as other Board members. If the Chairperson is absent from a meeting, the Vice -
Chairperson shall preside at the meeting and perform all of the functions of the
Chairperson. If both the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson are absent from a meeting,
the attending members of the Board shall select a member to preside at that meeting.
(CDC Section 5 -204)
Section 4. Staff and Legal Advisor to the Board
The Planning and Development Department shall serve as staff to the Board and shall
provide it with the necessary professional support to carry out its duties. (CDC Section
5 -204)
The City Attorney's office shall provide legal representation to the Planning and
Development Staff and outside legal representation shall be provided to the Board to
assist it in its responsibilities., Amended at the April 15, 2012 CDB meeting.
ARTICLE IV CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings
The Board shall meet on the third Tuesday of each month beginning at 1 p.m. in the City
Council Chambers, City Hall unless otherwise prescribed. All meetings of the Board are
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open to the public and shall be properly noticed in accordance with applicable Florida
law.
The Chairperson or a majority of the Board membership may call a special meeting when
required for the conduct of its business. (CDC Section 5 -203)
Amended at the April 17, 2001 CDB meeting and effective June 19, 2001.
Amended at the November 16, 2004 CDB Meeting and effective January 18, 2005
Amended at the April 15, 2012 CDB meeting.
Section 2. Quorum and Vote
A quorum of five members is required to conduct the business of the Board. The
concurring vote of at least four members is required for action on any item before the
Board. If a decision results in a vote of 3 to 2, the matter shall automatically be
continued to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board for a decision.
In the event all regular members are present, the alternate member shall have all of the
rights and responsibilities of a regular member except for the right to vote. In the
absence of a regular board member at a board meeting or during an agenda item when a
regular member cannot vote due to a conflict of interest, the alternate member shall also
have the right to vote. (CDC Section 5 -203)
Amended by Ordinance 6680 -01, effective April 5, 2001
Section 3. Conflict of Interest
Any Board member who has a conflict of interest due to a special private gain shall
announce his conflict prior to the beginning of the application and must abstain from
discussion and voting on that item. The member must also file the conflict of interest
disclosure statement as required by Florida Statutes within 15 days of the meeting. On all
other matters where a member does not have a conflict of interest, a member must vote
on the matter.
Section 4. Order of Meeting
Meetings shall generally be conducted according to the following order:
Call to Order
Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Approval of Minutes
Citizens to be heard re: Items Not on the Agenda
Requests for Continuances
Consent Agenda Items
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Approval of Consent Agenda
Continued Items
Consideration of Items Removed from the Consent Agenda
Consideration of Level Two Applications Removed from Consent Agenda
Consideration of Level Three Applications Removed from Consent
Agenda
Requests for Rehearing
Level Two Applications- Flexible Development Order Applications
Level Three Applications
Land Use Plan Amendments
Rezoning Applications
Text Amendments to the Community Development Code
Development Agreements
Appeals
Board and Staff Reports/ Comments
Special Studies and Plans
The Board may utilize a consent agenda which shall include cases that the Planning and
Development Department recommends approval, the applicant is in except for
Development Agreements, agreement with any proposed conditions and no objections
have been received from the public. The cases that meet the above qualifications to be
placed on the consent agenda will be identified on the printed Board agenda. At the
beginning of the Board meeting, the Chairperson shall ask if any member of the audience,
the Staff or Board member desires to remove a case from the consent agenda due to
objections or questions. If a case is removed from the consent agenda, the case will be
heard in the regular order of the agenda. A full presentation on all other cases that remain
on the consent agenda will not be required and the Board may approve the consent
agenda with a single vote.
The Board may take a break at any time during the course of the meeting; however, a 15-
minute break period shall occur at a time before or at the four hour mark.
Amended at the June 19, 2007, September 18, 2007, January 15, 2008, January 17, 2012
and April 15, 2012 CDB meetings
Section 5. Visual Electronic Presentations
Applicants and members of the public may present a visual electronic (e.g. PowerPoint)
presentation to the Community Development Board using the City's equipment provided
that:
Such presentation shall occur within the applicable time limits for oral
presentations and cumulative time limits as set forth in Article V of these Rules;
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Such presentation is reviewed by the Public Communications Department no later
than 5:00 p.m. the Thursday prior to the CDB meeting to ensure readability of the
presentation on the T.V. monitors. It is the responsibility of the presenter to make
arrangements with the Public Communications Departments to schedule such
review. Any presentation that is not reviewed by the Public Communications
Department will not be allowed to be presented at the Community Development
Board meeting;
The presenter shall make arrangements with the Public Communications
Department to load the visual electronic presentation onto the City's equipment
no later than 12:00 p.m. on the day of the Community Development Board
meeting. The presenter shall provide the presentation in a format agreed to by the
Public Communications Department; and
A printed hard copy of the visual electronic presentation (excluding video
presentations) shall be provided to the Board members, City Clerk, Board
Attorney, City Attorney representative and City staff at the meeting.
Amended at the January 20, 2009 CDB meeting.
ARTICLE V REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS
Section 1. Legislative Hearings
Land Use Plan amendments, rezoning applications, annexations, development
agreements and text amendments to the Community Development Code shall be
reviewed in a legislative hearing open to the public and duly noticed. The order of the
hearing shall be as follows:
Presentation by Planning and Development Staff (10 minutes maximum)
Presentation by Applicant (10 minutes maximum)
Comments by the Public
Closing Remarks by Planning and Development Staff (3 minutes maximum)
Closing Remarks by Applicant (3 minutes maximum)
Discussion and Vote by Board
In general, the Planning and Development Staff and applicant shall be limited in their
presentation and closing remarks to the time limits as outlined above. Closing remarks
shall be limited to a presentation of issues previously discussed and the speaker(s) shall
not be permitted to present new information except to correct inaccuracies presented
during the hearing.
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Each member of the public is limited to a presentation of three minutes. If an individual
represents and will be speaking for a group, the Chairperson may authorize a reasonable
amount of time for presentation from three minutes to a maximum of ten minutes.
Where warranted by the complexity of the application, the Chairperson may extend the
presentation time provided there is no objection by a Board member. Should a Board
member object to granting additional time, the Board shall discuss and vote on the
additional time request. Equal time shall be allotted to the Planning and Development
Staff, the Applicant and the opposition, if any. (CDC Section 4 -206)
Amended at the April 15, 2012 CDB meeting.
Section 2. Quasi- Judicial Hearings
All other applications of the Community Development Code not specifically detailed in
Section 1 above shall be reviewed in a quasi-judicial hearing open to the public and duly
noticed. The order of the hearing shall be as follows:
Requests for Party Status
Presentation by Planning and Development Staff (10 minutes maximum)
Presentation by Applicant (10 minutes maximum)
Presentation by Persons with Party Status (5 minutes per party)
Cross Examination of witnesses by Planning and Development Staff
Cross Examination of witnesses by Applicant
Cross Examination of witnesses by Persons with Party Status (3 Minutes unless
extended by the board
Comments by the Public
Closing Remarks by Planning and Development_Staff (3 minutes maximum)
Closing Remarks by Persons with Party Status (3 minutes maximum)
Closing Remarks by Applicant (3 minutes maximum)
Discussion and Vote by Board
Amended at the August 21, 2007and April 15, 2012 CDB Meeting
In general, the Planning and Development staff and applicant shall be limited in their
presentation and closing remarks to the time limits as outlined above. Closing remarks
shall be limited to a presentation of issues previously discussed and the speaker(s) shall
not be permitted to present new information except to correct inaccuracies presented
during the hearing.
Each member of the public is limited to a presentation of three minutes. If an individual
represents and will be speaking for a group, the Chairperson may authorize a reasonable
amount of time for presentation from three minutes to a maximum of ten minutes.
Where warranted by the complexity of the application, the Chairperson may extend the
presentation time provided there is no objection by a Board member. Should a Board
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member object to granting additional time, the Board shall discuss and vote on the
additional time request. Equal time shall be allotted to both the Planning and
Development Staff and the Applicant. (CDC Section 4 -206)
Amended at the November 16, 2004, July 19, 2005 and the April 15, 2012 CDB meetings.
Section 3. Appeals
Appeal of an Administrative Decision or Interpretation of Community Development
Code
An appeal of an administrative decision or interpretation of the Community Development
Code shall be heard by the Board in a quasi-judicial public hearing according to Section
4 -206 of the Code and these rules. (CDC Article 4, Division 5).
Appeal of a Level One Development Order
An appeal of the approval of a Level One Development Order shall be placed on the
consent agenda of the next scheduled meeting of the Board. The appeal may be removed
from the consent agenda for a hearing only upon the concurring vote of four members of
the Board. If the appeal is not removed from the consent agenda, the Development Order
stands as issued by the Community Development Coordinator. If the appeal is removed
from the consent agenda, the Board shall conduct a quasi-judicial public hearing at that
same meeting according to Section 4 -206 of the Code and these rules. At the conclusion
of the hearing, the Board may uphold or reverse the decision of the Community
Development Coordinator. The Board may attach specific conditions to the reversal of
the Development Order. (CDC Article 4, Division 5).
Section 4. Continuances
Any application that is continued to a later meeting of the Board shall be re- advertised for
the continued hearing in the same manner as the original notice requirements. (CDC
Section 4 -206 E)
Amended by Ordinance 6526 -00, effective June 15, 2000.
An applicant for a development approval has the right to a continuance to the next
regularly scheduled meeting of the Board if all seven members of the Board are not
present to review his application. The request for a continuance shall be made prior to
the public hearing on the matter. (CDC Section 5 -203)
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ARTICLE VI BOARD ACTION AND EFFECT OF DECISION
Section 1. Board Decision
A written development order shall be issued which confirms the Board's decision. The
development order shall be effective upon the date of the decision made (date of the
Board meeting). (CDC 4 -405)
Section 2. Time Limits on Approval
An application for a building permit must be requested within one year of the
development order and all certificates of occupancy shall be obtained within one year of
the issuance of the initial building permit, unless different time frames are established in
the development order Extensions to a valid Development Order may be made pursuant
to the Community Development Code, Section 4 -407, Expiration of a Level Two
Approval. (CDC Section 4 -407)
Amended by Ordinance 7106 -03 effective September 18, 2003 and by the CDB meeting of
November 16, 2004.
An applicant shall have the responsibility of identifying a realistic schedule based on the
complexity of the project and may propose a phased schedule for the project. Approval
of a schedule other than that described above shall be at the discretion of the Board
depending on the project.
Section 3. Reconsideration or Rehearing
A reconsideration or rehearing of a decision of the Board may be requested by the
Planning Staff, applicant or interested party and must be requested at the next regularly
scheduled meeting of the Board. Any party who opposes the reconsideration may
address the Board solely in regard to the reasons for reconsideration. A reconsideration
or rehearing shall only be granted upon a determination by the Board that their decision
was based on a mistake, fraud or misrepresentation. If the Board decides to rehear an
application, notice of the rehearing shall be provided in the same manner as required for
the original application. (CDC Section 4 -206)
Section 4. Appeal
An appeal of a decision of the Board may be taken to a Hearing Officer as prescribed in
the Code. (CDC Article 4, Division 5)
ARTICLE VII AMENDMENT TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
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The Board may amend these rules of procedure from time to time as is required. All
amendments shall require the affirmative vote of four members of the Board. When the
Board considers an amendment to the Community Development Code, it shall also
evaluate the need for any revision to these rules of procedure.
Originally adopted this 6TH day of April, 1999
Amendments:
1. Approved May 15, 2001
Article III, Section 1, Members
Article IV, Section 2, Quorum and Vote
Section 4, Order of Meeting
Article V, Section 1, Legislative Hearings
Section 4, Continuances
Article VI, Section 3, Reconsideration or Rehearing
2. Approved April 17, 2001 by the CDB
Article IV, Section 1, Meetings
3. Approved February 18, 2003 by the CDB
Article III, Section 2, Officers
4. Approved May 20, 2003 by the CDB
Article VI, Section 1, Board Decision
5. Approved November 16, 2004 by the CDB
Article IV, Section 1, Meetings
Article V, Section 2, Quasi - Judicial Hearings
Article VI, Section 2, Time Limits on Approval
6. Approved July 19, 2005 by the CDB
Article V, Section 2, Quasi - Judicial Hearings
7. Approved June 19, 2007 by the CDB
Article IV, Section 4, Order of Meeting
8. Approved August 21, 2007 by the CDB
Article V, Section 2, Quasi - Judicial Hearings
9. Approved September 18, 2007 by the CDB
Article IV, Section 4, Order of Meeting
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10. Approved January 15, 2008 by the CDB
Article IV, Section 4, Order of Meeting
11. Approved January 20, 2009 by the CDB
Article IV, added Section 5, Visual Electronic Presentations
12. Approved January 17, 2012 by the CDB
Article IV, Section 4, Order of Meeting
13. Approved April 15, 2012 by the CDB
Article III, Section 1, Member
Section 4, Staff and Legal advisor to Board
Article IV, Section 1, Meetings
Section 4, Order of Meetings
Article V, Section 1, Legislative Hearing
Section 2, Quasi - Judicial Hearings
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