Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening. This is the regular meeting of the Hollister Planning Commission on January 22nd, 2026. The meeting is now called to order and it is 601. Staff, please call the role. Vice Chair Carla Torres Deluna here. Commissioner Damen Perez here. Commissioner Julio Rodriguez. Commissioner Peter Hernandez is not currently here. Uh and for the record, Chair Steven Balong is absent tonight with an excused absence. Okay. Um would someone like to lead us in the pledge of allegiance?

I do. All right. Thanks. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. And and this is a time for public input. Um, if anyone in the audience wants to speak on any item on the agenda within the subject matter jurisdiction of the commission, speaker cards are available in the lobby in order to be completed and given to staff before speaking. When the commission secretary calls your name, please come to the podium, state your name and city for the record to speak to the commission. If you're joining us by Zoom, please click on the bottom of the screen to raise your hand. And if you're joining us by Zoom using a cell phone, please press star 9. Each speaker will be limited to three minutes with a maximum of 30 minutes per subject. Please note that state law prohibits the commission from discussing or taking action on any item. Oh, and I forgot to mention about the there's a worldwide Microsoft technology issues. So if for those on Zoom, if something happens with technology, we apologize, but we will continue the meeting. So any public comment? I have no hands raised online.

Okay. Do we have any questions from the commission on items on the consent agenda or are there any items that the commission would like to pull for further discussion? Nope. And staff, do we have any public comments on items from the consent agenda? I have no hands raised online. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? I'll make a I'll make a motion to uh approve the consent agenda. Second. All those in favor? I

I. Anyone opposed? Abstain. Motion carries. 30. Next is item six, public hearings. May we have the staff report for 6.1 site and architectural review.

Good evening. My name is Magda Gonzalez and I am presenting site and architectural review 2025-2. The applicant is Sunil Kapoor and the proposal is located at 40 Santa Ana Road. Um the parcel is designated um North Gateway. It's um surrounded by mostly developed parcels with uh adjacent to a b vacant parcel with mostly commercial uses to the north, to the west, and residential to the south and the east. Thank you. Yeah, it worked the first time. Sorry. Um the propo the applicant is requesting um approval of site and architectural review to convert an existing car wash into a laundromat. The existing building is 2790 ft and it's comprised of two different sections. Um 22230 ft will be the laundromat and 560 um square foot will be a retail which will be an office. Um it also includes demolition of a wooden deck which is wouldn't be beneficial or used for the um laundromat, removal of two pergulas and improvements such as new concrete areas, new curb and gutter, new wheel stops, um repaved parking spaces, an ADA um accessible space, a bicycle space, additional landscaping um that actually meets the current standards and there are hours operation will be um they will operate operate daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Next, please. This is the site they're proposing. Um it includes a pedestrian path of travel, a trash enclosure that's compliant with current requirements. Um, as I mentioned, additional landscaping on the front and on the sides and restriped um, parking as well. Other infrastructure improvements and um, exterior improvements include um, new paint and architectural features to enhance the existing building um, which is at the moment a little bit outdated um, especially when you consider the surrounding Starbucks and other areas. Yeah. So, this will be a nice addition to um to the building. Next, please. This is what they're proposing for the west building. Um just most of the work is um paint related and just new windows and architectural features. Next, please. This is the south view. Next, please. And the north view. Um they have a color scheme including dark gray, light gray, and some um browns. Next, please. The proposal um is compliant with both the general plan and the zoning in which it's located. The zoning requires for um I'm sorry for external modifications to submit and oh my goodness I'm sorry to submit site an architectural review um to ensure that the what they're proposing the elevations the exterior modifications are compliant with what the zoning um district requires of them. since they're not proposing any exterior ex any expansions or any changes of use that are not allowed within a site

architectural um application covers what they are um requesting. Next please. Uh the project is exempt from um California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to section 15302 because it is an existing facility and as I mentioned they're not expanding the building. They're not doing anything else except changing the use which is allowed in that zoning and complying with the general plan. Next please. The planning commission um can choose one of the following options. Um option number one is to adopt a resolution approving SNA 2025-2 subject to the findings and conditions contained in the draft resolution. Uh option number two is to adopt a resolution appro approving SNA 2025-2 with findings or conditions of approval modified by the planning commission. Option number three is to deny the proposed project or option number four is to continue the hearing and direct staff to provide additional information or clarification. Staff recommends the planning commission um select option one for this item. And that completes my um presentation. If you have any questions for me.

Thank you. Do we have questions from the commission? Yep. I'm just curious. Um, so you're the uh you're representing the applicant. I'm the planner. The applicant um should be available online. I'm not sure they have a they might have a presentation.

Okay. I just had a question. Um this might be more for staff or how long does a does um a process like this typically u take? Would you say ballpark? I would say it typically takes about two reviews for your typical commercial projects. So that's in the city's hands with three months and then it usually takes about a month in between on a relatively fast project for comments to be addressed by the applicant. So my average short fast turnaround project would be like a fivemon project for a commercial renovation like this. Um if it's in the applicant's hands takes longer to respond to comments it can take longer.

Okay. I just want to assume worst case scenario. Um, and if the applicant is here, um, because I know business, you know, you need to start making money on that commercial property. I understand that you have, you know, bills to pay. Um, what is your deadline looking like? Like like like what say worst case scenario like this takes a year. Is that feasible or not feasible? Do you want to have them do their presentation? That's Yeah, we'll do that. I just wanted to set that kind of precedent. Okay, thank you. Um, we can now open up the public hearing at 611. Do we have a presentation from the applicant?

I I don't know that there's a presentation, but I did see a hand raised, but it may have just gone down. So, give me one moment. The last one would be the applicant. The red in red. Yeah, that one.

Yeah. Can you guys hear me? Yes. Yeah. So, I'm I'm the owner of this parcel once I got the approval. So, we will construct this side and remodel it uh within 6 months. So all the funds are there and and to add more we are bringing state-of-the-art machines uh for the community still there the applicant is our escribe just went down so we can't hear them.

Can you guys hear me? Oh, there we go. Yes. Yeah. So, answering uh to the to the question of the uh commission members uh uponce upon approval. So, we'll we'll construct this site uh within 6 months after building approvals, building department approvals. Okay. Thank you. Is there anything else you'd like to share before we go to public comment?

Uh uh the other thing I'll add, we'll be bringing state of the art machines uh as big as 120 lb washers and multiple 80 lb washers which uh are not currently currently available for the community. So that's what we are planning for for our community here.

Thank you staff. Do we have any public comments on this item? Uh we have no speakers online and no uh speakers in the chambers.

Okay. Thank you. We will now close the public hearing at 6:14. Is there further discussion from the commission on this item? Do you all have any comments, questions, concerns? Like I said, I'm just going to go back. My only I I just um I'm hoping that like we can get get this uh project through um in like a timely manner. And I think um I guess that's all I wanted to reiterate because I know that's been a topic of of contention. I just wanted to reiterate that. That's all I have to say.

Thank you. I do have a couple u comments or questions I would like the commission to consider and and see if you have the answers. U I live in that neighborhood and so I know that the building is outdated and um but I'm curious were the other what do the other businesses say about a laundromat in that area? We haven't received any um comments um supporting or opposing. Yeah. Okay. I I would just be curious to see if if we can check in with the neighbor. Is that something that is normally done? Is it a protocol? Is it

We do require them to post signs. um advertising, letting the community know of what's proposed and that was done. We do have confirmation that that was done and we did not receive any input. We also send out um notifications to surrounding property owners. We also didn't receive any input on that either way. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I think my understanding is that normally it would be if if it's a potential nuisance, that's where the the neighbors would respond. But um but that's all assuming the impacts, right? And it sounds like it's not going to be too much of it actually. Yeah. I don't I don't see it being very different. Plus, there's other office space in

Yeah. Yeah. So, it'll be the small portion of the building going to be the retail office space. Uh is there a motion on this item? I'll make a motion to approve staff's recommendations uh for um item 6.1 uh site and architecture review 2025 to converting an existing uh parcel at 40 Santana Road. Is there a second? Second. All those in favor? I I

I Anyone opposed? Abstain or zero. Motion carries. Thank you. Uh next item on our agenda is commission business 7.1 review of proposed phase 3 zoning ordinance amendment language of city of Hollister zoning.

Good evening. There it goes. Tonight is the third study session for phase three of the zoning ordinance amendments, which is the permitting sections of our chapter. Um, again, once we get through all the study sessions, we'll go to a public hearing where we'll be repealing and replacing the current um chapter 17.24 of the zoning ordinance. It works and then it stopped working. Tonight, we're looking at four chapters. We have uh zoning ordinance amendments, prezoning and annexations, development agreements, and temporary use permits. Next slide, please. Chapter 17.84 will be the new chapter for zoning ordinance amendments. This chapter is to establish the procedures for amending the text of the zoning ordinance as well as amending the zoning map, which is a reszone of a property. An amendment to the text of a zoning ordinance can be initiated by staff. the planning commission or the city council. And an amendment to the to a zoning map can also be a amended can be requested by the planning commission staff or the city council as well as an applicant or property owner. This chapter is um rewritten to comply with state law and to move sections around from within the current zoning ordinance so that they're all in one location so they're easier to find. But no major changes are proposed to this this chapter. Next slide, please. Chapter 17.86 will be prezoning and annexation. This chapter establishes the rules and procedures for requesting an annexation into the city of Hollister. Prior to applying to LAFCO for annexation, an applicant is supposed to

come into the city. They are going to request the initiation of a pre-zone and general plan amendment and the city council would then determine if they would like them to proceed or not. They would then if council gives them authorization would begin the process for prezonings. Same as with general plan amendments, you would be making a recommendation to the city council on their request and then the city council would make the decision. After that, they would then um apply a laughco for annexation into the city. In regards to this section of the zoning ordinance, it was cleaned up to make it more clear from the existing. We added some more information consistent with state law, but we are proposing one uh significant modification. Right now, when an applicant receives prezoning approval, their prezoning does not expire. And we have several that are were pre-zoned several years ago and their pre-zone is to a zoning ordinance that doesn't exist anymore. And so what we are recommending is that after a two-year period, if they aren't moving forward with their annexation, that that prezoning then expires so that we don't continue to have old pre-zones on the records where when they eventually annex, they are annexing to a zoning district we no longer have. So that is one major change we're recommending in that chapter. Next slide please. Chapter 17.88 is development agreements. Development agreements are an agreement between the city and a property owner or applicant that allows um the applicant to have special concessions as well as the city can ask for things as well within a development agreement. Um this chapter is designed again to take the existing chapter, make it a little bit more clear and make sure that we comply with state law. Government uh development agreements are regulated by

the government code. Um we within the chapter inputed what what you might have in a development agreement and typically what we do see for development agreements is the applicant might want a longer extension of their project approval. So now if you have a site and architectural review for example, you get two years plus you can have an extension. They may request a number of years. Development agreements for projects would come before you as part of the project and you're going to make a recommendation to the city council. The city council then adopts it. They're adopted by ordinance. Uh no significant changes have been made other than making sure that the section the chapter is a little bit more clear and that it does comply with state law. Next slide, please. Chapter 17.100 is temporary use permits. And temporary use permits are required for temporary uses that are not otherwise allowed for the zoning the zoning district in which a property is located, but they should be allowed on a limited basis to support businesses. The city currently and and will continue to do so as recommended categorizes temporary use permits as either minor or major. Minor temporary use permits are typically reviewed within 10 days or even over the counter. Those are things for that are very minor such as a flower sale or a parking lot sale that we can review their site plan and typically you approve it very quickly. Major temporary use permits are uses that do have the potential to result in significant impacts on the city. So for example, a circus, a carnival, something where they are taking up a large space, there could be u need for more emergency services, police services, traffic could be impacted. So those do take a little bit longer and those are typically reviewed within 45 days, sometimes longer

depending on the nature of a project. Obviously, if a project involves a significant number of resources for the city, it will take a little bit longer. uh staff is not recommending many significant changes to this chapter. We are still keeping the major and minor. We listed it out a little bit more clearly in the draft so it's easier to understand. And then we did add a few other events that we would like to allow within the city um that we think would be beneficial. Uh those are temporary parking for an event. So if a site wanted to provide temporary parking for an event, they could do so with the permit. uh major one-day events, outdoor company events, and then temporary live entertainment associated with a commercial use. So, for example, if a business wanted to have live entertainment one day of the year on St. Patrick's Day, they could apply for their temporary use permit, whereas otherwise they wouldn't be allowed to do it because the code requires a conditional use permit. So, we're trying to give them a few more opportunities um through the temporary use permit process. Next slide, please. So u next steps are if you have any recommended changes we will incorporate them into the draft. We will continue to bring draft chapters back to you on an ongoing basis until we are done. I believe we have anticipated two to three more study sessions. So then we will be complete with the permitting chapter and then once all study sessions are complete we'll move on to public hearings.

It's okay. I think we've got some computers restarting over here. So hopefully we don't lose our main one. Uh so that concludes my presentation. If you have any questions or recommended changes um for the draft ordinances I'd be happy to hear them. Thank you. Do we have any questions from the commission? Um to clarify on the developer agreement, what is the change that you're proposing in this?

So for development agreements, there's not really any changes proposed. Development agreements really come out of state law and there is not much that we can change. The chapter is just cleaned up from what's existing to make it more clear that this is what the process is. These are the things you can request as part of your development agreement. So it's a little bit easier to understand. Okay. So it's just formatting. Yeah, it's just formatting and a little cleanup language. You meant you mentioned um that that if um someone has a they had an annexation that goes beyond like forever basically and there's new

what is it? Um there's new codes I guess and that that uh that might not be consistent with that the way it was annexed or it was considered to be annexed I guess at at that time. Right. And so that means it wasn't officially finalized. It was just in process. We have several properties where they received approval from the city but they never applied to LAFCO. So they never even took the next step. Um, two years should be enough time to get your process, get your project through through LAFCO, but we have many that I think are over 15 years old that they've never moved forward.

So, can can you like just give me a quick example so I kind of understand how there's a conflict? So, there's one on

Yeah. So the the what happens is we've changed um like in 2008 when we adopted our current zoning map and our current zoning languages which is your R1 and your R2 and and your general commercial your north gateway our west gateway mixeduse all of our current zoning districts the current zoning districts did not exist at all. So, we didn't go from R1 to R1. We had zoning districts like R1S and um C2 and CS1 and CS2. So, those zoning districts don't even exist anymore. So, when the city does a big zoning change, like right now, you know, as you know, we're doing a general plan update and along with that, we'll be reszoning a bunch of properties. And so, these properties that were pre-zoned in anticipation of annexation, but then never finished the rest of the annexation process to actually become incorporated into the city. they're kind of just floating because our current ordinance doesn't have a a timeline from once you have your pre-zone approval to when you need to get annexed. And so then that then you're actually zoned and in the city. So we're proposing to adopt into the new ordinance a timeline to make sure those annexations happen.

Okay. And so and thank you for that. So then um that means that if they changed the the zoning designation or whatever the from R1 or from R whatever it used to be to R1, does that mean that the use is different or does that does that mean the could it depend? It could. Yeah, it really depends because the the entire R1 S zone in this case or it just isn't in the city's ordinance anymore, but they have an approval to come into the city and then once they're annexed, they would be zoned R1s because all these but the ordinance doesn't include R1s anymore. All these are like defined based off of use, right? Or

Yeah. Yeah. So there So, you know, our zoning code will have our use tables like our commercial use table that we recently adopted, right? where it tells you all the uses that are allowed in West Gateway mixed use and the downtown mixed use. Prior to 2008, the city didn't have those mixed use designations. That was one of the big changes that happened in the 2005 general plan was they created mixed use as a new zoning district. And so they had to rewrite the whole zoning code. So something that was like um I think we had a highway commercial zone or something like that that we just don't have that name anymore. We don't have any regulations for highway commercial anymore. Everything got changed into the current general commercial or north gateway commercial, whatever we whatever it currently is in our current zoning map. And those pre-zones, there's not very many, but there are a couple. The the zoning district doesn't even exist anymore.

Got it. Thank you. That makes sense. So all these outdated applications, they're just null nullified or if this gets passed, they would be okay. There's there's under 10, I think, at this point. Yeah, there's not there's not that many. So, you'd probably just notify them, hey, by the way, this Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. The council would have to amend the the zoning map and adopt the ordinance. It would it would be a process to to eliminate those pre-zones, but we are proposing in this chapter that prezones that follow this chapter would have a timeline on them. I definitely support that those um pre-zones especially if just R1 because I know like R1 is kind of you know people like a lot of developers still like the R1. So I'm definitely in support of having kind of like a expiration on some of these. So

all right, do we have public comments on this item? We have uh no speaker cards and no hands raised online. Thank you. Is there further discussion from the commission on this item? Okay. Thank you. We'll move on to eightformational reports. Uh does anyone have reports? Vice Chair Torres, we actually have a 72, which is the planning commission minutes discussion. That's what I thought, but it's not on this one.

Oh, that that might have been just our mistake on the the backup. Apologies for that. I did see that and but I didn't see it. Yeah. No, that's on us. But yes, 72. Okay. 72. So, uh, do we have

uh Yes. So, this will this will be me. Um, so this item is coming from a request of the commission to talk more about the planning commission minutes um at the November 20th meeting of last year. So I just prepared a quick staff report about our current process. But the current process, we do take action minutes, which is what the city council um takes. And then as long as we aren't having worldwide Microsoft issues, we record our meetings and we're live streamed to YouTube, Zoom, Cap TV is here, our local news station, and then escribe, our agenda software records that as well. And all those recordings are available. So um the the city just takes action minutes and staff takes action minutes. And what what we capture as far as discussion and action is going to be if you're making, you know, a a change to the resolution draft and then adopting it. At the last meeting, if the commissioner will recall, uh you I I believe it or at the November meeting, you took action on the October minutes, but you made a change to them. And so that change is detailed in the minutes so that the action you took which was revising the October minutes says what change you made from the recommendation. And so we're going to capture the discussion that's relevant to those actions and actions that are relevant to the items. And then what we do is the commission gets to see these minutes before they're published and make a motion on them. So you always have an opportunity to say you you made a spelling mistake or we'd like you to include this other discussion that we had and then we're happy to do that. So with those October minutes that you approved in November, we made that change that uh is reflected in your motion in the November minutes and those October minutes were published with the change you made through your action. So with that, because it was a request of the commission to talk more about this, happy to have any further discussion or questions on the minutes that you guys

see for your meetings.

Are there questions from the commission? So it I mean it sounds like basically we're agreeing that um there should be at least a little bit more ultimately um information referencing at least the discussion of the items not necessarily and I get it like I mean I guess prior commissions it was only recorded what was like actions taken but I I personally I'm just not used to that. And I I honestly think it's a little it's harder to trace back how decisions first started like because ultimately it first starts as a conversation then it gets into actual like recommendations and ultimately into potential changes. um until you can that's why to me minutes should at least reflect a summary of of kind of the recommended thoughts right of a potential decision you know whether it's a policy change right or or recommendation to the council I mean I know now the the city council has you know ultimately made it explicit in our bylaws that says we can actually make recommendations policy recommendations to the council um so and obviously I don't want to make staff have to type up word for word, but I do believe that at least kind of a reference point of, you know, there was a recommend recommendation from Commissioner, you know, Torres on XYZ and that, you know, and then from there at least you can trace back how the conversation started.

And that's not pretty much what's going to happen, right? Is that what you just

I I think that I would say that it is. I think what happened with the particular item that kind of brought this all to the attention is that that item was a study session, just a presentation by by staff. And the unfortunately the the items that we talked about bringing back aren't something that I can bring back. And so that's why I didn't capture them. But but we did put them in the minutes at your recommendation. So if if there ever was a discussion where it was something that you know you were asking for more information so an item was continued and then that information needed to be captured so that staff could bring that back it that that is something that that happened and it's going to get brought back and that's specifically why. So I do apologize for not capturing those things. It was because of the conversation we were having in September at that meeting about how those things weren't things that could come back. So, I didn't capture them in the minutes to say they were going to come back because because they they they weren't going to come back. So, like for the example, these minutes discussion, um they are in the minutes and they they were going to come back and and so that's captured in the minutes. And I will also say I'll capture a little bit more nuance detail of the discussion kind of for for topics in the the planning commissioner reports section of the minutes every time I try to get what you're saying um about events that you might attend have attended or things like that. It's really going to be the actions about those items that are on the agenda are going to be pretty we talked about amending this condition and then the motion amended that condition as we discussed. That's kind of how we capture those action minutes.

Okay. Do we do public comment on these two? Okay.

Um, in general, I mean, basically, from what it sounds like, cuz right, so we're a planning commission. We're not legislators. We're not councilmen or supervisors. So, we're not, you know, when they report out, they're like reporting out, I went to go visit the grand opening or the whatever. And it's like that's that stuff. It's neither here nor there, right? Unless it's like, you know, maybe pertinent to something that is going to is going to come. That's where I gets it gets a little nuance. So, but I get it. I mean, obviously, yeah, those kind of things aren't necessarily as important, but sometimes it's like a question could even become an eventual discussion which will become a policy consideration and then it's like, well, how did they get here if you don't have the record of it? So, so I don't know maybe even a little bit more clarity on what that means for for these rec for these ideas to become an actual or thoughts, right? Or even questions. I mean,

well, I mean, we get them in maybe we kind of are important. Yeah. And so we could review them and then like we did, right? And then we'll say, "Oh, we didn't mention, you know, X discussion. Can we make sure that we include it, you know, as we go?"

Yeah. And if if I could potentially make a suggestion, if we're into especially on these like study session items, um if if as we're talking and the commission wants to make sure something's noted for the record, you could tell me that in this meeting and I'll make sure that we capture that note. Um just for when when it's kind of a topic of discussion, but it maybe it isn't relevant to the action that's going to be taken or in the case of a study session, there might not even be any action that's really on the agenda. Um, but I'd be happy to and we're here capturing, you know, I'm taking notes, Miriam's taking notes, my team's taking notes. So, if there's something that we want to make sure gets captured, even if it might be just kind of a topic we're talking about, can we throw this in the minutes and then staff will grab that for you for the minutes so you'll see it at the next meeting if I can offer that suggestion?

Sure. Thank you. Let's see if are there any public comments on this item? Uh we have no speaker cards and no hands raised online. Okay. Is there any further discussion from the commission on this item? No. I mean I I I think I agree. Um for me like I I guess we have to be forward thinking. Like if I'm thinking of something that ultimately could lead to potential decision action, then I'd have to make make it a point to to mention it to staff. Can we please put this on the record? Right. Um then that way it's added to the minutes, right?

And that goes for all agenda items, even if they're justformational, no action.

Yeah. And and I would I would lean towards theformational ones, especially when there's no action. Um so those are the ones where there's not going to be much for the minutes unless it it is something like a request to bring something back that I actually can bring back. And and I know I'm understanding from the conversations we've been having over the months, right? like when we're having these discussions and it maybe it isn't something that will be brought back but I can look at more of the details but there's still going to be action minutes um for the most part but when it comes to projects with actions and you know a resolution we haven't seen it much because we haven't seen a lot of projects where we're making amendments staff in my years staff has been more able to be more proactive with our draft resolutions but in the past we used to make a lot changes to resolutions here at the meetings. We need to remove condition 56 because of this. We need to change the language in condition 40 because it said 10 foot landscape strip, but it actually only needs to be a five. So, we were making a lot of changes and all that was being captured in the minutes because it led to a motion that was just we moved to adopt the resolution with amendment to condition 47 as discussed, right? But that motion didn't have the whole conversation. So the conversation is captured so that the action can be understood. That makes sense.

It makes sense. Thank you. Let's move on toformational reports. Planning commission reports. Are there any

I mean I so I I kind of alluded to it. My only report is that we, you know, the the council officially decided that um they they they'd like to have recommendations on changes to um you know, ultimately the process, right, with the planning department. Um one of the other things that I've really been thinking about and just for the the commission to consider is um and we can have further discussion about I think it's important. I actually um I remember it being brought up at a prior commission meeting when we're talking about projects like you know what's in the queue you know kind of the because there's privacy elements right which I understand maybe potential NDAs you know there's kind of hesitancy for us to have that information

um I mentioned actually at the council meeting that the Brown Act technically requires us to have that information but granted that because of the privacy elements elements. Maybe we can have our own close session element to certain things to make sure that we're one protecting the city, but two, we have a better understanding because really it's for us to have a better understanding so that we can um figure out how to how to troubleshoot some of these issues that we're dealing with. It's a good point.

Yeah. So, I think the goal is to have a transparent conversation about items that the council is wanting to focus on, but it's not necessarily within our, you know, by the bylaws, maybe not the bylaws. So what is the approach there? I just want to be able to capture that and just like what would be the next step to be able to like after we review the process or have suggestions to the city council like what would be a transparent way to do that? Uh, as far as the bylaws update, I I'll I'll let the commission give the full report, but no, I'm I am going to talk about the bylaws and and hopefully I can answer that question and what I was going to let you guys know, but if not, we can we can talk to some extent because it's not on the agenda about it, but hopefully I'll answer your questions, but I do want to let the commission give their reports.

But may maybe So, if I could make a recommendation to have that that agenda item as a discussion item at the next meeting on a potential close session element. um you know and and if that could be a recommendation that the council agrees or the commission agrees that we forward that as a recommendation again. Wait, point of cl point of clarification. You're talking about the having a agenda item to discuss the updates to the B. So just like the city council has close session session.

Okay. we can add as a recommendation for the council to consider post session also so that we can get a little bit more of the inside info on these projects and that way there's a protection to the city right because understandably so they don't want to they can't just completely disclose right because there's privacy and legal elements but we should be able to at least see it close session and that way you know when you report out obviously you're limited on what you're able to report out because you're not going to report out what's what's legally protected to be. So before we go move on, you made a motion to put this on the agenda for next week discussion item.

I think maybe this is a good time to go over the by what the bylaws change was just so you understand the process to add items to the agenda because the council did adopt a specific process. Okay.

Yeah. So, it's not it's not really to add items to the planning commission agenda. That that that remains this kind of casual how we got the minutes. You know, if it's something that I can bring back to you, it's in your perview, I I will. You know, I can't promise the next meeting. If it's something more complicated, but within our ability to write up the conversation, we will. What the bylaws is adding is that you can uh recom make a recommendation on really anything they didn't specify um through their process. And it's a similar process to what the council does now for when they want to make a recommendation to the council to consider an item for a future agenda for the council. Um, so there's a form. I did email it to you all this afternoon, but I know and I noted in that email that we are adop we're going to appoint a new chair and vice chair. So I might have to make a a titles change depending on how that goes this evening and then I'll resend that form to you. But there'll be a form that you'll you can submit to me via email or to Miriam can also capture it um the Wednesday before the meeting and then we can put it into our agenda. And what'll happen is at the end of our meeting, it'll likely be planning commission report, staff report, and then council item recommendations. Um, and then the discussion, it won't be a discussion. The discussion will center around does the commission want to forward that form to the council. And the way that the council does it, I figured we'd follow a similar process of a kind of thumbs up, thumbs down. We get three thumbs up. I'll pass it to the city clerk who will put it on the council's agenda through their process and then the council will do a thumbs up thumbs down at their meetings and then it'll get on an agenda from whatever staff person it's relevant to and then if it's a planning item like a zoning ordinance that we're working on or things like that that you make recommendations through the code that's

in your purview. It comes to you through that process that's already in the code. So, this is really going to be for those topics like code enforcement and the building department and these things, fire department, all these things that aren't things we can have conversations here about, but you want to let the council know. They wanted to give you as a body a different way to have conversations that are outside of your kind of codified conversation topics, you can go. Three of us want the form that you guys filled out to be passed along um to that. Thank you for that. Is there any other discussion on that? Can we move on? Thank you. To go.

I mean, so it sounds like we have to agree on filling out a form. Somebody will fill it out, complete it, right? Any one of you can fill out a form. You don't have to agree to it in advance and then it'll come back to our agenda and then we will all in the meeting agree or not agree to the request. Right. That is correct. So, one of us would submit the form the Wednesday before. Yeah. That gives me enough time to kind of get it through all those steps in our software. Okay. And specifically for items for the council, correct? For their agenda. Yeah. All we do is decide to move forward or not. Okay. Thank you.

So, um yeah, because trying to remember, I was I was reading the red lines. The red line was all the changes. There's a lot of red lines, but um but yeah, it has to do with the planning commission may recommend future city council agenda items or city council consideration. Uh commissioners wishing to have an item included on a future city council agenda must first bring in the item before the planning commissioners. Any commissioner requesting an item for a future city council agenda must complete a city council future agenda item request

form, which is what what um planning director is talking about. Um, so it's kind of the same thing. It sounds like it's just filling out the form um prior and then it goes and so from what I'm hearing then someone fills it out, whoever it is, it it gets automatically put on the agenda at that point as long as it's before that deadline. Andre so then at that point it's for we already get that information in advance. We decide on agreeing or disagreeing with it, right? And then at that point when there's an agreement, if there's an agreement, then it gets forwarded to the council, right? Yeah. Which is kind of the same thing.

Yeah. It's really just a the discussion here about items that aren't in your purview. You can you can talk about Yep. We want to forward that form. We like the idea um to the council, but we can't really have the conversations here like the things that we've talked about where it just isn't a council discussion. But you do have the ability to write it down and say, "Yeah, we think the council should talk about this council item." And so it'll be kind of a a quick we got this form in. It'll be part of your agenda packets with all the details from whichever commissioner submits the item. And then um you guys will have that background coming into the meeting. And so it'll be a matter of we got this this request about this topic, you guys have seen it. Do you think we should pass that along to the council? Um and then we will. And I would just say that that form that you complete will be what goes to the city council. So the more information or that you can include to really describe to them what it is you want them to consider, it would be helpful.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Are we ready to move on to 8.2 planning division reports? Staff, do we have any reports? Uh so I just wanted to report on the bylaws. So we'll kind of say that was mostly my report. And the other thing that I just wanted to let the commission know, hopefully your emails were included. I made sure to ask our consultant to update our mailing list with our new commissioner's emails, but the general plan, the public review draft of the revised general plan was published um on Friday the 16th. So that's on our Hollister 240.org project website um for people to look at. And so that'll be coming to you in March is the plan. Okay. Thank you.

Is that an agenda item in March? Yes. Yeah, it it'll be coming to the planning commission for an adoption hearing at your regular March meeting is the plan. All right. And item number nine, appointment of our 2026 chair and vice chair. So, we get to figure out who you can nominate yourself or you can nominate someone. We have discussion for sure.

Yes. I I'm just going to put it out there. I personally um I'm thinking Peter Hernandez's chair and the reason for that is just his experience on the county um so his intergovernmental experience uh his understanding of the Robert's rules and I think he's really been instrumental on kind of giving us more of a voice and a platform. Um yeah, so I digress. So that's just I'm going to let you guys share what you guys think, but yeah. So nomination, do you accept first of all? Sure.

And is there and is there anyone else who wants to nominate anybody or nominate you if you're interested, but you made some good points about your experience. So I'm you know just for your experience as well. Thank you. and I accept too. So, so now we're How do we I think the first nomination you take a you do a motion vote. Okay. And then Yeah. And then we just default then Yeah.

Well, you you go backwards. So, the second um the second motion is considered first. So, you would say, is there a second for the nomination of um vice chair Torres De Launa? D Luna. Um and then you would if there's no second and no yes vote then you would move on to the first if that makes sense. Okay. Yeah. You go backwards. You go back. Okay. So is there a second or myself for Torres Deluna? Also I could then you call all those in favor I I Anyone opposed? Obviously me obvious.

All right. Abstain. Okay. So three for her to be Yeah. Make sure chair vice chair or chair. Chair. Oh, take it back. I apologize. I thought for yourself to be vice chair. I I miss I would Yeah. Yeah. title. That's clarify. Let's clarify. Okay. Okay. Sorry about that. Okay. Because you nominated I know. Yes. Peters. Yeah. I was like, "Okay, so let's start over. Can we Okay, so is there a second for me for Torres Luna to be chair?"

We know the answer. Yeah. Probably going to be a stalemate, right? It's going to be You could second yourself. Oh, I could second myself. Okay. Well, there you go. Then I'll second it myself. That way you can get the vote. Yeah. And then at least call the vote. Um, all those in favor I I oppose. Nay. Or abstain to be to be nice. Okay. And um Okay. Abstain. So then we have two. I didn't hear Commissioner Rodriguez's vote. I abstained from the vote. So then we don't have a quorum. Oh, so nay. Okay, that's helpful. Sorry. Okay, so two yes, two no.

Yes. Oh, no. There was one one no. Oh, right. One obscene. Right. Right. So, there was two yes and one no. Yeah. And so that's a yes. Oh, it is. Right. So, right. So, the quorum is three because there was an absention. Okay. So, so the majority is two of three. Okay. So, that's why it's a Yes. Yes. Okay. So, then we do the vice chair, right? So, is there So, yes. It's on the chairs. Yeah. So, is there a nomination for vice chair? I'll make a I'll nominate uh Peter Hernandez to be vice chair. Second. Do you accept? Yes. All those in favor?

I I. Anyone opposed? Abstain. Okay. We're all in agreement. Okay. And I think that's everything. Yep. Meeting adjourned