WHAT HAPPENED: The Planning Commission approved a...

WHAT HAPPENED:

The Planning Commission approved a permit to allow live

entertainment at Spark Restaurant.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The Planning Commission unanimously agreed to allow live

entertainment for special events at the contemporary Italian bistro.

Entertainment could include live music, such as light jazz, or a disc

jockey. The 4,000-square-foot restaurant was also granted rights to

create a 200-square-foot dance floor.

Spark Restaurant is in the upstairs of the Pierside Pavilion at

300 Pacific Coast Highway. Keith Bohr abstained and Jan Shomaker was

absent.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The Planning Commission began to sort through and identify its

priorities for the upcoming year.

WHAT IT MEANS:

At a study session Tuesday, Planning Commissioners sorted through

a long list of items they had discussed at a recent workshop and put

them into order of importance.

Issues identified as priorities include the Downtown Parking

Master Plan, extra parking for the approved Strand project and water

quality issues, such as urban runoff and wastewater treatment.

Scheduling a presentation by the Environmental Board was also set

aside as a top priority.

The commission will complete the list of priorities at its next

study session.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The Planning Commission approved amendments to the Planning

Commission bylaws.

WHAT IT MEANS:

For the first time since 1995, the Planning Commission voted

Tuesday to make several amendments to its bylaws.

A subcommittee, consisting of Planning Commission Chair Randy

Kokal and Commissioners Steve Ray and Bob Dingwall have been meeting

for the past two months, both as a subcommittee and with the Planning

Commission, to make recommendations on changes to the regulations

that the group abides by.

Some of the main amendments included a more specific definition of

the duties of the commission’s secretary, more notice for special

meetings and automatic succession of the commission’s chair by the

vice-chair. The language was also adjusted to be gender neutral.

The amended bylaws will be sent to the City Council for final

approval.

WHAT WAS SAID:

“It provided us with an opportunity to engage in discussion

between the commission and staff as to procedures and roles of the

commission and staff. We also discussed how to do work more

efficiently and effectively.” Planning Commissioner Steve Ray.