I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to develop guidelines for handling public hearings before the City Council which involve applicants and/or appellants. This policy addresses public hearings, appeal hearings, and requests from applicants or other interested parties to continue public hearings before the City Council.
II. PROCEDURE
The following outlines each public hearing scenario that involves an applicant, appellant, or both, which follow in substantially the form of the script templates attached to this policy.
Non-Appeal Public Hearings
A. During public hearings for projects brought before the City Council, the Mayor will open the public hearing and request that the City Clerk confirm required noticing has been provided.
B. The Mayor will then call upon staff to provide a presentation.
C. Following staff’s presentation, the Mayor will call upon the applicant (if other than the City) for comments, which will not exceed 15 minutes, unless otherwise directed by the Mayor.
D. The Mayor will next call on any other speakers who wish to make comments, not to exceed three minutes each, unless otherwise directed by the Mayor.
E. Following the public comment portion of the hearing, the applicant will be provided an additional up to five minutes for rebuttal, with the time subject to change at the discretion of the Mayor.
F. Once all comments have been heard, the Mayor will close the public comment portion of the hearing and open the discussion for comments and questions by members of the City Council.
City of Santa Clarita
POLICY/PROCEDURE
Number I-6.12 SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCE OF PUBLIC
HEARINGS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL
ORIGINAL ISSUE EFFECTIVE: 08/27/1991 CATEGORY: LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS CURRENT ISSUE EFFECTIVE:
01/24/202309/23/2025 SUPERSEDES: I-6.1
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
STANDARD MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE
G. Following all City Council discussion, the Mayor will entertain a motion for staff recommendation or other action as determined by the City Council.
Appeal Hearings
A. When a decision is appealed by the applicant or an interested party (appellant), the item will be heard by the City Council during a public hearing.
B. The Mayor will open the public hearing and request that the City Clerk confirm that all required noticing has been provided.
C. The Mayor will then call upon staff to make a presentation.
D. Following staff’s presentation, the Mayor will call upon the appellant (if other than the applicant) for comments, which will not exceed 15 minutes, unless otherwise directed by the Mayor.
E. The Mayor will then call upon the applicant for comments, which will not exceed 15 minutes, unless otherwise directed by the Mayor.
F. The Mayor will then call upon any persons who wish to make a comment, not to exceed 3 minutes each, unless otherwise directed by the Mayor.
G. Following the public comment portion of the hearing, both the applicant and the appellant will be provided an additional up to five minutes for rebuttal (with the applicant going first and the appellant having the last word), with the time subject to change at the discretion of the Mayor.
H. Once all comments have been heard, the Mayor will close the public comment portion of the hearing and open the discussion for comments and questions by members of the City Council.
I. Following all City Council discussion, the Mayor will entertain a motion for staff recommendation or other action as determined by the City Council.
Continuance of a Public Hearing
A. The City Manager may recommend for approval one continuance of a public hearing before the City Council due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
B. A second or subsequent continuance may be granted by the City Council, at its discretion; upon a showing of good cause, at the meeting for which the public hearing is scheduled.
C. If a continuance is granted by the City Council, the item shall be rescheduled as though it were a new request for hearing. All previously requested or scheduled hearing items would be considered preferentially in choosing a new hearing date.
D. Any request for continuance by an applicant shall only be granted upon agreement by the applicant that such continuance will constitute a waiver of any time requirement within which the City is required to perform any act.
III. DEFINITION
“Unforeseen circumstances” shall not include someone other than the applicant or a directly affected party being unavailable for the City Council meeting.
IV. AUTHORITY
By the authority of the City Council.
Jason GibbsWilliam A. Miranda
Mayor
Agenda Item #___
PUBLIC HEARING FOR [TITLE OF ITEM]
[City Council Meeting Date]
1. THE MAYOR MAKES OPENING REMARKS:
“This is the time and place for the public hearing
for TITLE OF ITEM.
The hearing is officially opened. We will receive
comments, questions, and any oral protest from any
interested person.
When all comments have been received, the public
comment portion of the hearing will be closed. City
Clerk?”
2. CITY CLERK REPORTS ON THE HEARING
NOTICE: “All notices required by law have been
provided.”
3. MAYOR COMMENTS:
“City staff will now make a presentation, followed
by presentations from the applicant, after which the
public will have an opportunity to comment.
With that, I would like to turn the time over to
[name and title of staff presenter].”
4. FOLLOWING STAFF’S PRESENTATION, THE
MAYOR STATES:
“The applicant now has up to 15 minutes to address
the City Council. I will now turn the time over to
the applicant.”
5. FOLLOWING APPLICANT PRESENTATION,
MAYOR ASKS IF THERE ARE REQUESTS
TO SPEAK:
“City Clerk, are there any speakers for this item?”
IF YES, MAYOR STATES:
“I will now call each of the speakers up in the order
the cards were received by the City Clerk.
Each speaker will have up to 3 minutes to address
the Council.”
6. FOLLOWING PUBLIC COMMENT, MAYOR
STATES:
“The applicant now has 5 minutes to rebut any
public comments made.”
7. FOLLOWING APPLICANT REBUTTAL,
MAYOR STATES:
“I am now closing the public comment portion of
this hearing.”
8. THE MAYOR ASKS:
“Are there any questions for staff and the applicant,
or is there any discussion by members of the City
Council?”
9. REQUEST FOR MOTION:
The Mayor will entertain a motion for staff
recommendation or other action as determined by
Council.
10. COUNCIL DECISION:
The Mayor announces the decision of the City
Council.
Agenda Item #___
PUBLIC HEARING FOR [TITLE OF ITEM]
[City Council Meeting Date]
1. THE MAYOR MAKES OPENING REMARKS:
“This is the time and place for the appeal of the
Planning Commission decision to [XXX].
The hearing is officially opened. We will receive
comments, questions, and any oral protest from any
interested person.
When all comments have been received, the public
comment portion of the hearing will be closed. City
Clerk?”
2. CITY CLERK REPORTS ON THE HEARING
NOTICE: “All notices required by law have been
provided.”
3. MAYOR COMMENTS:
“City staff will now make a presentation, followed
by presentations from both the applicant and
appellant.
We will then hear public comments, followed by a
rebuttal from the appellant and applicant.
With that, I would like to turn the time over to
[name and title of staff presenter].”
4. FOLLOWING STAFF’S PRESENTATION, THE
MAYOR STATES:
“The appellant now has up to 15 minutes to address
the City Council. I will now turn the time over to
the applicant.”
5. FOLLOWING APPELLANT PRESENTATION,
THE MAYOR STATES:
“The applicant now has up to 15 minutes to address
the City Council. I will turn the time over to the
appellant.”
6. FOLLOWING APPLICANT PRESENTATION,
MAYOR ASKS IF THERE ARE REQUESTS
TO SPEAK:
“City Clerk, are there any speakers for this item?”
IF YES, MAYOR STATES:
“I will now call each of the speakers up in the order
the cards were received by the City Clerk.
Each speaker will have up to 3 minutes to address
the Council.”
7. FOLLOWING PUBLIC COMMENT, MAYOR
STATES:
“The applicant now has 5 minutes to rebut any
public comments made.”
8. FOLLOWING APPLICANT REBUTAL,
MAYOR STATES:
“The appellant now has 5 minutes to rebut any
public comments made.”
9. FOLLOWING APPELLANT REBUTTAL,
MAYOR STATES:
“I am now closing the public comment portion of
this hearing.”
10. THE MAYOR ASKS:
“Are there any questions for staff, the applicant, or
appellant, or is there any discussion by members of
the City Council?”
11. REQUEST FOR MOTION:
The Mayor will entertain a motion for staff
recommendation or other action as determined by
Council.
12. COUNCIL DECISION:
The Mayor announces the decision of the City
Council.