38.05.040 Responsibilities.
A. Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors shall review, consider, and when merited certify negative declarations and environmental impact reports (EIRs) as adequate. In cases where the Planning Commission is the decision-making body and has the authority for the final approval of a negative declaration or acts on a decision made by the Planning Director on appeal, the Board shall serve as the appeals body for such Planning Commission actions.
B. County Clerk. The County Clerk shall be responsible for mailing and posting of public notices used as a part of the CEQA decision-making process and for processing appeals for environmental determinations acted on by the Board of Supervisors.
C. Planning Director. The Planning Director or his designee shall be responsible for:
1. Determining whether projects are exempt;
2. Conducting initial studies;
3. Deciding whether to prepare an EIR or a negative declaration;
4. Mailing and posting public notices for Planning Commission meetings;
5. Preparing negative declarations;
6. Preparing responses to comments on environmental documents;
7. Reviewing environmental documents from other agencies;
8. Certifying negative declarations for projects requiring administrative approval;
9. Preparing notices of determination for negative declarations and EIRs;
10. Preparing notices of preparation and completion.
D. Planning Commission. The Planning Commission shall be responsible to serve as:
1. An advisory body to the Board of Supervisors, reviewing, considering and preparing recommendations as to the adequacy of EIRs and negative declarations requiring final Board approval.
2. A decision-making body, reviewing, considering, and certifying the adequacy of negative declarations where the Planning Commission has the authority for final approval. Such Planning Commission actions are subject to appeal before the Board of Supervisors. (See SCC 38.05.100.)
3. In cases where the Planning Director is the decision-making body and has the authority to certify negative declarations for projects requiring administrative approval or to approve other environmental documents, the Planning Commission shall serve as the appeals body. Further appeal of a Planning Commission action is heard before the Board of Supervisors. (Formerly 38.04)