State of California
Governor's Office of Planning and Research

Sources: An Annotated Bibliography for California Planners

The Planning Commission

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California's Conflict of Interest Law for Public Officials; available from the Fair Political Practices Commission, 428 J St., Suite 800, P.O. Box 807, Sacramento, CA 95804, (916) 322-5901.
          This is a brief guide to the Political Reform Act of 1974.

Job of the Planning Commissioner, 4th edition (1987); by Albert Solnit; $23.95 from the American Planning Association Planners Book Service, 122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60603-6107, (312) 786-6344.
          This is a detailed and practical guide on how to be an effective planning commissioner. It discusses how to run a meeting, due process considerations, how to handle staff, and the basics of planning.

Open and Public: A User's Guide to the Ralph M. Brown Act (1994); $10 from the League of California Cities' Publications Department; 1400 "K" St., Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 444-5790, ext. 311.
          This publication discusses, in plain English, the recently revised requirements and application of the open meeting law (Ralph M. Brown Act). It contains examples that illustrate how the law is applied.

The Planning Commissioner's Book (1989); $3.00 from the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, 1400 Tenth St., Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 322-3170.
          This short publication is designed to be both a training tool for new planning commissioners as well as a general reference on planning in California. It reviews the role of the planning commission, the job of the individual commissioner, and state planning law requirements.

The Planning Commissioner's Guide (1984); by David J. Allor; $23.95 from the American Planning Association Planners Book Service, 122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60603-6107, (312) 786-6344.
          This is a book designed to help planning commissioners work together effectively. It provides advice on how to reach decisions in an open, equitable and efficient manner.

"The Role and Responsibility of the Planning Commissioner" (Pappas Telecommunications, Fresno, CA), 1987, 40 minute videotape (available for purchase from the League of California Cities (916) 444-5790).
          The title says it all about this video for planning commissioners.