(A) Organization of the Planning Commission.
(1) The Planning Commission shall consist of six members appointed by the City Council; four members of the general public; one member of the City Council; and one alternate member. The alternate member shall be a non-voting member unless a regular member is absent, in which case the alternate member shall act as a regular voting member. The Council member shall vote only when needed to decide a tie vote and shall act as a liaison to the City Council. Each member other than the Council liaison shall hold office for three years and terms shall be staggered. The Mayor shall appoint the Council liaison on an annual basis with the City Council concurrence. Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the term by action of the City Council.
(2) The Commission shall elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson from its members for a term of one year.
(3) The Commission shall meet a minimum of 11 times a year, once each month, at a regular meeting unless the docket is empty; in which case, the Mayor and/or Chairperson can approve suspension of a meeting. Special meetings shall be advertised in the official newspaper and posted in the City Hall at least ten days in advance of the meeting.
(B) Duties and responsibilities of the Planning Commission under this chapter.
(1) To hold hearings after proper public notice in the official newspaper and individual notice by regular mail of property owners within a minimum of 350 feet of the subject property. The notices shall be given at least ten days before the hearing date; and
(2) To decide within the required time frame the following:
(a) Recommendations to the City Council regarding requested zoning district boundary changes or amendments to this chapter;
(b) To review and provide recommendations to the City Council on proposed plats and to provide recommendations on final plats to the City Council;
(c) To review and approve all metes and bounds property divisions within the city that results in parcels that are under ten acres;
(d) To review and approve requests for conditional use permits with complete findings to justify the decision;
(e) To periodically review the zoning map and ordinances and consider their role in shaping the growth of the community and to recommend changes to the City Council of these documents. To guide growth and current land use toward the goals of the Comprehensive Plan;
(f) To review past actions and direct future actions of the Zoning Administrator;
(g) To recommend on a timely basis that the City Council review the Comprehensive Plan when appropriate;
(h) To keep a record of its proceedings, notifications and justifications for its actions; and
(i) It shall be the duty of each individual member to be present at all meetings of the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment. More than three absences in any one-year period shall be grounds for replacement by the City Council.
(Ord. 332, passed 5-19-2008)