Subd. 1. Establishment, composition and terms. A Planning Commission is hereby established composed of not less than nine, nor more than 11 members who shall serve four-year staggered terms. All members of the Planning Commission shall be qualified by knowledge or experience to act in matters pertaining to the development of a city zoning plan.
Subd. 2. Meetings and expenditures. The Planning Commission shall hold at least one regular meeting each month. On or before September 1 of each year, the Planning Commission shall submit to the Council a report of its work during the preceding year. Expenditures of the Planning Commission shall be within amounts appropriated for the purpose by the Council.
Subd. 3. Program of work.
A. The Planning Commission shall proceed with the preparation and adoption of a program of work, outlining activities proposed to be undertaken in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties.
B. Such a program will include:
1. An outline of data and information to be assembled as a basis for the city plan;
2. An outline of subjects to be covered by the city plan; and
3. An outline of types of procedure necessary to make the city plan effective.
C. The Planning Commission may, by resolution, revise its program of work from time to time.
Subd. 4. City plan.
A. Preparation and contents. It shall be the function and duty of the Planning Commission to prepare and adopt a comprehensive city plan for the physical development of the city, including proposed public buildings, street arrangements and improvements, public utility services, parks, playgrounds and other similar developments, the use of property, the density of population and other matters relating to the physical development of the city. The plan may be prepared in sections, each of which shall relate to a major subject of the plan, as outlined in the Commission’s program of work.
B. Adoption. The preparation, adoption and amendment of the comprehensive municipal plan follow the procedures contained in M.S. § 462.355, as it may be amended from time to time.
C. Manner of execution. Upon the adoption of the city plan or any section thereof, it shall be the duty of the Planning Commission to recommend to the Council reasonable and practical means for putting into effect the plan or section thereof in order that the same will serve as a pattern and guide for the orderly physical development of the city and as a basis for the efficient expenditure of the funds thereof relating to the subjects of the city plan. The means shall consist of a zoning plan, the control of subdivision plats, a plan of future streets, coordination of the normal public improvements of the city, a long term program of capital expenditures and such other matters as will accomplish the purposes of this section.
Subd. 5. Zoning plan. The Planning Commission, upon its own motion, may and, upon instructions by the Council, shall prepare a proposed revised zoning plan for the city. When instructed by the Council to hold a public hearing thereon before recommendation of such a plan to it, the Planning Commission shall hold at least one public hearing thereon after a notice similar to that required by Subd. 4, Subpar. B. The same procedure shall apply for the preparation of any plan of proposed rights- of-way for future streets or highways or the future widening of existing streets or highways, or for the reservation of land for other public purposes.
Subd. 6. Map of proposed future extensions and widening of streets. The Planning Commission, with the assistance of the City Engineer, may and, upon instructions by the Council, shall prepare an official map of the platted and unplatted portions of the city and adjoining territory or portions thereof, indicating upon the map the proposed future extension or widening of streets of the city within the existing platted and developed territory or across the unplatted territory. After the map has been prepared and a hearing on it has been held, as provided in Subd. 5, it shall be submitted to the Council which shall thereupon consider the map and may adopt it or any part of it with the amendments as it deems advisable. Before the adoption by the Council, a public hearing shall be held upon the proposal at least ten days after a notice thereof has been published in a newspaper published in the city. After the map has been adopted by the Council and filed with the County Recorder, whenever any existing street or highway is widened or improved, any new street is opened or lands for public purpose are acquired by action of the city, it shall not be required in the proceedings to pay for any building or structure placed without a permit or in violation of conditions of a permit after the filing of a map within the limits of the mapped street, outside of any building line that may have been established upon the existing street or within any area thus reserved for public purposes.
(`80 Code, § 2.53)