A. Membership:
1. The commission shall consist of nine (9) voting members, a minimum of two (2) from each County Commissioner's district with no more than four (4) from any one district, all appointed by the Board Chairperson and confirmed by majority vote of the Board in compliance with State law.
2. An appointed commission member must be a U.S. citizen and have resided in the County for at least two (2) years prior to appointment; and must remain a resident of the County while serving on the commission.
3. Not more than three (3) commission members may reside within an incorporated City with a population of one thousand five hundred (1,500) or more.
4. The term of office shall be three (3) years and a commission member may serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms.
5. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
6. Commission members shall be selected without respect to political affiliation and may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the Board.
7. A majority of current commission members shall constitute a quorum.
8. At least one regular meeting shall be held each month for not less than nine (9) months of the year and commission members will receive mileage and a stipend to attend regular or special commission meetings as established by the Board.
B. Organization: The commission shall elect a Chairperson and create other offices that may be deemed necessary. The commission may also establish subcommittees, advisory committees or neighborhood groups to advise or assist in carrying out the commission's responsibilities.
C. Rules, Records And Meetings: Written organization papers or bylaws shall be adopted. Records of meetings, hearings, resolutions, studies, findings, permits, and actions taken by the commission shall be maintained and open to the public.
D. Duties And Responsibilities: The commission shall have the following powers and responsibilities:
1. Full authority of the Board as it applies to this title, excluding the authority to adopt ordinances, zone changes, or final approval of platted subdivisions.
2. Review and make recommendations to the Board on amendments to the plan.
3. Periodically review and initiate proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance, and make recommendations to the Board.
4. Review and hold public hearings for all planned unit development, subdivision and zone change applications, and make recommendations to the Board.
5. Review and hold public hearings for all conditional use and variance applications and make appropriate decisions in accordance with this title.
6. Hear all appeals regarding decisions made by the Administrator.
7. Endeavor to promote understanding and public interest of commission activities by holding citizen informational meetings, consulting with public officials, public utilities, educational or other organizations and by holding hearings, doing informational surveys or using other methods to obtain advice on the planning process.
8. With the express consent of the owner, the commission or County employees in the performance of their duties, may enter upon any land and make examinations.
9. The commission shall have the right to seek judicial process as may be necessary to enable it to fulfill applicable commission functions. (Ord. 2012-08, 10-9-2012, eff. 10-26-2012)