The Planning Commission must prepare and maintain comprehensive plans and maps for the future development of the city and make recommendations from time to time of such changes or amendments it deems necessary. Public notice and hearings must be as required by this code and applicable ordinances and laws. Nothing herein prevents the Council from initiating any proposal concerning comprehensive planning, zoning, platting, changes in streets and other matters of general planning nature, provided, however, that any proposal must first be referred to the Planning Commission for any hearings required by law and for their recommendations.
('72 Code, § 250:15)