(A) Qualifications of members; terms of office.
(1) There is hereby established a Planning Commission, hereinafter referred to as the “Commission” which shall consist of seven members appointed by the City Council from among the residents of the city.
(2) In addition, two ex-officio members shall be appointed, one from the administrative membership of the city government, and one from the membership of the City Council. Members appointed from and after the effective date of these provisions shall be appointed three, each for a period of one year; two, each for a period of two years; two, each for a period of three years. Appointments to the Planning Commission shall be made by the City Council annually as to each then expired Commission membership position, each appointment to be for a three-year period.
(3) Ex-officio members shall be appointed for annual terms; provided, that membership on the Commission shall terminate with the office from which ex-officio membership is derived, and ex-officio members shall serve during the pleasure of the City Council or as may otherwise be appropriate.
(4) Members other than ex-officio shall be appointed from among persons in a position to represent the general public interest, and no person shall be appointed with private or personal interests likely to conflict with the general public interest. If any person appointed shall find that his or her private or personal interests are involved in any matter coming before the Commission, he or she shall disqualify himself or herself from taking part in action on the matter, or he or she may be disqualified by the chairperson of the Commission.
(B) Removal from office; vacancies.
(1) Appointments to the Planning Commission, the heretofore provisions not withstanding are subject to cancellation or revocation at any time, with or without cause in the sole discretion of the City Council. In the event of vacancies, appointments to fill any vacancy shall be by the City Council for the unexpired period of the vacant Commission position(s).
(2) It shall be the duty of the chairperson of the Commission to notify the City Council promptly of any vacancies occurring in membership, and the City Council shall fill such vacancies within 60 days for the unexpired term of the original appointment.
(C) Officers, rules, employees, salaries and expenses.
(1) The Commission shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among those of its members who are not appointed ex-officio, and may create, with ratification of the City Council, such other offices as it may determine. The Building Official shall serve as secretary to the Planning Commission. The secretary shall not be entitled to vote.
(2) The Commission shall adopt rules for its governance and for the transaction of its business, and shall keep a record of attendance at its meetings and of resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations, showing the vote of each member on each question requiring a vote, or if absent or abstaining from voting, indicating such fact. The records of the Commission shall be a public record.
(3) Subject to prior approval of the City Council and within limits set by appropriations or other funds made available, the Commission may employ such staff, technicians and experts as may be deemed proper, and may incur such other expenses as may be necessary and proper for the conduct of its affairs. Members of the Commission shall receive no salary or fees for their services thereon, but may receive necessary travel, per diem, and other expenses while on official business for the Commission if funds are available for this purpose.
(D) Appropriations, fees, and other income. The City Council shall make available to the Commission such appropriations as it may see fit for fees, and expenses necessary in the conduct of its work.
(E) Functions, powers and duties.
(1) The functions, powers and duties of the Commission shall generally be to act as fact finder concerning matters appropriately before it and in further regards thereto make recommendation to and advise the City Council concerning but not necessarily limited to:
(a) The gathering and maintenance in current form such basic information and background data as is necessary to an understanding of past trends, present conditions, and forces at work to cause changes in their conditions as relate to the comprehensive plan.
(b) To prepare and keep current for City Council approval, adoption and implementation of a comprehensive general plan for meeting present requirements and such future needs as may be foreseen.
(c) To recommend to the City Council principles and policies for guiding action affecting development in the city and its environs.
(d) To recommend to the City Council ordinances, regulations and other proposals promoting orderly development along lines indicated as desirable by the comprehensive plan.
(e) To develop data for the City Council along with fact-findings and recommendation concerning proposed developments to facilitate conformance to the principles and requirements of the comprehensive plan and the ordinances.
(f) To keep the City Council and the general public informed and advised as to all planning and development matters.
(g) To conduct such public hearings as applicable law and ordinance (code) provisions require, to gather information enabling the City Council to knowledgeably draft, establish and maintain the comprehensive plan and ordinances and regulations related to it and to collect and compile information necessary for the plan, or for the purpose of promoting the accomplishment of the plan in whole or in part.
(h) To perform other duties which may be lawfully assigned to it, or which may have bearing on the preparation or accomplishment of the plan.
(2) In connection with its duties, and within the limit of its funds and with the prior approval of the City Council, the Commission may make, cause to be made, or obtain maps, aerial photographs and surveys, and special studies on the location, condition and adequacy, including but not limited to: studies on housing; commercial and industrial facilities; economic development; parks; playgrounds and other recreational facilities; schools; public and private utilities; and traffic, transportation, and parking.
(3) Consistent with organizational structure and specific duty assignments, all city employees shall, upon request and within a reasonable time, furnish to the Commission or its employees or agents such available records or information as are required in its work.
(F) Plat review by Commission. As soon as a major street plan is adopted by the Commission and subdivision regulations have been adopted by the City Council, it shall become the responsibility of the Commission to pass upon all proposed new or amended plats coming directly or indirectly under the jurisdiction of the city. No new plat, and no amendment or vacation of an existing plat or portion thereof, shall thereafter be caused to be recorded by the city without the prior review of the Commission. Once reviewed by the Commission and subsequently approved by the City Council, to the extent required by law, the plat shall be approved by the Planning Commission.
(Prior Code, § 2.16(7)) (Ord. 326, passed 3-20-95; Am. Ord. 334, passed 2-12-96)