(a) Appointment and Organization; Removals. The Planning Commission shall be composed of five members who reside in the incorporated area of the City and should include the Mayor, the Safety-Service Director and three citizens to be appointed by the Mayor. The terms of the citizen members shall be six years, with the initial terms so arranged that the term of one member shall expire every two years. After a member's term expires, the member shall serve until a successor is appointed by the Mayor and approved by Council.
Members of the Planning Commission shall be removable by the Mayor for nonperformance of duty, misconduct in office or other reasonable cause, upon written charges and after a public hearing (if requested) has been held regarding such charges. A copy of the charges shall have been served upon the member so charged at least ten days prior to the hearing, whether personally, by registered mail or by leaving the charges at the member's place of residence. The member shall be given an opportunity to be heard and answer such charges. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the Mayor and shall be for the unexpired term.
(b) Proceedings. The Planning Commission shall adopt rules that are necessary to the conduct of its affairs, in keeping with the provisions of this Zoning Code. The presence of three members shall constitute a quorum. The Planning Commission cannot pass recommendations unless it does so by a majority of the members of the Planning Commission, whether present or not. Planning Commission meetings shall be held at the call of the Chairperson and at such times as the Commission may determine. All meetings shall be open to the public. The Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question (or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact), and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions. All of such minutes and records shall be a public record and shall be filed immediately in the office of the Planning Commission.
(c) Duties. The Planning Commission shall have the following duties:
(1) Recommend to Council suggested changes to the Official Zoning Map and/or to the text of this Zoning Code.
(2) Review all proposed amendments to the text of this Zoning Code and to the Official Zoning Map and make recommendations to Council.
(3) Review all planned unit development applications, review all applications for conditional use permits in planned unit development districts, review all applications for variances in planned unit development districts and make recommendations to Council.
(4) Review all special uses, as identified in the respective zoning districts, according to provisions and criteria stated in this Zoning Code.
(5) Recommend to Council the temporary zoning of land annexed to the City.
(6) Recommend to Council a substantially similar use determination for an unlisted use.
(Ord. 186-91. Passed 10-15-92; Ord. 170-11. Passed 10-6-11.)