(A) Creation; purpose. In order that adequate provisions be made for the preparation of a comprehensive city plan for the guidance, direction, and control of the growth and development of the city, a Planning Commission, which shall be a department of the city government, is created under authority of 65 ILCS 5/Art. II and III.
(1978 Code, § 2.32.010)
(B) Composition. The Planning Commission shall consist of seven members to include the following:
(1) The Mayor shall be an ex-officio member of said Planning Commission, with power to vote; and
(2) The six other members shall be citizens of the city and shall be appointed by the Mayor on the basis of their particular fitness for their duties on said Planning Commission and subject to the approval of the Council.
(1978 Code, § 2.32.020)
(C) Terms of Office; compensation.
(1) Ex-officio members shall serve for the term of their elective office. Of the six appointed citizen members, two shall serve for a period of one year, two for a period of two years, and two for a period of three years.
(2) All members of the Planning Commission shall serve without compensation, except that, if the Council deems it advisable, the Secretary may receive such compensation as may be fixed from time to time by said Council of the city and provided for in the appropriation ordinance.
(1978 Code, § 2.32.030)
(D) Organization; record keeping; annual report. Immediately following their appointment, the members of the Planning Commission shall meet, organize, elect such officers as it may deem necessary, and adopt, and later change or alter rules and regulations of organization and procedure consistent with city ordinances and state laws. The Commission shall keep written records of its proceedings which shall be open at all times to public inspection. The Commission shall also file an annual report with the Mayor, setting forth its transactions and recommendations.
(1978 Code, § 2.32.040)
(E) Powers and duties. The Planning Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To prepare and recommend to the Council a comprehensive plan of public improvements, looking to the present and future development and growth of the city. Such plan, after its adoption by the Council, shall be known as the official plan of the city. Such plan shall include reasonable requirements with reference to streets, alleys, and public areas within the corporate limits and the contiguous territory outside of not more than one and one-half miles distant from such limits, and not included in another municipality, such requirements to become effective whenever such lands shall be subdivided and annexed to the city after the adoption of such plan;
(2) To prepare and recommend to the Council, from time to time, such changes in the plan or any part thereof as may be deemed necessary by the Planning Commission;
(3) To prepare and recommend to the Council from time to time, plans and recommendations for specific improvements in pursuance of the official plan;
(4) To give aid to the officials of the city charged with the direction of projects for improvements embraced within the official plan, to further the making of such improvements, and generally to promote the realization of the official plan;
(5) To arrange and conduct any form of publicity relative to its activities for the general purpose of public understanding;
(6) To cooperate with municipal or regional planning commissions and other agencies or groups to further the local planning program and to assure harmonious and integrated planning for the area; and
(7) To exercise such other powers germane to the powers granted under authority of 65 ILCS 5/Art. II, as amended, as may be conferred upon the Planning Commission by the City Council.
(1978 Code, § 2.32.050)
(F) Land subdivisions. Following the adoption of an official plan in the manner prescribed in division (E)(7) above and the statutes of the state, no map or plat of any subdivision presented for record, affecting land within the corporate limits of the city, or in contiguous territory outside of and distant not more than one and one-half miles from such limits, and not included in any other municipality, shall be entitled to record or shall be valid unless the subdivision thereon shall provide for streets, alleys, and public grounds in conformity with any requirements made applicable by the official plan.
(1978 Code, § 2.32.060)
(G) Improvements. The City Clerk shall furnish the Planning Commission, for its consideration, a copy of all ordinances, plans, and data relative to public improvements of any nature. The Planning Commission may report in relation thereto, if it deems a report necessary or advisable, for the consideration of the Council.
(1978 Code, § 2.32.070)
(H) Expenditure; appropriation by City Council. The Planning Commission may, at the discretion of the Council, employ necessary help whose salaries, fees, and other necessary expenses shall be provided for by adequate appropriation made by the Council from public funds. If the Planning Commission shall deem it advisable to secure technical advice or services, it may be done upon authority from the Council and appropriations by the Council therefor.
(1978 Code, § 2.32.080)
(Ord. 342, passed - -1962)
Statutory reference:
Plan Commissions, see 65 ILCS 5/11-12-4 and 11-12-5