(A) Membership; bond; term of office. The governing body shall appoint the Planning Commission, which shall consist of 9 members who shall represent insofar as is possible different professions or occupations in the city and who shall be appointed by the Mayor by and with the approval of a 3/4 vote of the Council. Two of the members may be residents of the area over which the city is authorized to exercise extraterritorial zoning and subdivision regulation. When 1,000 or more residents live within the area over which the city exercises extraterritorial zoning and subdivision regulation, 1 member of the Commission shall be a resident from the area. All members of the Commission shall serve as such without compensation, and may be required, in the discretion of the governing body, to give a bond in a sum set by resolution of the governing body, and conditioned upon the faithful performance of their duties. The members of the Commission shall hold no other city office except when appointed to serve on the Board of Adjustment. The term of each member shall be 3 years unless reappointed, and members shall serve no more than 3 terms. All members shall hold office until their successors are appointed. All members may, after a public hearing before the Council, be removed by the Mayor by and with the consent of a 3/4 vote of the Council for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office or other good and sufficient cause.
(B) Organization; meetings; funding. At the time of the Planning Commission’s first meeting in January of each year, the Commission shall organize by selecting from its membership a chairperson and a vice-chairperson/secretary, who are eligible for reelection. It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chairperson/Secretary to preside over the Planning Commission meetings when the Chairperson is absent and to see that correct minutes and records of all meetings are filed with the City Clerk, where they shall be available for public inspection at any reasonable time. The Planning Commission shall be funded by the governing body from time to time out of the General Fund. A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of doing business and a majority vote of all members present shall be required to conduct business, pass any measure or elect to any office of the Commission. Special meetings may be held upon the call of the Chairperson, or any 3 members of the Commission.
(C) Powers and duties relating to development regulations. It shall be the function and duty of the Planning Commission to make and adopt plans for the physical development of the city, including any areas outside its boundaries which, in the Commission’s judgment, bear relation to the planning of the city, and including a comprehensive development plan; to prepare and adopt the implemental means as a capital improvement program, subdivision regulations, building codes and a zoning ordinance in cooperation with other interested city departments; to consult and advise with public officials and agencies, public utilities, civic organizations, educational institutions and citizens with relation to the promulgation and implementation of the comprehensive development plan and its implemental programs; to have the power to delegate authority to any such group to conduct studies and make surveys for the commission; to make preliminary reports on its findings; and to hold public hearings before submitting its final reports. The governing body shall not hold its public meetings or take action on matters relating to the comprehensive development plan, capital improvements, building codes, subdivision development or zoning until it has received the recommendation of the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission shall send its recommendations to the governing body within 30 days from the first hearing date.
(D) Additional powers. The Commission may, with the consent of the governing body, in its own name, make and enter into contracts with public or private bodies; receive contributions, bequests, gifts or grant funds from public or private sources; expend the funds appropriated to it by the city; employ agents and employees; and acquire, hold and dispose of property The Commission may on its own authority make arrangements consistent with its program; conduct or sponsor special studies or planning work for any public body or appropriate agency; receive grants, remuneration or reimbursement for the studies or work; and, at its public hearings, summon witnesses, administer oaths and compel the giving of testimony.
(Prior Code, § 2-212) (Ord. 3103, § 1, 2-4-1997)