The Commission has and exercises the following powers and duties.
(A) Selection of officers. The Commission shall choose annually at its first regular meeting one of its members to act as Chairperson and another as Vice Chairperson, who shall perform all the duties of the Chairperson during the Chairperson’s absence or disability.
(B) Adopt rules and regulations. The Commission shall adopt such rules and regulations governing its organization and procedures as it may deem necessary.
(C) Annual report. The Commission shall each year make a report to the Mayor and Council of its proceedings, with a full statement of its receipts, disbursements, and the progress of its work during the preceding fiscal year.
(D) Comprehensive plan. The Commission shall have full power and authority to make or cause to be made such surveys, studies, maps, plans, or charts of the whole or any portion of the city, or of any land outside thereof which, in the opinion of the Commission, bear relation to the comprehensive plan, and shall bring its studies and recommendations to the attention of the Council and may also publish such studies and recommendations.
(1) Comprehensive plan, preparation. For the purpose of making a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the city, the Commission shall make careful and comprehensive studies of present conditions and future growth of the city, and with due regard to its relation to neighboring territory. The plan shall be made with the general purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted, and harmonious development of the city and its environs which will, in accordance with the present and future needs, best promote health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare, as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development.
(2) Comprehensive plan, public hearing. Before adopting a comprehensive plan as referred to in the preceding division (D)(1) above, or any part of it, or any substantial amendment thereof, the Commission shall hold at least one public hearing thereon, notice of the time of which shall be given by one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the city not less than seven or more than 20 days before the date of hearing. However, in no case shall the public hearing be held earlier than the next regularly scheduled Council meeting following the published notice. The adoption of the plan or part or amendment thereof shall be by resolution of the Commission carried by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Commission. After adoption of said plan by the Commission an attested copy thereof shall be certified to the Council and the Council may approve the same. When said plan or any modification or amendment thereof shall receive the approval of the Council, the said plan, until subsequently modified or amended as herein authorized, shall constitute the official city comprehensive plan.
(3) Comprehensive plan, amendments. When the comprehensive plan has been adopted, no substantial amendment or modification thereof shall be made without such proposed change first being referred to the Commission for its recommendations. If the Commission disapproves the proposed change it may be adopted by the Council only by the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members of the Council.
(E) Recommendations of improvements. No statuary, memorial, or work of art in a public place, and no public building, bridge, viaduct, street fixtures, public structure, or appurtenances, shall be located or erected, or site therefor obtained, nor shall any permit be issued by any department of the city for the erection or location thereof until and unless the design and proposed location of any such improvement shall have been submitted to the Commission and its recommendations thereon obtained, except such requirements and recommendations shall not act as a stay upon action for any such improvement when the Commission, after 30 days’ written notice requesting such recommendations, shall have failed to file the same.
(F) Review and comment of street and park improvements. No plan for any street, park, parkway, boulevard, traffic-way, or other public improvement affecting the city plan shall be finally approved by the city, or the character or location thereof determined, unless such proposal shall first have been submitted to the Commission, and the Commission shall have had 30 days within which to file its recommendations thereon.
(G) Zoning. The Commission shall have and exercise all the powers and duties and privileges in preparing and amending the city zoning code, as provided by Chapter 414 of the Iowa Code.
(H) Fiscal responsibilities. The Commission shall have full, complete, and exclusive authority to expend for and on behalf of the city all sums of money appropriated to it, and to use and expend all gifts, donations, or payments whatsoever which are received by the city for city planning and zoning purposes.
(I) Limitation on entering contracts. The Commission shall have no power to contract debts beyond the amount of its original or amended appropriation as approved by the Council for the present year.
(Prior Code, § 6-17-6) (Ord. 2013-03, passed 1-28-2014)