(A) Established. The Park/Planning Commission is hereby established.
(B) Members.
(1) The Commission shall consist of at least three members appointed by the Council. No member of the Park/Planning Commission shall be an elected official.
(2) The members of the Park/Planning Commission shall be appointed by the City Council for two-year terms.
(3) The Park/Planning Commission shall appoint one of its members as a Chairperson. The Commission may also appoint other members to chair such committees as deemed necessary to perform the Commission’s duties.
(C) Meetings. The Commission may hold two meetings per month at the City Hall on the second and last Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The Commission may hold additional meetings when necessary and with the approval of the Council and only after notification of such meetings is in conformity with existing requirements.
(D) Duties.
(1) The Park/Planning Commission shall review and report to the City Council all actions, whether contemplated or taken, by private citizens, firms or governmental units which may affect the use of land or the regulation thereof within the city. The Commission shall also review and report their findings to the Council on the need, adequacy or efficiency of any ordinance of the city and on any other action or need which the Council deems fit to refer to the Commission for study.
(2) The Park/Planning Commission shall review all site plans for all new structures as described in the Zoning chapter. Such plans shall go through the City Council and Council ex-officio only upon recommendation of the Park/Planning Commission. This does not pertain to variances which must still go through the Park/Planning Commission and the City Council. The City Council may direct the City Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer to issue single-family building permits.
(3) The Park/Planning Commission shall prepare a coordinated program of proposed park and beautification projects. Such program shall be recommended by the Commission to the Council, departments, boards or public bodies as have jurisdiction over the recommendation, planning or construction of such park and beautification projects.
(E) Powers. The Park/Planning Commission is established as an advisory commission with no powers of approval or denial, and only such powers of review and requirement as those granted by this section and in other sections of this code. In particular these sections are, but are not limited to, Ch. 150 and 157 of this code of ordinances.
(F) Qualifications.
(1) In order for a person to qualify for Park/Planning Commission membership, this person must meet the following criteria in the judgement of the Council.
(a) The person must be representative of the community.
(b) The person must be of sound character.
(c) The person must have experience to perform and interest in the duties of the Commission.
(2) The provisions of § 34.03 of this code of ordinances shall also pertain to the selection of Park/Planning Commission members.
(1994 Code, § 3-1) (Ord. 11, passed 9-28-1995; Ord. 23, passed 5-8-1997; Ord. 2019-4, passed 11-20-2019)