(a) Composition. For purposes of this code of ordinances, the Village Board’s Planning Commission, together with the Chairperson of the Village Parks Committee and the Public Works Director, shall serve in the role of Plan Commission. References to a Plan Commission throughout this code of ordinances shall mean the Planning Commission, together with the Chairperson of the Village Parks Committee and the Public Works Director.
(b) Duties.
(1) The Master Plan.
a. The Plan Commission shall make, adopt, and, as necessary, amend, extend, or add to the Master Plan, subject to Village Board confirmation, for the physical development of the village including areas outside of its boundaries which, in the Plan Commission’s judgment, bear relation to the development of the village. The Master Plan, with the accompanying maps, plats, and descriptive and explanatory matter, shall show the Commission’s recommendations for such physical development, and may include, among other things without limitation because of enumeration, the general location, character, and extent of streets, highways, freeways, street grades, roadways, walks, parking areas, public places and areas, parks, parkways, playgrounds, sites for public buildings and structures, and the general location and extent of sewers, water conduits, and other public utilities whether privately or publicly owned, the acceptance, widening, narrowing, extension, relocation, removal, vacation, abandonment, or change of use of any of the foregoing public ways, grounds, places, spaces, buildings, properties, utilities, routes, or terminals, the general location, character, and extent of community centers and neighborhood units, and a comprehensive zoning plan.
b. The Commission may adopt the Master Plan as a whole by a single resolution, or, as the work of making the whole master plan progresses, may from time to time by resolution adopt a part or parts thereof, any such part to correspond generally with one or more of the functional subdivisions of the subject matter of the Plan.
c. The adoption of the plan or any part, amendment or addition, shall be by resolution carried by the affirmative votes of not less than a majority of all the members of the Plan Commission, subject to confirmation by the Village Board. The resolution shall refer expressly to the maps, descriptive matter, and other matters intended by the Commission to form the whole or any part of the Plan, and the action taken shall be recorded on the adopted Plan or part thereof by the identifying signature of the secretary of the Commission, and a copy of the Plan or part thereof shall be certified to the Village Board. The purpose and effect of the adoption and certifying of the Master Plan or part thereof shall be solely to aid the Plan Commission and the Village Board in the performance of their duties.
(2) Matters referred to Plan Commission. The Village Board or officer of the village having final authority thereon, shall refer to the Plan Commission, for its consideration and report before final action is taken by the Board, public body, or officer, the following matters: the location of any statue or other memorial; the location, acceptance, extension, alteration, vacation, abandonment, change of use, sale, acquisition of land for or lease of land for any street, alley, or other public way, park, playground, airport, area for parking vehicles, or other memorial or public grounds; the location, extension, abandonment, or authorization for any public utility whether publicly or privately owned; all plats of lands in the village or within the territory over which the village is given platting jurisdiction by Wis. Stats. Chapter 236; the location, character, and extent or acquisition, leasing or sale of lands for public or semi-public housing, slum clearance, relief of congestion, or vacation camps for children; and the amendment or repeal of any land use ordinance.
(3) Miscellaneous powers. The Commission may make reports and recommendations relating to the plan and development of the village to public officials and agencies, civic, educational, professional, and other organizations and citizens. It may recommend to the Village Board programs for public improvements and the financing thereof. All public officials shall, upon request, furnish to the Commission, within a reasonable time, such available information as it may require for its work. The Commission, its members, and employees, in the performance of its functions, may enter upon any land, make examinations and surveys, and place and maintain necessary monuments and markers thereon, In general, the Commission shall have such powers as may be necessary to enable it to perform its functions and promote municipal planning in cooperation with the Village Board. The Commission shall oversee community development block grants. The Village Board may refer to the Commission for its consideration and recommendation any matter pertaining to planning and development of land within the village. All plats or replats of any lands within the limits of the village shall be submitted to the Commission for its recommendation to the Village Board before the same are approved by the Village Board.
(c) Compensation oath. Compensation for service on the Commission shall be as established by the Village Board. Citizen members shall take the official oath required by Wis. Stats. § 19.01, which shall be filed with the Village Administrator, Clerk, or highest elected official, as appropriate.
(d) Organization. As soon as all members of the first Commission shall have been appointed, the Village Administrator, Clerk, or highest elected official, as appropriate, shall give each member a written notice of the appointment and thereon shall fix the time and place of the first meeting which shall be not less than five nor more than ten days thereafter. Such Commission shall elect a Vice-Chairperson and a secretary, and shall keep a written record of its proceedings to include all actions taken, a copy of which shall be filed with the Village Administrator, Clerk, or highest elected official, as appropriate.
(e) Employees; budget. The Plan Commission shall have the power to employ experts and such staff as may be necessary, and to pay for their services and such other expenses as may be necessary and proper, within the limits of the budget established by the Village Board, or placed at its disposal through gift, and subject to any ordinance or resolution enacted by the Village Board. As far as possible, the Commission shall utilize the services of existing village officials and employees.
(f) Rules of procedure; report. The Plan Commission is hereby authorized to adopt rules governing its own proceedings. The Commission shall make a monthly report in writing to the Village Board of its transactions and expenditures, if any, for the preceding month, with such general recommendations as to matters covered by its prescribed duties and authority as it seem proper.
(Prior Code, § 2-4-3)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see Wis. Stats. §§ 61.35, 62.23, and Chapter 236