(A) The Municipal Planning Commission of the city shall act in an advisory capacity to the Common Council and shall work toward promoting the orderly development of the city and its environs.
(B) The Municipal Planning Commission shall be vested with, and shall exercise, all of the powers, authority, and privileges granted to municipal planning commissions by the State Legislature, as set forth in W. Va. Code 8A-2-10 and 8A-2-11, inclusive, or as may have heretofore been granted or as may hereafter be granted to municipal planning commissions by the State Legislature; and shall be charged with the performance of the duties as set forth in the said W. Va. Code Ch. 8A, Art. 2.
(C) Pursuant to W. Va. Code 8A-2-10, the City Council shall provide the Planning Commission with:
(1) Suitable offices for the holding of meetings and the preservation of plans, maps, documents, and accounts; and
(2) Appropriate money to defray the reasonable expenses of the Planning Commission.
(D) Pursuant to W. Va. Code 8A-2-11, the Planning Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Exercise general supervision for the administration of the affairs of the Planning Commission;
(2) Prescribe rules and regulations pertaining to administration, investigations, and hearings; provided, the rules and regulations are adopted by the governing body;
(3) Supervise the fiscal affairs and responsibilities of the Planning Commission;
(4) With consent from the governing body, hire employees necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Planning Commission; provided, the governing body sets the salaries;
(5) Keep an accurate and complete record of all Planning Commission proceedings;
(6) Record and file all bonds and contracts;
(7) Take responsibility for the custody and preservation of all papers and documents of the Planning Commission;
(8) Make recommendations to the appropriate governing body concerning planning;
(9) Make an annual report to the appropriate governing body concerning the operation of the Planning Commission and the status of planning within its jurisdiction;
(10) Prepare, publish, and distribute reports, ordinances, and other material relating to the activities authorized under this section;
(11) Adopt a seal, and certify all official acts;
(12) Invoke any legal, equitable, or special remedy for the enforcement of the provisions of this section or any ordinance, rule, or regulation, or any action taken thereunder;
(13) Prepare and submit an annual budget to the appropriate governing body by February 15 of the calendar year;
(14) If necessary, establish advisory committees;
(15) Delegate limited powers to a committee composed of one or more members of the Planning Commission;
(16) Contract for special or temporary services and professional counsel with the approval of the governing body. Upon request, a county prosecuting attorney, the County Surveyor, the County Engineer, or any other county or city employee may render assistance and service to a Planning Commission without compensation;
(17) Consider and address issues that the governing body deems necessary or desirable for the Planning Commission to review and make recommendations; and
(18) Any and all powers that the laws and regulations of the state give to a Planning Commission.
(Prior Code, § 2-65) (Ord. passed 2-7-1972; Ord. 2022-09, passed 4-4-2022)