(a) PURPOSE. Whenever the public necessity, convenience, or general welfare require, Council may, by Ordinance and after receipt of recommendation thereon from the Planning Commission and subject to the procedures below, amend, supplement, change, or repeal the regulations, restrictions, and boundaries or classifications of property.
(b) ZONING ORDINANCE, MAP OR CLASSIFICATION.
(1) Proposed amendments to this Zoning Ordinance may be presented by the Planning Commission to Council requesting an amendment, supplement, repeal or change of the regulations of the Zoning Ordinance. Prior to submission to Council of a Planning Commission petition or a report on a proposed ordinance, the Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing. After the public hearing, the Planning Commission shall make its report on the proposed ordinance to Council. Thereafter, Council shall proceed to take such action on the proposed ordinance as it deems proper.
(2) The City Council may, from time to time, amend, supplement, or change the rules and regulations and districts fixed by the Zoning Ordinance.
(c) PROCEDURE.
(1) An applicant proposing an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance or the Zoning Map shall submit the following to the Planning Commission: name, address and phone number of the applicant; proposed amendment to the Map or text including a survey of the property to be rezoned; the present use; the present zoning district; any proposed plan by the applicant for the property; the proposed zoning district and a vicinity map showing property lines and district lines; existing uses within 500 feet from the subject property; and any other item as the zoning office may require.
(2) Petitions. Petitions, duly signed, may be presented to the City Clerk requesting an amendment to zoning classification by: (1) the Planning Commission; or (2) the owners of fifty percent or more of the real property area to which the petition relates. Petitions from any other than the Planning Commission shall provide the information requested in sub-section C.(1) above.
(3) Public Hearing. When any request for a change in zoning classification, the zoning ordinance, or the zoning map is presented to or referred to the Planning Commission for consideration, the Commission shall hold a public hearing thereon. In addition, notice of such hearing shall be given by posting of such notice in the form of printed handbills, or their equivalent, in not less than three conspicuous places in the immediate area to be affected. Any expense incurred in giving notice of the public hearing shall be paid by the person or persons requesting such amendment.
(4) Final Action. After the public hearing, the Planning Commission shall make its report on the proposed ordinance to Council. Thereafter, Council shall proceed to take such action on the proposed amendment [ordinance] as it deems proper. Whenever the City Council amends the Zoning Map, the City Clerk shall notify the Economic and Community Development Department that shall cause the amendment to be made to the official copy of the Zoning Map and to the book of the Zoning Map. The Department shall also provide copies of the amended map and the relevant amended map pages to the Building Inspector, Zoning Enforcement Officer, and all other City agencies and departments requiring a zoning map.
(5) Time Interval. After a Planning Commission report to Council on a proposed ordinance to amend the zoning classification of a particular area, and if Council does not adopt the proposed ordinance, the Planning Commission shall not be required to hold a hearing or act upon an identical request for amendment of zoning classification without a period of six months following final Council action on such proposed ordinance.
(d) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. Amendments, supplements or changes of the rules and regulations of the zoning ordinance shall be considered as amendments to the Comprehensive Plan.