(A) Establishment. The Planning and Zoning Commission of the city is hereby established.
(B) Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. The Commission shall elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson from among its own members, who shall serve for one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings and exercise all the usual rights, duties and prerogatives of the head of any similar organization. The Chairperson shall have the power to administer oaths and to take evidence. The Vice-Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson in the latter’s absence or disability. Vacancies created by any cause shall be filled for the unexpired term by a new election.
(C) Powers and duties. It shall be the duty of said Commission to formulate, create and administer any lawful plan duly adopted by the City Council for the present and future growth of the city, pertaining to the use of land and buildings for any purpose, together with all incidental activities usually associated therewith and commonly known as “Planning and Zoning”; to make or cause to be made a continuous study of the best present and future use to which land and buildings shall be put within the city and in cooperation with adjacent areas; to recommend to the City Council revisions in such plans which, in the opinion of the said Commission, are for the best interest of the citizens; to promulgate rules of procedure and to supervise the enforcement of rules so promulgated by said Commission and approved by the City Council.
(D) Meetings. The Commission shall provide in its rules for its meetings; provided, however, that, special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or, in his or her absence, the Vice-Chairperson. In addition, any three members of the Commission may make written request to the Chairperson for a special meeting and, in the event such meeting is not called, such members may call such special meeting in such manner and form as may be provided in the Commission rules.
(E) Quorum. Four members shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of four members shall be required for passage of any matter before the Commission. In this connection, the minutes of the meeting shall reflect the “ayes” and “nays” cast on particular shall and the reflect the vote of each member present. A member may abstain from voting only upon a declaration that he or she has a conflict of interest, in which case such member shall take no part in the deliberations on the matter in question.
(F) Assessment of fees. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall be authorized to establish a uniform schedule of fees for services with all receipts to be paid into the General Fund of the city. Such fee schedules shall become effective upon approval by the City Council.
(G) Appeals. Any person who has been aggrieved by a decision of the Planning and Zoning Commission may appeal to the City Council for hearing within 30 days from such decision.
(Prior Code, Ch. 2-3.01) (Ord. 502, passed - -; Ord. 890, passed - -2007; Ord. 938, passed 12-12-2014)