(a)

There is hereby created and established for the City of Alice, Texas, the planning and zoning commission, which shall be composed of nine members. The members shall be resident citizens and qualified voters of the city, all of whom shall be appointed by the city council of said city, to serve for a staggered term of three years, except in cases of appointments to fill vacancies for unexpired terms and except as herein appointed for terms of less than three years. The members presently serving on the date in which this ordinance is adopted shall continue to serve for the duration of their appointed term. All vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as provided for the original appointments. The city council may appoint city officials or employees to be members ex officio.

(b)

Except as provided by subsection (c) below, members of the commission may be removed by the mayor, with the consent of the city council, after public hearing and for good cause assigned in writing.

(c)

Members of the commission shall be deemed to have resigned and shall be automatically removed from office if the member has missed three consecutive regular meetings or more than 25 percent of the regular and special meetings during any calendar year of the members term.

(Ord. No. 1741, § 1, 10-27-2003)

The planning and zoning commission shall elect a chair, vice chair and secretary from its membership. It shall have the power to make rules, regulations and bylaws for its own government, which shall conform as nearly as possible to those governing the city council. Such bylaws shall include, among other items provisions for the following:

a.

Regular and special meetings, open to the public, except as otherwise permitted by applicable state and federal statutes and regulations;

b.

Records of its proceedings, to be open for inspection by the public;

c.

Reporting to the city council and the public, from time to time and annually; and

d.

For the holding of public hearings on its recommendations.

The planning and zoning commission shall have the power and it shall be its duty to make and recommend for adoption, a master plan, as a whole or in parts, for the future development and redevelopment of the City of Alice and its environs, including rules and regulations governing the development of new land additions and subdivisions in and to said city, and shall have the power and it shall be its duty to prepare a comprehensive plan and ordinance for zoning. Such zoning procedures to be according to V.T.C.A., Local Government Code, § 211.001 et seq. The commission shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by ordinance and by state law.