Pursuant to authority contained in this title, the city municipal planning and zoning commission (also referred to in this title as the planning and zoning commission) is created and established.

(Ord. 265A (part), 2001)

(Ord. No. 08-016, § 7, 8-7-08)

The planning and zoning commission shall consist of five members, all of whom shall be residents of Auburn, Georgia. Each member shall be appointed by the mayor or a city council member of the city. The terms of the members shall be for four years and shall coincide with the term of the elected official making the appointment. Any vacancy in membership shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the same manner as the original appointment. The city council shall have the authority to remove any appointed member(s) for cause at any time upon giving such member(s) ten days' written notice. No member of the planning commission shall hold elected public office in the city.

The mayor and each council member shall be allocated one appointment to the planning commission, and that appointee's term shall coincide with that elected official's term. Each appointee is subject to approval by, and may be removed for cause, by a majority vote of the mayor and council, in a public meeting. Grounds for removal for cause shall include, but not be limited to, missing three or more meetings in a calendar year.

To initiate this appointment process, upon the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the current mayor and council members shall select by lot, the name of one member, drawn from a container holding the names of the members of each respective board. In the event that a board seat is vacant, a blank lot shall be substituted. The term for the member whose name is drawn by each elected official shall expire at the same time as the elected official who drew the name. This drawing shall be accomplished in a regular public meeting. The drawing of lots shall be supervised by the city planner and lots shall be recorded in the minutes of the public meeting.

If the mayor or a council member cannot provide a planning commission member or fails to appoint one within thirty days of taking office, or if any seat of mayor or council is vacant at the time an appointment is necessary, another elected official may offer a candidate, subject to approval by a majority vote of the city council. The vacating of any seat of mayor and council for any reason shall not affect the remaining term of the planning commission member appointed by an elected official who vacates his or her office.

(Ord. 07-008, 2007)

(Ord. No. 08-016, §§ 1, 7, 8-7-08)

The planning and zoning commission shall elect two members as the chairman and vice-chairman of the planning and zoning commission each year. The chairman and vice-chairman shall serve for one year or until reelected or until successors are elected. The Auburn City Council may appoint a secretary who may be an employee of the city.

(Ord. 265A (part), 2001)

(Ord. No. 08-016, § 7, 8-7-08)

A.

The planning and zoning commission shall have all the powers, duties and responsibilities set forth under this title, city ordinance or resolution, and Georgia law.

B.

Except as otherwise authorized by law, all meetings of the planning and zoning commission at which official action is taken shall be open to the public and all records of the planning and zoning commission shall be public record. With the consent of the Auburn city council, the planning commission may appoint such employees and staff as it may deem necessary for its work and may contract with local government planners and other consultants for such services as it may require. The expenditures of the planning and zoning commission, exclusive of gifts, shall be within the amounts appropriated for the purpose by the Auburn City Council.

(Ord. 265A (part), 2001)

(Ord. No. 08-016, § 7, 8-7-08)

The planning and zoning commission shall adopt rules of procedure. Meetings of the planning and zoning commission shall be regularly scheduled, or at the call of the chairman at other times as the secretary and chairman may determine. Each case heard by the planning and zoning commission shall provide for a minimum of ten minutes for public comment in favor of an application and ten minutes for public comment opposed to an application.

Cases brought before the planning and zoning commission shall be decided by majority vote of members present and voting. A quorum shall consist of three or more members. Any board member may elect to abstain from any vote. An affirmative vote for any motion of at least three members is required to recommend approval or denial of a petition before the planning and zoning commission. A tie vote or a vote of less than three members, shall be recorded as a vote of no recommendation on cases or agenda items in which the planning and zoning commission does not have authority for final action.

The planning and zoning commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact. The planning commission shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be immediately filed in the office of the city planner and shall be a public record.

(Ord. 265A (part), 2001)

(Ord. No. 08-016, §§ 1, 7, 8-7-08)