There is hereby created within and for the city a planning commission, which shall consist of five (5) citizens of the city as hereinafter provided. The members of the commission shall be nominated and appointed solely with reference to their fitness and without reference to party affiliation, and shall serve without compensation except as hereinafter provided. In the event all positions are vacant, the governing body of the city of Eufaula shall serve. (1984 Code; amd. Ord. 97-9-1, 9-8-1997)

Members of the city planning commission shall hold office for a term of three (3) years with the exception that in the first instance two (2) shall be appointed to serve a term of one year, two (2) for a term of two (2) years and one appointed for a term of three (3) years; appointments thereafter shall be made for a term of three (3) years, except when a vacancy occurs when the appointment shall be made to fill the unexpired term. (1984 Code)

The mayor and the city engineer shall be ex officio members of the city planning commission, but shall receive no compensation other than their affixed salary as such officials. (1984 Code)

Three (3) members of the city planning commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. However, no action shall be taken and be binding upon the city planning commission unless concurred in by not less than a majority of all members comprising the city planning commission. (1984 Code)

The mayor shall appoint the members of the city planning commission subject to approval and confirmation by the city council. (1984 Code)

The members of the city planning commission shall meet within two (2) weeks after their appointment and confirmation and organize by electing from their members a chairman, vice chairman, and secretary, and shall adopt from time to time such bylaws, rules, and regulations and amendments thereto as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter. (1984 Code)

The members of the city planning commission shall serve without pay. It is the duty of such commission to prepare from time to time plans for the systematic development and betterment of the municipality as a place of residence or for business. It shall have the power and authority to employ engineers, attorneys, clerks and a secretary, or other help deemed necessary, subject to the approval of the mayor. The salary and compensation of such employees shall be fixed by the city and shall be paid out of the city treasury as other officers and employees, and the necessary expenses incurred by the commission shall be paid out of the city treasury as other legal expenses of the city government. (1984 Code)

   A. The planning commission may consider and investigate any subject matter tending to the development and betterment of the city, and make recommendations as it may deem advisable concerning the adoption thereof to any department of the municipal government, and for any purpose make, or cause to be made, surveys, maps or plans. Before final action shall be taken by the city council, or any department of the city government, on the location and designs of any public building, statue, memorial, park, parkway, boulevard, street and alley, playgrounds, public grounds, bridge, or the change in location of any street or alley, or the grade thereof, such question shall be submitted to the city planning commission for investigation and report.

   B.   The planning commission may prepare and recommend to the city council the adoption of rules and regulations governing the subdivision of land within the corporate limits of the city. All plans, plats, or other portions of the same intended to be dedicated to public or private use within the corporate limits of the city shall first be submitted to the planning commission for its recommendation, approval, or rejection.

   C.   The disapproval of any such plan, plat, or replat by the city council of the city shall be deemed a refusal of the purported dedication shown thereon. (1984 Code)

The planning commission may recommend the division of the city into districts of such number, size, and area as may be deemed best suited to carry out the zoning purpose. All such regulations shall be uniform for each class or kind of buildings throughout each district, but the regulations in one district may differ from those in other districts. (1984 Code)

Such regulations shall be made in accordance with a comprehensive plan and designed to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic, and other dangers; to promote health and the general welfare; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of population; to facilitate the adequate provisions of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks, and other public requirements. Such regulations shall be made with reasonable consideration, among other things, as to the character of the district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses, with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the city. (1984 Code)

The city planning commission shall have additional authority and responsibility as the city council shall from time to time prescribe. (1984 Code)

The city planning commission also shall act as the zoning commission and shall have the power to prepare and recommend to the city council zoning district boundaries and appropriate regulations relating to the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residences, and other purposes. In the event all positions are vacant, the governing body of the city of Eufaula shall serve. (1984 Code; amd. Ord. 97-9-3, 9-8-1997)