The planning commission shall consist of five members, each to be appointed by the city council for a term of three years, with staggered terms. All members shall be residents or property owners of the city. Property owners may be residents or nonresidents, provided that at no time shall nonresidents comprise a majority. Any vacancy in the membership shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the initial appointment. Members are removable for cause by the appointing authority upon written charges and after a public hearing. A new chairperson shall be elected annually by the membership of the planning commission.

(Ord. of 3-12-2007, art. VI, § 1)

Meetings of the planning commission shall be held at regular monthly intervals, at the call of the chairperson and at such other times as the commission or the city council may determine. All meetings of the planning commission at which official action is taken shall be open to the public and all records of the planning commission shall be public record.

(Ord. of 3-12-2007, art. VI, § 2)

The planning commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)

To hear applications and to make findings and recommendations at a public hearing for all amendments to this article and to forward said recommendations to the city council.

(2)

To hear and decide such conditional uses as the planning commission is required to act upon under the terms of this article.

(3)

To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is an error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of this article.

(4)

To authorize upon appeal variances where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of this article will result in unnecessary hardship, in accordance with the provisions set forth in section 44-145.

(5)

To hear and decide applications for the change, continuance and/or enlargement of a nonconforming use as provided in section 44-16.

(6)

To determine unclassified uses as provided in section 44-62.

(Ord. of 3-12-2007, art. VI, § 3)

Planning commission members are appointed by the city council and therefore are removable for cause, should the need arise. The reasons for removal are:

(1)

Inability to continue due to illness, family or work responsibilities.

(2)

Failure to attend meetings three consecutive times in 12 months without reason. Years shall run from January 1 through December 31.

(3)

Conviction of any felony in a court of law.

(Ord. of 3-12-2007, art. VI, § 4)