A.

Created and established. The planning and zoning commission is hereby created and established under the authority granted by R.S. 33:102.

B.

Powers.

1.

The planning and zoning commission has all the powers and duties provided by R.S. title 33, chapter 1, pt. IV, subpt. A (R.S. 33:101 et seq.) and powers conferred upon zoning commissions by R. S. title 33, chapter 14, pt. 1, subpt. A (R.S. 33:4721 et seq.) except for the authority granted to the mayor as provided for in the Harahan Municipal Code, section 86-26, approval of administrative subdivisions by the mayor and administrative subdivision procedures.

2.

The planning and zoning commission shall adopt rules of procedures not in conflict with any state act or city ordinance. Meetings of the board shall be held at the call of the chairman and at such other times as the board may determine. A record of its recommendations, transactions and findings, which record shall be a public record, shall be kept at city hall.

C.

Membership and meetings.

1.

There shall be at least five members and up to nine members of the commission, who shall be nominated by the mayor and/or city council, and shall be approved by the city council, for a term of five years or the remaining term of an unexpired term, with eligibility for reappointment for one additional term, for a limit per member of two consecutive terms of five years per term. Should the vacancy be due to the expiration of a term, the member shall continue to sit until replaced. Should there be a vacancy due to the resignation of a member, that position shall be considered eliminated until such time as it may be filled at a regular or special meeting of the city council. All members shall serve on a pro bono basis. These terms shall take effect upon passage of this ordinance and the expiration of the terms currently being served, thereby staggering the terms of the commission.

2.

A chairman shall be elected from the membership of the commission. The term of chairman shall be one year, with eligibility for reelection for two additional consecutive one year terms.

3.

The commission shall hold one regular meeting each month on a day agreed to by the council and commission as needed. The agenda shall be duly published in the official journal of the city calling for said meeting as needed.

4.

All members of the commission shall attend at least 75 percent of meetings per year. Failure to comply with this subsection shall be a basis for removal from office. Said removal shall be based on an annual review of attendance followed by a motion of the city council to remove members whose attendance is below 75 percent.

5.

The city council shall provide such employees as deemed necessary to attend the commission's meetings, in accordance with the same provisions of law as govern other corresponding civil employees of the city, but not less than one parttime professional planner known as the city planner who will be annually reappointed by the majority vote of the city council to serve as liaison to the planning commission and the city council. Until a city planner is appointed, the regulatory director shall serve in his stead.

(Ord. No. 1388, § 1, 6-19-2003; Ord. No. 1919, § 1, 5-20-2021)