The planning commission is established to advise the city council on how best to preserve and protect the existing residential and business community, to provide for, plan, guide and direct the development, redevelopment, and growth of the city and to encourage high standards of planning, architecture, site and landscape design, and to encourage public participation.

(Ord. No. 2308, § 1(B), 1-27-14)

The city planning commission shall consist of the following:

(a)

One (1) member of the council to be selected by the city council; and

(b)

Six (6) citizens members.

All seven (7) members of the city planning commission shall be regular voting members; any four (4) of said members shall be sufficient for a quorum to transact business. Any member of the city planning commission may also be a member of the architectural review board.

(Ord. No. 2308, § 1(B), 1-27-14)

The citizen members of the commission shall be appointed by the mayor, with the consent and approval of a majority of the members of the city council, for a term of four (4) years. Vacancies shall be made by appointment by the mayor with the approval of a majority of the members of the city council for the unexpired term of the vacating member.

(Ord. No. 2308, § 1(B), 1-27-14)

The member from the city council shall be selected annually by an appointment by the city council.

(Ord. No. 2308, § 1(B), 1-27-14)

All members of the commission shall serve without compensation.

Citizen members of the city planning commission may be removed for cause stated in writing and after a public hearing.

(Ord. No. 2308, § 1(B), 1-27-14)

The commission shall, at its first meeting after the annual city general elections, or as soon thereafter as possible, elect from its members a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary; provided however, that the mayor, city attorney, director of public works division of housing and economic development and the member of the city council shall not be eligible to hold any of the offices provided for in this article.

(Ord. No. 2308, § 1(B), 1-27-14)

The city planning commission shall keep a written record in the form of minutes of each meeting, depicting the discussion of the commission and the vote of each member present upon each agenda item. Absences and failure to vote shall also be noted for the record. Copies of minutes and materials used by the city planning commission shall be kept on file in the office of the department of public works division of housing and economic development. All meetings shall be open to the public. All notification requirements, public meetings and/or hearings and availability of or examination of records related to actions by the city planning commission shall conform with existing federal, state and local laws.

(Ord. No. 2308, § 1(B), 1-27-14)

The commission shall make an annual report to the mayor and city council covering activities, investigations, transactions and recommendations and such other reports relative thereto as may be deemed proper or as required by the mayor or city council.

The commission may, subject to the approval of the mayor and a majority of the members of the city council, employ such city planners, engineers, clerks and other persons necessary to carry out the provisions of this article.

The salaries or compensation of any city planners, engineers, clerks or other persons employed by the commission shall be fixed by resolution of the city council.

The city council shall annually fix a sum to be used by the commission for operating expenses, and such fund shall be under the management and jurisdiction of the commission, however, the commission shall at no time incur expenses or obligate the city for any amount in excess of the appropriation made by the city council for operating expenses as provided for in this section or for salaries and compensation in excess of the amounts approved by the city council under the provisions of this article.

The commission shall have the necessary power and authority and is hereby authorized to:

(a)

Adopt and promulgate rules, regulations and procedures, not inconsistent with the laws and ordinances of the city for the operation of said commission and the effectuation of the provisions of this article.

(b)

Adopt and promulgate rules, regulations, procedures and minimum standards for the subdivision of land within the city.

(c)

Have a general supervision of the enforcement of any zoning ordinances enacted by the city council.

(d)

Hear all applications for conditional use permits at meetings open to the public pursuant to Article 25 of this appendix.

(e)

Consider all applications for preliminary subdivision plans pursuant to Article 30 of this appendix.

(Ord. No. 2308, § 1(B), 1-27-14)

The duties of the commission shall be as follows:

(a)

The commission shall prepare and submit, from time to time, to the council a master plan for the physical development of the city, including the general locations, character and extent of street, bridges, parks, waterways, and other public ways, grounds and spaces, together with the general location and arrangement of public buildings, other public property, public utilities, and shall recommend such modifications of such plan, from time to time, as it deems to be in the city's interest. It shall act as the zoning commission, and shall have the authority to prepare, adopt and recommend to the council for enactment a comprehensive plan for the zoning of the city, with such regulations as to the location, height, width and bulk of buildings and other structures, and the size of the yards, courts and other open spaces surrounding the same, and the use of such buildings, structures and land as it shall determine to be necessary or desirable for the promotion of the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the inhabitants of the city, and may recommend changes or amendments therein, from time to time, as the commission may deem desirable.

(b)

Make recommendations to the city council relative to:

(1)

The locations, length, width, naming or arrangement of any street, boulevard, highway, alley, waterway, bridge, viaduct, park, playground or other public places or improvements.

(2)

The platting of public property into lots, plots, streets, boulevards, highways, waterways, alleys, railroad or streetcar lines, transportation or other channels for communication of any kind.

(3)

The location of mass transit or service car routes and stops and taxi stands.

(4)

The locations, design and grouping of public buildings.

(5)

The design and location of memorials, and other works of art.

(6)

The location of power plants and similar facilities.

(7)

The design and location of street lighting standards.

(8)

The location of telephone and telegraph poles or lines and the location of power lines.

(9)

The location of billboards or projection signs.

(c)

Make recommendations to the city council on subdivision plats or plans submitted to it by the director of public works division of housing and economic development for subsequent approval by the city council.

(d)

Hear all petitions for amendments of zoning ordinances, and forward such petitions to the city council with its recommendations thereon.

(e)

Make recommendations to the city council on any matter which in the opinion of the commission has a bearing on the public health, safety, morals, housing, appearance, beauty or general welfare of the city, any part thereof or the inhabitants thereof.

(f)

Prepare and recommend to the city council such national, state and municipal legislation as may be necessary in carrying out the recommendations of the commission.

(g)

Perform such other duties as may be provided by law, ordinance or resolution of the city council.

(Ord. No. 2308, § 1(B), 1-27-14)

The recommendation of the commission shall not be binding on the city council, which may approve or disapprove the commission's findings and recommendations; however, no comprehensive city plan or zoning ordinances or any modifications, amendment or revision thereof shall be considered by the city council until and unless the same shall have been first submitted to the commission for its examination and recommendation thereon.

Appeal may be taken from any decision or rulings of the commission to the board of adjustment, as provided for in the zoning ordinance, which board shall hear and pass on such appeals.