There shall be a Charter Township of Lansing Planning Commission pursuant to PA 33 of 2008, as amended, being the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3801, et seq.), hereinafter referred to as the "commission," with the powers and duties as therein set forth and as hereinafter provided. This chapter shall be officially known and described as the "Charter Township of Lansing Planning Commission Ordinance."

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

(a)

The commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the township board. To be qualified to be a member and remain a member of the planning commission, an individual shall meet the following qualifications:

(1)

Shall be a qualified elector of the township, except that one member may be a non-qualified elector;

(2)

Shall not be a declared candidate for any political office, except this condition shall not apply to the township board representative to the commission;

(3)

After an individual's first appointment and before reappointment shall have attended training for commission members, pursuant to section 88A-4 of this chapter;

(4)

Shall meet the conditions provided for each individual member in sections 88A-2(B), 88A-2(D), and 88A-2(E) of this chapter, except the geographical location of the individual's residency may be considered optional.

(b)

Members shall be appointed for three-year terms. If a vacancy occurs, the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as provided for an original appointment such that the terms of one-third of all commission members (excluding the commission member who is also a member of the township board) continue to expire each year.

(c)

One member shall also be a member of the township board, whose term of office shall coincide with his or her elected term of office on the township board.

(d)

The membership shall be representative of the important segments of the community, such as the economic, governmental, educational, and social development of the Charter Township of Lansing, in accordance with the major interests as they exist in the Charter Township of Lansing, as follows:

(1)

Government;

(2)

Recreation;

(3)

Education;

(4)

Public health;

(5)

Transportation;

(6)

Industry; and

(7)

Commerce.

(e)

The membership shall also be representative of the entire geography of the Charter Township of Lansing to the extent practicable, and as a secondary consideration to the representation of the major interests.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

The commission, in its bylaws, may name "liaisons" to the commission. The purpose of liaisons is to provide certain township and quasi-township officials with the ability to participate in discussion with the commission in addition to speaking in public participation, and nothing else. At a minimum, liaisons shall include:

(1)

Planning department staff, and their agents and consultants.

(2)

Township supervisor.

(3)

Township clerk/zoning administrator.

(4)

Director of planning and development.

(5)

Township attorney.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

Appointed members of the commission shall attend educational programs designed for training members of Michigan planning commissions if the adopted Charter Township of Lansing budget for that fiscal year includes funds to pay for tuition, registration, and travel expenses for the training. Nothing in this paragraph shall deem a member who has not had training from finishing his term of office unless the member resigns or is removed by action of the township board. If funding has been made available for training by the township, the member shall be ineligible for reappointment at the conclusion of the term of office if they did not attend training. The commission shall include in its bylaws what training programs qualify to meet this requirement.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

(a)

In December or January of each year the township supervisor shall determine which members' terms of office expire, and shall use reasonable means to seek qualified individuals to nominate for appointment to the commission.

(b)

In January or February of each year the township board shall consider the nominations received from the township supervisor, and appoint or re-appoint members to the commission by a majority vote for a three-year term of office which shall end February 28/29 of the respective year.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

(a)

The township board may remove a member of the commission for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office upon written charges and after a public hearing. Failure to disclose a potential conflict of interest shall be considered malfeasance in office. Failure to repeatedly attend commission meetings shall be considered nonfeasance in office.

(b)

The secretary of the planning commission shall report any member who has missed three regular meetings in a row to the township board.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

The township board shall fill any vacancy in the membership of the commission for the unexpired terms in the same manner as the initial appointment.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

(a)

The transition from the previous township planning commission and the commission established in this chapter shall be gradual and shall take place over the next three years. The township board shall continue to make annual appointments, appointing two members of the commission as specified in this chapter, so that three years from the effective date of this chapter the membership, membership representation, and number of members have completed the transition to fully comply with this chapter.

(b)

All other aspects and provisions of this chapter shall have immediate effect upon the effective date of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

All members of the planning commission shall serve as such with compensation equal to, or less than, the per diem of the township board per meeting.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

(a)

The commission shall meet at least once every month, unless there is no business to conduct at such a meeting.

(b)

A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the ordinary business of said commission and all questions which shall arise at their meetings shall be determined by a vote of the majority of the members of the planning commission.

(c)

The affirmative vote of the majority of the members of the planning commission shall be necessary for the adoption, or recommendation for adoption, of any plan or amendment to a plan.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

(a)

The commission shall have all of the powers and duties as enumerated and set forth in PA 33 of 2008, as amended, being the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3801, et seq.) and PA 110 of 2006, as amended, being the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3101, et seq.).

(b)

The commission shall have authority to apply for and receive grants from any government agency or the federal government and to receive gifts.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

Employees that are assigned to work with the commission shall follow the directives of the commission in matters of planning and zoning public policy issues, but shall not be subject to commission directives concerning employment provisions of law, employment policies, employee roster, employee or union contracts, if any.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

The commission shall adopt bylaws for the transaction of business and shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings, and determinations, which records shall be a public record.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)

All official actions taken by the Charter Township of Lansing Planning Commission preceding the commission created by this chapter are hereby approved, ratified and reconfirmed. Any project, review, or process taking place at the effective date of this chapter shall continue with the commission created by chapter, subject to the requirements of this chapter, and shall be deemed a continuation of any previous Charter Township of Lansing Planning Commission.

(Ord. No. 31.166, § 1, 6-21-11)