A Planning Commission for the city is established.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003)

   (A)   The Commission shall consist of nine members who shall be representative of important segments of the city, such as the economic, governmental, educational, and social development of the city, in accordance with the major interests as they exist in the city, such as agriculture, natural resources, recreation, education, public health, government, transportation, industry, and commerce. The membership shall also be representative of the entire geography of the local unit of government to the extent practicable. The Mayor and/or up to three members of the City Council, or any combination thereof, may be appointed to the Planning Commission as ex officio members; however, not more than one-third of the members of the Planning Commission shall be ex officio members. All members, except the Mayor, shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of a majority vote of the members elect of the City Council. Except for the Mayor, City Council member(s), one member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, and one member of the Historic District Commission, no member of the Commission shall hold any other municipal office. The Commission members shall serve without compensation, except for necessary expenses in connection with their work. The term of each appointed member shall be three years. The Mayor and the City Council member(s) shall serve only so long as they are members of the City Council. Appointed members of the Planning Commission may be removed by the City Council for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office upon written charges and after a public hearing.

   (B)   Vacancies occurring otherwise than through the expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Mayor, subject to the approval by a majority vote of the members elect of the City Council.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003; Ord. 351, passed 9-15-2014; Ord. 422, passed 9-22-2025)

   The Commission shall elect its Chairperson from among the appointed members and shall create and fill such other of its offices as it may determine. The term of the Chairperson shall be one year, with eligibility for reelection. The Commission shall hold not less than four regular meetings each year. The City Clerk shall act as Secretary to the Commission. It shall adopt rules for transaction of business and shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings, and determinations which record shall be a public record. The Commission shall make an annual written report to the City Council concerning its operations and the status of planning activities, including recommendations regarding actions by the City Council related to planning and development.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003; Ord. 422, passed 9-22-2025)

   The City Planning Commission may appoint such employees as it may deem necessary for its work, whose appointment, promotion, demotion, and removal shall be subject to the same provisions of law as govern other corresponding civil employees of the city. The Commission may also contract with city planners, engineers, architects, and other consultants for such services as it may require. The expenditures of the Commission, exclusive of gifts, shall be within the amounts appropriated for the purpose by the City Council, which shall provide the funds, equipment, and accommodations necessary for the work of the Commission.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003)

   The City Planning Commission shall have such powers and duties as are granted to a city planning commission by the statutes of the state, to adopt and amend the City Master Plan, conduct surveys and studies, approval, modification, or disapproval of plats, the power to make recommendations regarding zoning and rezoning, and the authority to conduct site plan review procedures for the city.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003)

   In order to establish continuity in the terms of office of members of the Planning Commission other than the Mayor and the representative of the City Council, its members shall initially be appointed for staggered terms. According to the original language of approval, three terms would expire in 1988, two would expire in 1987, and two would expire in 1986. The Mayor and City Council representative to the Planning Commission, as stated in § 154.231, shall not be elected to the Planning Commission for a term longer than their respective terms of office on the City Council.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003)

   (A)   Enforcement Officer. The Zoning Administrator, Code Enforcement Officer, Chief of Police or designee of any of them shall be responsible for enforcing violations of this chapter.

   (B)   Public nuisance; nuisance per se. A violation of this chapter is hereby declared to be a public nuisance subject to abatement by the city in any court of competent jurisdiction.

   (C)   Municipal civil infractions. In addition to any other remedies allowed in this chapter, a violation of this chapter is hereby designated as a municipal civil infraction and be subject to the civil fines, sanctions, remedies and procedures set forth in Chapter 33.

      (1)   General penalty clause. A violation of this chapter is hereby designated as a municipal civil infraction and violators shall be subject to the civil fines, sanctions, remedies and procedures as set forth in Chapter 33 and Michigan law.

      (2)   Fines paid at Violations Bureau.

         (a)   If the civil fine is paid at the Municipal Violations Bureau, the initial fine shall be $50 or other amount set by resolution of City Council.

            1.   In the case of another offense within one year of the date of the initial infraction, the civil fine shall be $100 or other amount set by resolution of City Council. (This shall be known as the second offense.)

            2. In the case of another offense within one year of the date of the second offense, the civil fines shall be $200 or other amount set by resolution of City Council. (This shall be known as the third offense.)

            3.   In the case of another offense within one year of the date of the third offense, the civil fine shall be $500 or other amount set by resolution of City Council. (This shall be known as the fourth offense.) All subsequent offenses shall be $500 or other amount set by resolution of City Council.

         (b)   All such fines are due and payable at the Violations Bureau no later than 14 days after the date of the violation notice. The Violations Bureau is hereby authorized to accept civil fines in the amounts specified. In case of payment at the Violations Bureau, no costs shall be imposed or collected.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003; Ord. 383, passed - - 2018)