In order to guide and accomplish a coordinated and harmonious development of the City of Unadilla which will, in accordance with existing and future needs, best promote the public health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity, and the general welfare, as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development, the Unadilla Planning Commission, herein referred to as the planning commission, is hereby created and established.

a.

The planning commission shall consist of seven members who shall be residents of the city, who are at least 18 years of age. The mayor and each council member shall each appoint one member to the commission.

b.

The terms of the members shall run concurrently with the term of office of the mayor or council member who appointed the commission member.

c.

Any vacancy in membership shall be filled for the unexpired term by mayor or council member who appointed the vacant member. The city council shall have the authority to remove any member for cause, on written charges, after a public hearing.

d.

All members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in connection with their official duties.

e.

The planning commission shall elect its chairman from among its members. The term of the chairman shall be one year with eligibility for re-election.

f.

The planning commission shall appoint a secretary, who maybe an officer or employee of the City of Unadilla.

g.

The planning commission shall make its own rules of procedure and determine its time of meeting.

h.

All meetings of the planning commission at which official action taken shall be open to the public, and all records of the planning commission shall be a public record.

i.

The planning commission, upon approval of the mayor and council, may contract with state planning agencies and city planners and other consultants for such services as it may require.

j.

The expenditures of the planning commission, exclusive of gifts, shall be within the amounts appropriated for the purposes by the city council.

It shall be the function and duty of the planning commission to make such careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of existing conditions and probable future developments and to prepare such plans for physical, social, and economic growth as will best promote public health, safety, morals, convenience, prosperity, or the general welfare as well as efficiency and economy in the development of this political jurisdiction. In particular, the commission shall have the power and the duty to:

a.

Prepare a master plan or parts hereof for the development of its political jurisdiction.

b.

Prepare and recommend for adoption to the mayor and council a zoning ordinance or resolution.

c.

Prepare and recommend for adoption to the mayor and council regulations for the subdivision of land within its political jurisdiction and to administer the regulations that may be adopted.

d.

Prepare and recommend for adoption to the mayor and council a plat or plats of an official map showing the exact location of the boundary lines of existing, proposed, extended, widened, or narrowed streets, public open spaces, or public building sites, together with regulations to control the erection of buildings or other structures within such lines, within its political jurisdiction or a specified portion thereof.

In addition, unincorporated areas adjacent to municipalities may be added to and included in the area under the jurisdiction of the planning commission for general planning and for master plan preparation and for the preparation and administration of zoning ordinances or resolutions, land subdivision regulations, and official maps; provided, that the governing bodies of the county and municipality shall agree to the boundaries of such additional areas, procedures for the adoption and administration or ordinances and resolutions, and regulations applying to the area, and the manner of obtaining equitable representation on the planning commission. Such agreement shall be formally established by appropriate official action by the governing authorities involved.

The planning commission may make, publish, and distribute maps, plans, reports, and recommendations relating to the plan and development of its political jurisdiction to public officials and agencies, public utility companies, civic, education, professional and other organizations and citizens. It may recommend to the executive or legislative officials of its political jurisdiction programs for public improvements and the financing thereof. All public officials shall, upon request, to the planning commission, within a reasonable time such available information as it requires for its work. The planning commission, its members, and employees, in the performance of its functions, may enter upon any land, make examinations and surveys, and place and maintain necessary monuments and marks thereon; provided, however, that the planning commission shall be liable for any injury or damage to property resulting therefrom. In general, the planning commission shall have powers as may be necessary to enable it to perform its functions and promote the planning of its political jurisdiction, including the authority to enter into agreements with political subdivisions and planning commissions, by whatever name known, in adjacent states.