There is hereby created and established for the city a planning and zoning commission, which shall be composed of five members. The members shall be resident citizens, taxpayers and qualified voters of the city, all of whom shall be appointed by the mayor subject to confirmation by the governing body. All vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as provided for the original appointments. Members of the commission may be removed by the mayor, with the consent of the governing body, after a public hearing and for cause assigned in writing or upon the completion of their assigned project. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation.

(Code 1976, § 20:1; Ord. No. 650, § 1, 10-11-1965)

The planning and zoning commission shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from its membership and shall have power to employ such qualified persons as may be necessary for the proper conduct and undertakings of the commission and to pay for their services and such other necessary expenses, provided that the cost of such services and expenses shall not exceed the amount appropriated by the governing body for the use of the commission. It shall also have the power to make rules, regulations and bylaws for its own government, which shall conform as nearly as possible with those governing the governing body and same shall be subject to approval by such commission. Such bylaws shall include, among other items, provisions for:

(1)

Regular and special meetings, open to the public;

(2)

Records of its proceedings, to be open for inspection by the public;

(3)

Reporting to the governing body and the public, from time to time and annually; and

(4)

For the holding of public hearings on its recommendations.

(Code 1976, § 20:2; Ord. No. 650, § 2, 10-11-1965)

The planning and zoning commission shall have the power and it shall be its duty to make and recommend for adoption a master plan, as a whole or in parts, for the future development and redevelopment of the city and its environs and shall have power and it shall be its duty to prepare a comprehensive plan and ordinance for zoning the city. The governing body shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by ordinance or state law.

(Code 1976, § 20:3; Ord. No. 650, § 3, 10-11-1965)

(a)

For the purposes herein intended and of the Unified Work Program of the SMSA, this board appoints, participates in and recognizes as its transportation policy committee the following: the full regional planning commission, parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard and St. Tammany, as now, or as may hereafter be legally constituted and one designee of the Governor of the state. The transportation policy committee will execute decisions pertaining to the overall planning process. The transportation policy committee, through the open planning process, will provide for the following major activities:

(1)

Adoption of regional goals and objectives.

(2)

Approval of comprehensive regional transportation alternatives for testing and evaluation.

(3)

Selection of the evaluation approach and approval of the evaluation process.

(4)

Review and evaluation of alternatives and selection of a plan for adoption and implementation after appropriate open discussion and public hearings.

(5)

Decisions concerning development of a long-range and short-range programs.

(b)

The agenda for the regular monthly meeting of the regional planning commission, which regular monthly meetings are required by law, will specifically designate items to be considered by the regional planning commission, as supplemented by the governor's designee, as the transportation policy committee. The purpose of this procedure is to provide:

(1)

Periodic review of the continual planning activities to ensure that the planning program is maintained current and adequate to fulfill the objectives of the short-term as well as the long-term transportation needs of the region;

(2)

Informal opportunity for briefing, reviews, comments, and continuous involvement of member elected officials; and

(3)

Opportunity to act upon all policies, project and plans developed in the intermodal transportation planning process.

(c)

The transportation policy committee shall have authority to draft and adopt its own procedures; provided, however, that within the framework of the transportation policy committee as herein designated, all major policies affecting transportation shall bear the endorsement of affected governing bodies prior to incorporation into any policy statements or its reflections in plans on capital improvement programs.

(d)

This board continues to recognize the regional planning commission as the official agency designated to collect and furnish to the state department of highways the planning data required in the "continuing phase" of the transportation planning process, in cooperation with the local governing bodies.

(e)

Any and all previous agreements or memoranda of understanding heretofore made with the state department of highways, and as may have been thereafter ratified and/or reaffirmed are herewith repealed, recalled, rescinded and vacated, it being the intent and purpose hereof to vest in the transportation policy committee in lieu of the state department of highways, all of the powers, duties and responsibilities as therein and herein contained.

(Code 1976, § 20:100; Res. of 10-8-1973)