[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of
Española as Ch. 78, Art. II, §§ 78-26 through
78-35, of the Code of Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby created the Planning and Zoning Commission of
the City.
The purpose of the Commission created by this chapter shall
be to serve as an advisory commission.
A.
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall consist of seven members
who shall be residents of the City or of the County of Rio Arriba
or of the County of Santa Fe, within a five-mile radius of the corporate
limits, but no more than four members of this Commission may reside
outside the City. The Commission members shall be qualified by training,
experience and ability to exercise sound and practical judgment on
civic, social, economic and governmental affairs. The members shall
be appointed by the Mayor with approval of the majority of all members
of the City Council, each for a term of two years. There shall be
no limit as to the number of terms a person might serve on the Commission
through reappointment. Members shall serve on the Commission until
their successors are duly appointed and qualified.
B.
Prior to the expiration date of a member's term on the Commission,
in such time as to allow the City Council due deliberation regarding
a successor, the Mayor shall nominate for appointment to the Planning
and Zoning Commission persons to fill such vacancies.
Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission shall serve as
such without compensation. Actual expenses incurred by any member
may be reimbursed upon recommendation of the Commission and when authorized
and approved by the City Council.
A.
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall hold at least one regular
meeting each month and shall adopt rules for the transaction of its
business and keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings,
and determinations. All meetings of the Commission shall be open to
the public.
B.
A transcript of all proceedings before the Planning and Zoning Commission
shall be submitted to the City Council within 10 days of the date
any meeting of such Commission is held.
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall elect a Chairman from
among its members for a term of one year, with eligibility for reelection,
and may fill such other of its offices as it may create in a manner
prescribed by rules which may be adopted by such Commission.
The Chairman may appoint one of the members of the Planning
and Zoning Commission to serve as Secretary, or may call upon the
Municipal Clerk to act in that capacity.
City employees may, from time to time, be assigned to assist
in the work of the Commission, but employment at the City's expense
of special employees or consultants, hired specifically for aid in
the work of the Planning and Zoning Commission, may be engaged only
upon the express authorization of the City Council.
The territorial jurisdiction of the Commission created by this
chapter with relation to planning and zoning shall be that as determined
by law, and the Commission, in its advisory capacity, may make recommendations
to the City Council within the territorial limits as prescribed by
law.
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall have those powers and
duties as are specifically provided by this chapter and the ordinances
with relation to planning and zoning now in effect or to be enacted
by the City Council. All public officials shall, upon request, furnish
to the Commission, within a reasonable time, such available information
as it may require for its work. The 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
or markers thereon. In general, the Commission shall have all such
powers as may be necessary to enable it to fulfill and perform its
functions, promote municipal growth and development or carry out all
the purposes of this chapter.