[CC 1988 §2-78; Ord. No. 1318 §1, 10-17-1960; Ord. No. 2734 §§1 — 2, 2-7-1983; Ord. No. 3282 §1, 10-21-1996]
A.
The Planning
Commission shall consist of not more than fifteen (15) nor less than
seven (7) members, including:
1.
The
Mayor, if the Mayor chooses to be a member;
2.
A member
of the Council selected by the Council, if the Council chooses to
have a member serve on the Commission; and
3.
Not
more than fifteen (15) nor less than five (5) citizens appointed by
the Mayor and approved by the Council. All citizen members of the
Commission shall serve without compensation. The term of each of the
citizen members shall be for four (4) years, except that the terms
of the citizen members first appointed shall be for varying periods
so that succeeding terms will be staggered. Any vacancy in a membership
shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment as aforesaid.
The Council may remove any citizen member for cause stated in writing
and after public hearing. Removal for cause shall include, but not
be limited to, non-attendance of any City citizen member at three
(3) consecutive regular meetings of the Commission.
[CC 1988 §2-79; Ord. No. 1318 §2, 10-17-1960; Ord. No. 3282 §1, 10-21-1996]
The Commission shall elect its Chairman and Secretary from among
the citizen members. The term of the Chairman and the Secretary shall
be for one (1) year with eligibility for re-election. The Commission
shall hold regular meetings and special meetings as they provide by
rule, and shall adopt rules for the transaction of business, and keep
a record of its proceedings. These records shall be public records.
The Commission shall appoint the employees and staff necessary for
its work and may contract with the City planners and other professional
persons for the services that it requires. The expenditures of the
Commission, exclusive of grants and gifts, shall be within the amounts
appropriated for that purpose by the City Council.
[CC 1988 §2-81; Ord. No. 1318 §4, 10-17-1960]
It shall be the function and duty of the Planning Commission
to make and adopt a Comprehensive Plan for the physical development
of the City. Such plan, with the accompanying maps, plats, charts
and descriptive matter, shall show the Commission's recommendations
for the development of such area including, among other things, the
general location, character and extent of streets, viaducts, bridges,
waterways, waterfronts, boulevards, highways, parkways, playgrounds,
squares, parks, air fields and other public ways, grounds and open
spaces, the general location of public buildings and other public
property, and the general location and extent of public utilities
and terminals, whether publicly or privately owned or operated, for
water, light, sanitation, transportation, communication, power and
other purposes; also the removal, relocation, widening, narrowing,
vacating, abandonment, change of use or extension of any of the foregoing
ways, grounds, open spaces, buildings, property, utilities or terminals,
as well as a zoning plan for the control of the height, area, bulk,
location and use of buildings and premises and of population density,
the general location, character, layout and extent of community centers
and neighborhood units, the general character, extent and layout of
the replanning of blighted districts and slum areas and the establishment
of fire zones. The Commission shall hold public hearings on any major
final report before submitting the same to the City Council for its
action thereon, and the Council shall not hold its public hearings
to take action thereon until it has received the final report of the
Planning Commission on the particular proposition to be acted on.
[CC 1988 §2-82; Ord. No. 1318 §5, 10-17-1960]
In the preparation of such plan, the Planning Commission shall
make careful comprehensive surveys and studies of present conditions
and the future growth of the City, with due regard to its relation
to neighboring territory. The plan shall be made with the general
purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious
development of the City which will, in accordance with present and
future needs, best promote health, safety, morals, order, convenience,
prosperity and general welfare, as well as efficiency and economy
in the process of development including, among other things, adequate
provisions for traffic, the promotion of safety from fire and other
dangers, adequate provisions for light and air, the promotion of the
healthful and convenient distribution of population, the promotion
of good civic design and arrangements, wise and efficient expenditure
of public funds, and the adequate provisions of public utilities and
other public requirements.
[CC 1988 §2-83; Ord. No. 1318 §6, 10-17-1960]
The Planning Commission shall, from time to time, recommend
to the appropriate public officials programs for public structures
and improvements and for the financing thereof. It shall be part of
its duty to consult with public officials and agencies, public utility
companies, civic, educational, professional and other organizations,
and with citizens with regard to the protecting and carrying out of
the plans. The Commission shall have the right to accept and use gifts
for the exercise of its functions. All public officials shall, upon
request, furnish to the Commission, within a reasonable time, such
available information as it shall require for its work. The Commission,
its members, officers and employees, in the performance of their functions,
may enter upon any land and make examinations and surveys and place
and maintain necessary monuments and markers thereon. In general,
the Commission shall have such powers as may be necessary to enable
it to fulfill its functions, promote City planning and carry out the
purposes of this Chapter.
