There is hereby established a City Plan Commission for the City of Franklin, Wisconsin, in accordance with § 62.23 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
[Amended 6-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-2141]
The City Plan Commission shall consist of the Mayor who shall be its presiding officer, an alderman appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council who shall serve for one year unless the office becomes vacant, the City Engineer and four citizens, three appointed for three-year terms and one citizen appointed for a one-year term. In the absence of the City Engineer ("absence" meaning and including, but not limited to the office of City Engineer being vacant), the Assistant City Engineer shall serve in the membership position of the City Engineer on the City Plan Commission.
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Presiding Officer. The presiding officer shall be the Mayor.
B. 
Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall be the City Clerk or other person as designated by the City Clerk.
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Official Oaths. The official oaths shall be taken by all members in accordance with § 19.01 of the Wisconsin Statutes within 10 days of receiving notice of their appointments.
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Terms. Terms for the citizen members shall commence in the first week in May, and each term shall be staggered and each term shall be for a three-year period.
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"Statement of Economic Interest" Requirements. Members shall comply with the City of Franklin's "Statement of Economic Interest" policy requirements.
The City Plan Commission shall organize and adopt rules for its own government in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.
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Meetings. Meetings shall be held monthly (at a minimum) and at the call of the Mayor or a majority of the full Commission and shall be open to the public.
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Standing and Special Committees. Standing and special committees may be appointed by the Chairman.
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Quorum. Quorum shall be four members, but all actions shall require approval of a majority of the full Commission except a motion to adjourn.
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Minutes. Minutes shall be kept showing all actions taken, resolutions, findings, determinations, transactions, and recommendations made; and a copy shall be filed with the City Clerk as a public record.
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Administrative Procedures and Regulations. The Commission shall keep Administrative Procedures and Regulations to govern the Commission not included herein.
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Remote meeting attendance permitted. Plan Commission meetings attendance by way of telephone and/or electronic audio and/or video communication, is permitted for attendance by applicant representative(s) with regard to application items upon a meeting agenda, and also for City retained consultants with regard to subject matter item(s) upon a meeting agenda, provided that live streaming for those meetings is enabled so the public would be able to watch and listen, and provided that the Chairperson for the subject meeting was informed of the remote attendance request at least 48 hours in advance of the start of the meeting, and determined that under the circumstances presented, i.e., travel distance, other scheduled work requirement, or the like, permission for remote attendance is appropriate, at least 24 hours in advance of the start of the meeting.
[Added 8-1-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-2553]
The City Plan Commission shall have such powers as may be necessary to enable it to perform its functions and duties and promote municipal planning. Such powers shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
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Employment of Experts. To employ experts and a Staff and to pay for their services, supplies, equipment, and such other expenses as may be necessary and proper, not to exceed the appropriations and regulations made by the Common Council.
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Reports and Recommendations. To make reports and recommendations relating to the plan and development of the municipality to public officials, agencies, utilities, and other organizations and citizens.
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Public Improvement Programs. To recommend public improvement programs and financing thereof to the Common Council or Mayor.
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Request Available Information. To request available information from any public official to be furnished within a reasonable time.
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Enter Upon Any Land. The City Plan Commission, its members, and employees may enter upon any land in the performance of its functions, make examinations and surveys, and place and maintain necessary monuments and marks thereon.
The City Plan Commission shall have the following functions and duties:
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Make and Adopt a Comprehensive Plan. To make and adopt a Comprehensive Plan for the physical development of the municipality including any areas outside of its boundaries in accordance with § 62.23 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
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Make and Recommend an Official Map. To make and recommend an Official Map to the Common Council in accordance with § 62.23 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
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Prepare and Recommend a Zoning District Plan and Regulations. To prepare and recommend a zoning district plan and regulations to the Common Council in accordance with § 62.23 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
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Prepare and Recommend Land Division Regulations. To prepare and recommend land division regulations to the Common Council in accordance with § 236.45 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
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Changes to the Comprehensive Plan. To make any changes to the Comprehensive Plan they deem necessary or desirable and to recommend any changes or amendments to the Common Council that they deem necessary or desirable concerning the Official Map and Official Map Ordinance, Zoning and Land Division provisions of the Unified Development Ordinance, and Fire Prevention Ordinances.
F. 
Matters Referred to the City Plan Commission. To consider and report or recommend on all matters referred to them including, but not limited to, Special Use Permits.
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Variances to the Land Division and Platting Provisions of this Ordinance. The granting of variances to the land division and platting related aspects of this Ordinance shall be the sole charge of the City Plan Commission [See State ex rel. Westbrook v. City of New Berlin, 120 Wis.2d 256, 354 N.W.2d 206 (Ct. App. 1984)].
H. 
Hold Public Hearings and Informational Meetings. To hold public hearings and informational meeting on matters referred to the City Plan Commission.
The Common Council or other public body or officer of the City, having final authority thereon, shall refer to the City Plan Commission, for its consideration and report before final action is taken, the following matters:
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Public Buildings. Location and architectural design of any public building.
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Statues and Memorials. Location of any statue or other memorial.
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Streets, Alleys, or Other Public Way, Park, Playground, Airport, Parking Area, or other Memorial or Public Grounds. Location, acceptance, extension, alteration, vacation, abandonment, change of use, sale, acquisition, or lease of land for any street, alley, or other public way, park, playground, airport, parking area, or other memorial or public grounds.
D. 
Public Utilities. Location, extension, abandonment, or authorization for any public utility whether publicly or privately owned.
E. 
Public or Semi-Public Housing, Slum Clearance, Relief of Congestion, or Vacation Camps for Children. Location, character, and extent, or acquisition, leasing, or sale of lands for public or semipublic housing, slum clearance, relief of congestion, or vacation camps for children.
F. 
Fire Prevention Regulations. Proposed fire prevention regulations.
G. 
Annexations, Incorporations, or Consolidations. All annexations, incorporations, or consolidations affecting the City.
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Division of Land. All division of lands within the City's extraterritorial platting jurisdiction.
I. 
Changes and Amendments. All proposed or requested changes and amendments to the City's Comprehensive Plan, Official Map, Unified Development Ordinance (including its zoning and land division regulations), and Fire Prevention Ordinances.
The City Plan Commission shall have all additional powers and duties granted or assigned by the Common Council or by City ordinances. All the powers and duties granted or assigned by the Wisconsin Statutes to City Plan Commissions and any amendments thereto are hereby granted or assigned to the Commission and such statutes are hereby adopted by reference.