[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.