There is hereby established within and for the City a Planning
and Zoning Commission which shall consist of not more than fifteen
(15) nor less than seven (7) members, including the Mayor, if the
Mayor chooses to be a member; a member of the City Council selected
by the Council, if the Council chooses to have a member serve on the
Commission; and not more than fifteen (15) nor less than five (5)
citizens appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council.
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 City Council may remove any citizen
member for cause stated in writing and after public hearing.
All citizen members of the Planning and Zoning Commission shall
serve without compensation.
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall elect a Chairman and
a Secretary from among the citizen members. The term of Chairman and
Secretary shall be for one (1) year with eligibility for re-election.
The Planning and Zoning 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 expenditures of the Planning and Zoning Commission, exclusive
of grants and gifts, shall be within amounts appropriated for the
purposes of the City Council.
All public officials shall upon request furnish to the Planning
and Zoning Commission, within a reasonable time, all available information
it requires for its works.
In general, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall have the
power necessary to enable it to perform its functions and promote
City planning. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall have the power
to perform all of the functions of the Zoning Commission provided
for in Chapter 89, RSMo., and shall have and perform all of the functions
of a Planning Board as outlined in such Chapter.
The Planning and Zoning Commission, its members and employees
in the performance of its functions may enter upon any land to make
examinations and surveys.