(a) 
There is hereby created and established the city planning and zoning commission, hereinafter referred to as the “commission.” It shall be composed of six (6) primary members and alternate members of any number the commission chooses. Each member both primary and alternate shall be a citizen, resident, property owner and qualified voter of the city.
(b) 
The commission shall have:
(1) 
One (1) chairperson appointed by the city council.
(2) 
One (1) vice-chairperson appointed by the commission members.
(3) 
One (1) secretary appointed by the commission members.
(c) 
Each of the terms in subsection (b) is for two (2) years. Anyone appointed to an unexpired term will only remain for the length of the original term.
(Ordinance 6016, sec. 1, adopted 11/1/07)
(a) 
Application to serve on the planning and zoning commission must be made through the city council in accordance with charter, article VII, planning and zoning.
(b) 
The following list constitutes cause for the disapproval of an application to be seated on the commission. This list is by no means all-inclusive.
(1) 
Not a legal resident of the city at the time of appointment.
(2) 
Not a qualified voter of the city at the time of appointment.
(3) 
Knowledge of any prior malfeasance.
(4) 
Conviction of a felony.
(5) 
Knowledge of any prior abuse of office.
(6) 
Perjury.
(7) 
Knowledge of accepting of or offering a bribe.
(c) 
In the event the planning and zoning commission membership falls below four (4) members (primary and alternate), the City Council shall appoint members up to a quorum, to the commission.
(d) 
Terms of office shall run for two (2) years.
(e) 
All members shall be [appointed for], staggered two (2) year terms.
(Ordinance A19-08 #4 adopted 7/18/19)
(a) 
Members may be removed from office by city council.
(b) 
Removed members may file an appeal to the city council within 10 days at which a public hearing will be set.
(c) 
The member must be notified in writing, by certified mail, 15 days prior to the public hearing to allow adequate time to respond. The member may at their own expense have a lawyer present to advise and/or represent the member.
(d) 
The following list constitutes cause for removal from the commission which has to be acted upon by city council for removal from the commission. This list is by no means all-inclusive.
(1) 
With a vote of no confidence.
(2) 
Failure to attend meetings regularly, or missing 3 scheduled meetings in a row.
(3) 
No longer a resident of the city.
(4) 
No longer a qualified voter.
(5) 
Malfeasance.
(6) 
Conviction of a felony.
(7) 
Abuse of office.
(8) 
Perjury.
(9) 
Accepting of or offering a bribe.
(10) 
Written resignation.
(e) 
Any member removed by vote shall be ineligible for reappointment for a period of two (2) years.
(Ordinance A19-08 #4 adopted 7/18/19)
Being a duly appointed member of the commission does not empower any person to knowingly trespass on private property without the owner’s or occupant’s specific permission or through due process of law or to knowingly violate the privacy of any person. Commission members shall not perform inspections for which they are not certified or licensed by the appropriate municipal, state, or federal agency to perform. Commission members have no special investigatory powers.
(Ordinance 6016, sec. 4, adopted 11/1/07)
(a) 
The commission shall have the power to make rules, regulations and bylaws for its own governing. These shall conform as close as possible to those governing the city council.
(b) 
Governing rules, regulations, and bylaws shall address:
(1) 
Regular meetings, open to the public.
(2) 
Special meetings, open to the public.
(3) 
A record of its proceedings, open to public inspection.
(4) 
Reports to the city council.
(5) 
Reports to the public.
(6) 
The holding of public hearings.
(c) 
The published agenda for each meeting shall include in the body a place for citizens of the community to address the commission. Each citizen has the right to request a place on the agenda to address the commission on any item before the commission.
(d) 
Make studies and project plans for improvement of the city with a view for future development and growth.
(e) 
Recommend to the city council all matters for the development and improvement of the city’s facilities.
(f) 
Recommend plans of the whole or portion of the city and of land outside the city limits but located within the planning area, and any other area outside the city limits but located within the planning area and any other [area] outside the city which in the opinion of the commission bears a relation to the planning of the city, and make changes in the additions and extensions plans and maps within the city as it deems necessary.
(g) 
Plan and recommend the locations, scope, character, and standards for streets, roads, alleyways, viaducts, bridges, automobile parking spaces, utilities, public buildings, schools, parks, playgrounds, railroads, water, lights, sanitation, sewage, sewage disposal, drainage, flood control, transportation, transportation terminals, communications, marketing and shipping facilities, power and other facilities, and for the removal, relocation, widening, extension, narrowing, vacating, abandoning or changing the use of any of the aforesaid public places, facilities, and utilities.
(h) 
Recommend to the city council routes of streets, avenues, and boulevards, including opening, closing, widening, and abandoning the same, or of any alley, or the changing thereof to conform with the city’s system, present and future, with reference to the traffic, land use and public facilities.
(i) 
Recommend to the city council plans for the clearance of slums and blighted areas, the prevention of the spread of blight and dilapidation, and recommend improvement of housing conditions.
(j) 
Make any recommendations concerning future zoning plans.
(k) 
Recommend to the city council, from time to time, passage of such ordinances as may be necessary to carry out the commission’s program.
(l) 
Make recommendations for ordinances.
(Ordinance 6016, sec. 5, adopted 11/1/07)