There is hereby created and established within the city a city planning and zoning commission, which shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the city council. Such city planning and zoning commission shall be composed of five (5) members, whose offices are hereby created and established. The members of the city planning and zoning commission shall be resident citizens of the corporate limits of the city, owners of real estate in the city, taxpayers and qualified voters of the city. The members of the city planning and zoning commission shall be appointed by the city council. The term of office of said members shall be five years; provided, however, at the first meeting of the first five (5) members of the city planning and zoning commission, such members shall draw by lot to determine which member shall serve one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4) or five (5) year terms; thereafter one member shall be appointed each year for a full term of five (5) years. In making such appointments, the city council shall name one appointee as chairman and one as vice-chairman. After the appointment of the original members thereof, all vacancies occurring on the city planning and zoning commission shall be filled by appointment of the city council. The members of the city planning and zoning commission, in the performance of their duties as such, shall receive the sum of one dollar ($1.00) per annum.
(Ordinance 156, sec. 1, adopted 3/5/1968)
The city planning and zoning commission shall recommend to the city council the appointment of such named individuals as may in the opinion of the city planning and zoning commission be necessary for the proper conduct, operation and undertaking of this department (the city planning and zoning commission), including from time to time as it may find necessary an engineer or city planning consultants of recognized standing in the field of city planning and zoning, such appointment [to be made] by the city council.
(Ordinance 156, sec. 2, adopted 3/5/1968)
The planning and zoning commission shall have the power and authority and it shall be its duties:
(1) 
To make studies and project plans for the improvement of the city with a view of its development and extension, and to recommend to the city council all matters for the development and advancement of the city facilities, layouts and appearance.
(2) 
To aid and assist the city council in the preparation of the city budget and determination of sources of funds and in the procuring of financial and other aids and assistance for the city from the state and the federal governments and their agencies for each and all of the purposes herein enumerated.
(3) 
To act with and assist all other municipal and governmental agencies and especially the city council in formulating and executing proper plans for municipal development.
(4) 
To plan and recommend the location, plan and extent of city alleyways, parks, playgrounds, airports, automobile parking places, and other public grounds and public improvements, for the location and planning of public buildings, schools, and other properties, and of public utilities, including bus terminals, railroad depots and terminals, whether public or privately owned, for water, lights, sanitation, sewage disposal, drainage, flood control, and relocation, widening, extension, narrowing, vacation, abandonment, or change of use of any of the foregoing public places, works, buildings, facilities or utilities.
(5) 
To select and recommend to the city council routes of streets, avenues and boulevards and particularly to investigate and recommend the opening, widening or abandonment of streets, avenues, boulevards and alleyways or the changing thereof to conform to the city’s system, present and future, all streets, avenues, boulevards, alleyways and parks.
(6) 
To recommend to the city council for adoption, rules and regulations governing plats and subdivisions of land within the corporate limits of the city or within five (5) miles of the corporate limits of the city, to promote health, and safety, morals and general welfare of the community, and the safe and orderly and healthful development of the community; such rules and regulations may be adopted by the city council only after a public hearing held thereon.
(7) 
To recommend plans to the city council for improving, developing, expanding and beautifying the parks, lakes and public buildings in or adjacent to the city and to cooperate with the city council and other agencies of the city in devising, establishing, locating, improving, selecting, expanding and maintaining the public parks, playgrounds and lakes for public recreation.
(8) 
To aid and assist the city council by recommending plans for development of civic centers and to make investigations, consider and make recommendations to the city council concerning traffic regulations, routing and control, and highway designations.
(9) 
To recommend to the city council for adoption, rules and regulations restricting the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lots that may be occupied, the size of the yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population and the location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, residence, or other purposes, and in the case of designated places and areas of historic and cultural importance, to regulate and restrict the construction, alteration, reconstruction, or razing of buildings and other structures; to divide the municipality into [districts for] said purposes; to provide for off-street parking and loading; to provide for definitions; and to provide for its interpretation and amendments.
(Ordinance 156, sec. 3, adopted 3/5/1968)
Said city planning and zoning commission shall, subject to the approval of the city council, make such rules and regulations and adopt such bylaws for its own government and designate such time and places for holding regular meetings as it deems proper. Three (3) members of the city planning and zoning commission shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business.
(Ordinance 156, sec. 4, adopted 3/5/68)