A planning commission for the city is established. The commission is to operate in the manner and for the purposes as set forth in this chapter, and shall have the powers and duties as enumerated in this chapter.
(Ord. 126 § 1, 1966; Ord. 1253 § 1 (part), 2010)
A. 
The planning commission shall consist of seven members.
B. 
The members of the planning commission shall be appointed by the mayor. The first appointive member of the planning commission shall have a term of four years, and when the four-year period has expired, the subsequent vacancies shall be appointed for six-year terms.
C. 
The second appointive member of the planning commission shall be for a period of five years, after which term the subsequent vacancies shall be filled by appointments for six years.
D. 
All additional members of the planning commission shall be appointed for terms of six years.
E. 
All appointments made by the mayor must be confirmed by the city council according to the confirmation process established by council resolution.
F. 
The vacancies occurring in the planning commission otherwise than by the expiration of terms shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term.
G. 
Members may be removed from the planning commission by the mayor, with the approval of the city council, for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance.
H. 
The members of the planning commission shall be selected without respect to political affiliations, and they shall serve without compensation.
I. 
The planning commission shall elect its own chair and create and fill such other offices as it may determine it requires. The planning commission shall hold at least one regular meeting in each month for not less than nine months in each year. It shall adopt rules for transaction of business and shall keep a record of its meetings, resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations, which record shall be a public record.
J. 
The expenditures of the planning commission shall be within the amounts appropriated for the purpose by the city council.
(Ord. 126 § 2 (part), 1966; Ord. 677 § 3, 1990; Ord. 939 §§ 1–3, 1998; Ord. 1253 § 1 (part), 2010)
A. 
The commission may act as the research and fact-finding agency of the city. To that end, it may make such surveys, analyses, researches and reports as are generally authorized or required by the city council, or by the state, with the approval of the city council. The planning commission, upon such request or authority, may also:
1. 
Make inquiries, investigations and surveys concerning the resources of the city;
2. 
Assemble and analyze data thus obtained and formulate plans for the conservation of such resources and the systematic utilization and development thereof;
3. 
Make recommendations from time to time as to the best methods of such conservation, utilization and development; and
4. 
Cooperate with other commissions and with other public agencies of the municipality, state and United States in such planning, conservation, and development.
(Ord. 126 § 2 (part), 1966; Ord. 1253 § 1 (part), 2010)
The planning commission shall prepare and adopt, subject to ratification by the city council, coordinated plans, regulations and standards for the physical development of the city. For this purpose, the planning commission shall make recommendations to the city council for the regulation and restriction for the alteration of land; location and use of buildings, structures and land for residence, trades, industrial and other purposes; the height, number of stories, size, construction and design of the buildings and other structures; the size of yards, courts and other open spaces on the lot or tract; the density of population; the setback of buildings along highways, parks or public water frontages; and the subdivision and development of land.
(Ord. 126 § 2 (part), 1966; Ord. 1253 § 1 (part), 2010)
A. 
The planning commission shall prepare a comprehensive plan provided for and required by Chapter 36.70A RCW for the physical and other generally advantageous development of the municipality and shall contain elements addressing land use, housing, capital facilities, utilities, transportation, economic development and parks and recreation issues. It shall be designed, among other things, to encourage the most appropriate use of lands throughout the city; to lessen traffic congestion and accidents; to secure safety from fire; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent overcrowding of lands; to avoid undue concentration of population; to promote a coordinated development of the unbuilt areas; to encourage the formation of neighborhood or community units; to secure an appropriate allotment of land area in new developments for all of the requirements of community life; to conserve, protect and restore environmentally sensitive and critical areas, natural beauty and other natural resources to assure the highest standards of environment for living; to facilitate the adequate provisions of housing, transportation, water, sewage and other utilities, public uses and requirements.
B. 
The comprehensive plan, when proposed by the planning commission and adopted by the city council, shall constitute the official comprehensive plan for the city.
(Ord. 126 § 2 (part), 1966; Ord. 1253 § 1 (part), 2010)
The planning commission shall adopt its own administrative rules and procedures, so long as the same are not in conflict herewith.
(Ord. 139 § 1, 1966; Ord. 1253 § 1 (part), 2010)