The board of County commissioners creates the County planning department as provided by Chapter 36.70 RCW, as amended, which department shall be organized and function as any other department in the County.
(Formerly 2.40.040; Res. 173-1973)
The planning commission is established to advise the County planning department and to make recommendations and reports to the County council, in accordance with Chapter 36.70 RCW.
(Ord. 14-2007 § 2)
The role of the planning commission is to:
...assist the planning department in carrying out its duties, including assistance in the execution of the Comprehensive Plan and recommendations to the department for the adoption of official controls and/or amendments thereto. To this end, the Planning Commission shall conduct such hearings as are required by RCW Chapter 36.70 and shall make findings and conclusions therefrom which shall be transmitted to the department which shall transmit the same on to the board with such comments and recommendations it deems necessary (RCW 36.70.040).
(Ord. 14-2007 § 3)
The planning commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the chair of the County council, with approval of a majority of the County council; provided, that each member of the council shall submit to the chair a list of nominees residing in his/her council district and the chair shall make his/her appointments from such lists so that as nearly as mathematically possible each council district shall be equally represented on the commission (RCW 36.70.080). Planning commission members in positions one through six shall reside in the County council district with the same number. Planning commission members in positions seven, eight and nine shall reside, for position seven, in voting district one, two, or three, for position eight, in voting district four or five, and for position nine, in voting district six.
(Ord. 14-2007 § 4)
The term of office for planning commission members shall be staggered in accordance with RCW 36.70.090, and shall be as follows:
A. 
Members appointed to positions 2 (San Juan North), 5 (Orcas East) and 6 (Lopez/Shaw) shall initially serve four-year terms, expiring on December 31, 2011.
B. 
Members appointed to positions 1 (San Juan South) and 4 (Orcas West) shall initially serve three-year terms, expiring on December 31, 2010.
C. 
Members appointed to positions 3 (Friday Harbor) and 9 (Lopez Island or Shaw Island) shall initially serve two-year terms, expiring on December 31, 2009.
D. 
Members appointed to positions 7 (San Juan Island) and 8 (Orcas Island), shall initially serve one-year terms, expiring on December 31, 2008.
Thereafter, the term of office for all planning commission members shall be four years.
(Ord. 14-2007 § 5)
Any vacancy on the planning commission shall be filled by the chair of the County council, with approval of the County council, for the duration of the vacating member's unexpired term; provided, that each member of the council shall submit to the chair a list of nominees residing in his/her council district and the chair shall make his/her appointments from such lists so that as nearly as mathematically possible each council district shall be equally represented on the commission (RCW 36.70.080). Each person filling a vacancy shall have met the same residency requirement as that of the vacating member.
(Ord. 14-2007 § 6)
The planning commission shall follow the Uniform Business Rules established by the County council, including the Rules of Procedure, unless other rules have been duly adopted after notice and hearing and such rules are provided to the prosecuting attorney for codification, except as such rules may be superseded by Chapter 36.70 RCW.
(Ord. 14-2007 § 7)
Regular meetings of the planning commission are held on the third Friday of each month at a place determined at the prior meeting. The commission may substitute another day, time, or place for the regular meeting and include such notification in the meeting call. Work sessions may be scheduled as needed.
Special meetings may be called by formal action of the planning commission, by order of the chair, or by written request to the secretary by a minimum of three members of the commission. Notice of such special meeting is to be provided to all commission members at a minimum of 10 days prior to the meeting.
(Ord. 14-2007 § 8)