There is established a Planning Commission for the City which shall act as the planning and land use advisory body to the City Council and shall have such other powers and authority as described in this chapter and State law.
(Ord. 1356 § 1, 1932; Ord. 3767 § 1, 1974; Ord. 5778 § 1, 2012)
(1) 
The Planning Commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the City Council.
(2) 
Commission members shall receive no compensation, but shall be reimbursed for duly authorized expenses.
(3) 
Persons appointed to membership on the Planning Commission shall serve at the pleasure of the Council and may be removed therefrom without cause by vote of the Council.
(4) 
Any vacancy shall be filled by the City Council for the unexpired term of the predecessor in office.
(5) 
No more than two voting members shall be engaged principally in the buying, selling or developing of real estate for profit as an individual, or be a member of a partnership, or officer or employee of any corporation or other legal entity that is engaged principally in the buying, selling or developing of real estate for profit.
(6) 
No more than two voting members shall be engaged in the same kind of business, trade or profession.
(7) 
All members of the Planning Commission shall be appointed for four year terms or until their respective successors are appointed and qualify.
(8) 
All members of the Planning Commission shall be residents of the City.
(9) 
No voting member shall be related to another voting member of the Commission nor to a member of the City Council closer than the third degree of either blood relationship or through affinity.
(10) 
In the event that any member of the Planning Commission changes residence after appointment so that s/he no longer resides within the City, his/her membership on the Commission shall immediately terminate.
(11) 
No member of the Commission shall vote on any question before the Commission in violation of State ethics laws.
(12) 
The Planning Commission shall, at its first meeting in January of each year, elect one of its members to serve as chairperson and another to serve as vice chairperson. The Community Development Director of the City shall serve as secretary to the Planning Commission and shall keep accurate, permanent and complete records of all proceedings held before the Planning Commission. The chairperson or the presiding officer of the Planning Commission shall be entitled to vote on all questions that are before the Commission. The Planning Commission may adopt rules governing the transaction of its business which are consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 3767 § 2, 1974; Ord. 4560 § 1, 1983; Ord. 5013 § 1, 1992; Ord. 5778 § 1, 2012)
The Commission shall:
(1) 
Recommend and make suggestions to the City Council and to all other public authorities concerning the laying out, widening, extending, parking and locating of streets, sidewalks, bike paths, and boulevards, relief of traffic congestion, betterment of housing and sanitation conditions and establishment of zones of districts limiting the use, height, area and bulk of buildings and structures;
(2) 
Recommend to the City Council and all other public authorities plans for regulation of all future growth, development and beautification of the City in respect to its public and private buildings and works, streets, parks, grounds and vacant lots and plans consistent with future growth and development of the City in order to secure to the City and its inhabitants sanitation, proper service of all public utilities, and transportation facilities;
(3) 
Recommend to the City Council and all other public authorities plans for promotion, development and regulation of industrial and economic needs of the community in respect to private and public enterprises engaged in industrial pursuits;
(4) 
Make economic surveys of present potential possibilities of the municipality with view to ascertaining its industrial needs;
(5) 
Study needs of existing local industries with view to strengthening and developing local industries and stabilizing employment conditions;
(6) 
Prepare and submit to the City Council for adoption of a comprehensive land use plan and review this plan and recommend amendments as are from time to time deemed necessary;
(7) 
Advise the City Council as to needs for amendment and change in existing zones and development regulations;
(8) 
Do such other tasks as may be requested by the City Council.
(Ord. 3767 § 3, 1974; Ord. 4560 § 1, 1983; Ord. 5013 § 1, 1992)
The Planning Commission shall appoint a committee of three of its members to act as a Hearings Board. A fourth person shall be appointed to act on an alternate basis only. Membership on the Hearings Board shall be for a period of two years. No more than one member shall be engaged in buying, selling or developing of real estate for profit. The first Hearings Board to be appointed shall consist of one member to serve a one year term and two members to serve a two year term and an alternate to serve a two year term. The Hearings Board may continue from time to time any hearing held by it except that no action of the Hearings Board for which a completed application has been received shall be continued for more than 60 days unless further extension is agreed to by the applicant.
The Hearings Board shall appoint one of its members as chairperson to preside at all hearings. The chairperson may designate any member of the Board to preside and perform duties in the absence of the chairperson. The chairperson shall decide all points of order of procedure unless otherwise directed by a majority of the Board in session at the time. The chairperson may designate members of the Board to make an inspection of premises if so desired.
(Ord. 3767 § 4, 1974; Ord. 4245 § 1, 1979; Ord. 4560 § 1, 1983; Ord. 5013 § 1, 1992)
The Hearings Board will hear all contested cases which are referred to it by the Community Development Director or the Planning Commission. Any party may appeal from a decision of the Hearings Board to the entire membership of the Planning Commission and then to the City Council.
(Ord. 3767 § 5, 1974; Ord. 4560 § 1, 1983; Ord. 5013 § 1, 1992)