Chapter 2.36
PLANNING COMMISSION
Sections:
2.36.010 Establishment—Membership—Qualifications.
2.36.020 Term of office—Vacancy filling.
2.36.030 Officers and meetings—Powers and duties.
2.36.040 Travel expenses authorized when.
2.36.010 Establishment—Membership—Qualifications.
The planning commission for the city is established. The commission consists of five regular members, not officials of the city, to be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city council. It is the policy of the city to allow at any time no more than one nonresident commissioner who, in any event, must reside at a place no more than five miles from City Hall. A resident commissioner who moves his residence outside of the city boundaries shall automatically vacate his office, unless there is no nonresident commissioner in office at the time, and the city council expressly appoints such member to the nonresident position. A nonresident commissioner shall automatically vacate such office if he or she moves his or her residence to a place outside the five-mile radius limit. The council may, but need not, appoint any city officer, including members of the council, as advisory members of the planning commission. Advisory members shall have no vote. (Ord. 391-84 § 1, 1984: Ord. 371-81 § 1, 1981: Ord. 320 N.S. § 1, 1973: Ord. 208 N.S. § 1, 1965)
2.36.020 Term of office—Vacancy filling.
A. Of the members first appointed, two shall be appointed for a term of one year; two for terms of two years; two for terms of three years, and one for a term of four years. Their successors shall be appointed for a term of four years.
B. If a vacancy shall occur other than by expiration of a term it shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired portion of the term. Each member shall serve until his successor is appointed and qualified. (Ord. 208 N.S. § 2, 1965)
2.36.030 Officers and meetings—Powers and duties.
A. The commission shall elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from among the appointed members for a term of one year and, subject to other provisions of law, may create and fill such other offices as it may determine necessary.
B. The commission shall hold at least one regular meeting each month. The commission shall adopt rules for the transaction of business and shall keep records of its business transactions, fmdings and determinations, which records shall be public records. The commission may, with the approval of the city council, appoint such officers and employees as it may deem necessary for its work, whose appointment, promotion, demotion and removal shall be subject to the same provisions of law as govern other corresponding city employees. The commission may also recommend the employment of planning consultants and other specialists for such service as it may require.
C. The planning commission shall perform such functions and duties as are prescribed by law, and in particular as are prescribed in Chapter 3 of Title 7 of the Government Code of the state, and amendments thereto; and in addition the planning commission shall perform such other functions and duties with respect to zoning and other matters as the city council shall refer. (Ord. 208 N.S. § 4, 1965)
2.36.040 Travel expenses authorized when.
It shall be the duty of members of the commission, including advisory members and members of its staff, to inform themselves on matters affecting the functions and duties of the commission, and to that end, when authorized by the commission, may attend planning conferences or meetings of planning executives, hearings on planning legislation, or matters affecting the master plan or any part thereof, and the reasonable traveling expenses incidental to such attendances shall be charges upon the funds allocated to the commission. (Ord. 208 N.S. § 5, 1965)
2.36.050 Removal from office.
A. Any appointee member of the planning commission may be removed by the mayor at his pleasure, but such removal shall be subject to approval of the council by a majority vote. Any member of the planning commission who fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the planning commission shall be considered automatically removed and a vacancy shall be deemed to have occurred unless good cause is shown. The city council shall be the sole judge as to whether or not good cause is shown, and when it is determined that it is not, then the vacancy so created shall be filled immediately by the mayor with and subject to the approval of the city council for the unexpired portion of the term.
B. The members of the planning commission shall receive no compensation except such expenses as are authorized by law. (Ord. 208 N.S. § 3, 1965)
2.36.060 Alternate member.
In addition to the five regular members, the mayor, with the approval of the city council, shall appoint two resident alternate commissioners for a term of two years, who shall have all of the powers and duties of a regular commissioner except his or her right to vote shall be allowed and have legal effect only when seated as an acting commissioner in the absence of one of the regular commissioners. The position of acting commissioner shall be rotated between the alternate commissioners. (Ord. 667-2009 § 1, 2009: Ord. 444-90 § 1, 1990)