Chapter 18.03
COUNTY PLANNING

Sections:

18.03.010    Planning Department established under Chapter 36.70 RCW.

18.03.020    Planning Commission created.

18.03.030    Planning Commission conducts hearings.

18.03.040    Powers and duties of Department and Commission.

18.03.050    Planning Director’s responsibility.

18.03.060    Financing.

18.03.070    Director, Commission to promulgate rules.

18.03.080    Appointments to Commission.

18.03.090    Terms of office.

18.03.100    Staggered terms.

18.03.110    Vacancies.

18.03.120    Commission organization.

18.03.130    Quorum – Meetings.

Cross-references:
Chapter 36.70 RCW: Planning enabling act.
Chapter 2.40 CCC: Department of Building and Planning to administer planning.

18.03.010 Planning Department established under Chapter 36.70 RCW.

The Board of Cowlitz County Commissioners does hereby elect to operate under the provisions of Chapter 36.70 RCW. In addition, the Board of Cowlitz County Commissioners selects the provisions of RCW 36.70.040, and does hereby create a Planning Department which shall be organized and function as any other department of the county. [Res. dated 1-17-61, § 1, 32 J 617.]

18.03.020 Planning Commission created.

The Board of County Commissioners, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 36.70 RCW, and RCW 36.70.040 does hereby also create a planning commission consisting of nine members which shall assist the Planning Department in carrying out its duties, including assistance in the preparation and execution of the Comprehensive Plan and recommendations to the Department for the adoption of official controls and/or amendments thereto. [Res. dated 1-17-61, § 2, 32 J 617.]

18.03.030 Planning Commission conducts hearings.

The Planning Commission shall conduct such hearings as are required by Chapter 36.70 RCW and shall make findings of fact and conclusions therefrom; which shall be transmitted to the Department which shall transmit the same on to the Board with such comments and recommendations as it deems necessary. [Res. dated 1-17-61, § 3, 32 J 617.]

18.03.040 Powers and duties of Department and Commission.

The powers and duties of the Planning Department and of the Planning Commission shall be such as are now described by Chapter 36.70 RCW, and other applicable laws of the State of Washington. When directed to do so by the Board of Cowlitz County Commissioners, the County Planning Department and the County Planning Commission shall also perform such other duties as are not inconsistent with such state laws. [Res. dated 1-17-61, § 4, 32 J 617.]

18.03.050 Planning Director’s responsibility.

A Director of Planning shall be appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. The Director shall be responsible for the proper operation of the Planning Department; shall have the responsibility of employing, supervising and dismissing the personnel of the planning staff; and shall be responsible for providing secretarial and technical assistance to the Planning Commission. [Res. 17-118 § 6, 12-5-17.]

18.03.060 Financing.

The County Planning Department shall incur no financial obligations nor authorize any financial expenditures except for such purposes as are expressly authorized in advance by the Board of County Commissioners in such manner as the law provides. The County Planning Commission shall be subject to the same limitations pertaining to financial obligations or expenditures. Appropriations for the operation of both the Planning Department and the Planning Commission shall be separately identified, but the office accounting or other office records of finances shall be kept by the Planning Department. [Res. dated 1-17-61, § 6, 32 J 617.]

18.03.070 Director, Commission to promulgate rules.

The Planning Director shall establish such rules and procedures as are necessary to assure thorough and expeditious dealing with matters properly the concern of the Planning Department except that such procedure shall not be in contravention of state law or county resolutions.

The Planning Commission shall adopt its own rules and regulations governing the conducting of its internal affairs provided that such rules and regulations shall not be in conflict with state law or county resolutions. [Res. dated 1-17-61, § 7, 32 J 617.]

18.03.080 Appointments to Commission.

Members of the Planning Commission shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners with the approval of the Board, provided that each member of the Board shall submit to the Chairman a list of nominees residing in his commissioner district and the Chairman shall make his appointments from such list so that as nearly as is mathematically possible, each commissioner district shall be equally represented on the Planning Commission. [Res. dated 1-17-61, § 8, 32 J 617.]

18.03.090 Terms of office.

The terms of office for members of the County Planning Commission shall be for four years. [Res. dated 1-17-61, § 9, 32 J 617.]

18.03.100 Staggered terms.

To assure staggered terms of office for members of said Planning Commission as set forth in RCW 36.70.070, 36.70.080, 36.70.090, and 36.70.100, and CCC 18.03.090, two terms of office shall begin on May 10, 1960, and expire January 31, 1964; three terms of office for four years shall begin February 1, 1961; and two terms of office for four years shall begin February 1, 1962; and two terms of office for four years shall begin February 1, 1963. [Res. dated 1-17-61, § 10, 32 J 617.]

18.03.110 Vacancies.

Vacancies resulting from the expiration of terms of office shall be filled by appointments for a term of four years. Vacancies occurring for any reason other than the expiration of a term of office shall be by appointment for the unexpired term of the office being filled. [Res. dated 1-17-61, § 11, 32 J 617.]

18.03.120 Commission organization.

At its first meeting in May, 1960, the Planning Commission shall organize by electing a chairman and vice-chairman to serve until January 31, 1961. Thereafter, at the first meeting in February of each year, the Planning Commission shall organize by electing a chairman and a vice-chairman to serve for a period of one year. The Planning Commission may appoint standing or special committees to each of which it may assign specific responsibilities and authority provided only that such committee shall make no recommendations except to the Planning Commission. [Res. dated 1-17-61, § 12, 32 J 617.]

18.03.130 Quorum – Meetings.

Five members of the Planning Commission shall constitute a quorum. All actions of the Planning Commission shall be determined by a majority vote at a meeting of which a quorum is present, provided, that where state law or county resolution require a vote larger than the majority of a quorum, such provisions shall govern.

Each Planning Agency shall hold not less than one regular meeting in each month; provided, that if no matters over which the Planning Agency has jurisdiction are pending upon its calendar, a meeting may be canceled. [Res. dated 1-17-61, § 13, 32 J 617.]