Chapter 2.24
PLANNING COMMISSION1
Sections:
2.24.010 Creation – Membership.
2.24.040 Organization – Meeting – Quorum – Rules.
2.24.070 Reports – Recommendations.
2.24.080 Subdivision reports and recommendations.
2.24.090 Annual report to council.
2.24.010 Creation – Membership.
Effective January 1, 2014, pursuant to Chapter 35.63 RCW, there is created a city planning commission consisting of five members who shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council. Members shall be selected without respect to political affiliations and they shall serve without compensation. [Ord. 856 § 1, 2013; Ord. 352 § 1, 1984; Ord. 340 § 1, 1984.]
2.24.020 Terms of office.
(A) Effective January 1, 2014, the terms of office of each new member appointed (except to fill unexpired terms) shall be for six years. The mayor shall appoint such members as are necessary so that there will be five members for terms of such length that the term of one member shall expire each year.
(B) Of the first seven members appointed, the terms of two shall end on the second day of January, 1984, and the terms of each of the five others shall expire in rotation on the second day of January of each succeeding year. The terms of the first seven members appointed shall be fixed and designated by the mayor at the time of appointment.
(C) No member of the commission shall hold office or be appointed as an ex officio member by virtue of office held in the city. [Ord. 856 § 1, 2013; Ord. 340 § 2, 1984.]
2.24.030 Vacancies – Removal.
Vacancies occurring otherwise than through the expiration of terms shall be filled for the unexpired terms. Members may be removed, after public hearing, by the mayor, with the approval of the city council, for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. [Ord. 856 § 1, 2013; Ord. 340 § 3, 1984.]
2.24.040 Organization – Meeting – Quorum – Rules.
The commission shall elect its own chairman and create and fill such other offices as it may determine it requires. A member may act as secretary without salary, or if requested by the commission the mayor may designate a member of the paid staff of the city to serve as such secretary, who shall serve without additional compensation. The commission shall hold at least one regular meeting in each month for not less than nine months in each year. A majority of the members of the planning commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The commission shall adopt rules for transaction of business and shall keep a written record of its meetings, resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations, which record shall be a public record. [Ord. 856 § 1, 2013; Ord. 340 § 4, 1984.]
2.24.050 Expenditures.
The commission may make expenditure recommendations to the council. The council must approve and authorize any commission expenses and/or any expert consultants. [Ord. 856 § 1, 2013; Ord. 340 § 5, 1984.]
2.24.060 Powers.
The commission may act as the research and fact-finding agency of the municipality. To that end it may make such surveys, analyses, researches and reports as are generally authorized or requested by the council. The commission, upon such request or authority, may also:
(A) Make inquiries, investigations and surveys concerning the resources of the city;
(B) Assemble and analyze the data thus obtained and formulate comprehensive plans for the conservation of such resources and the systematic utilization and development thereof;
(C) Make recommendations from time to time as to the best methods of such conservation, utilization, and development;
(D) Coordinate with other commissions and with other public agencies of the municipality, state and United States in such planning, conservation and development. [Ord. 856 § 1, 2013; Ord. 355, 1984; Ord. 340 § 6, 1984.]
2.24.070 Reports – Recommendations.
The city council may refer to the planning commission, for its recommendation and report, any ordinance, or any land development or land subdivision proposals, and the commission shall promptly report to the council thereof, making such recommendations and giving such counsel as it may deem proper in the premises. [Ord. 856 § 1, 2013; Ord. 340 § 7, 1984.]
2.24.080 Subdivision reports and recommendations.
The commission shall review all proposed subdivisions and make recommendations thereon to the city council to assure conformance of the proposed subdivision to the general purposes of the comprehensive plan and to planning standards and specifications as adopted by the city in accordance with RCW 58.17.100. Reports of the planning commission shall be advisory only; provided, that the council may, by ordinance, assign to such commission such administrative functions, powers and duties as may be appropriate, including the holding of hearings, and recommendations for approval or disapproval of preliminary plats of proposed subdivisions. [Ord. 856 § 1, 2013; Ord. 340 § 8, 1984.]
2.24.090 Annual report to council.
The planning commission, at or before its first regular meeting in November of each year, shall make a full report in writing to the city council of its transactions and expenditures, if any, for the preceding year, with such general recommendations as to matters covered by its prescribed duties and authority as may to it seem proper. [Ord. 856 § 1, 2013; Ord. 340 § 9, 1984.]
Prior legislative history: Ord. 173.