Chapter 2.11 PLANNING SECTION AND COMMISSION

Chapter 2.11
PLANNING SECTION AND COMMISSION

Sections:

2.11.010 Purpose.

(1) Title. The title of this chapter shall be the Lewis County planning section and commission chapter.

(2) Purpose. The purpose of this chapter pursuant to RCW 36.70.040 shall be to establish and maintain a planning section and planning commission, as follows:

(a) To provide for eligibility and standards of conduct for appointment to staggered terms of planning commission members, and for their succession;

(b) To provide for appointment of a department of community development director and organization of a planning section of that department;

(d) To effect the promulgation and adoption of rules of procedure, pursuant to board of county commissioner guidelines, under which the planning commission shall conduct its business. [Ord. 1332 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 1186 §1, 2005]

2.11.020 Planning section.

(1) Established. Pursuant to RCW 36.70.040, a Lewis County planning section is hereby created, as a division of the department of community development, which shall function and be organized as any other department of Lewis County.

(2) Powers and Duties. The powers and duties of the Lewis County planning section shall be such as are prescribed by Chapter 36.70 RCW, as amended, and other applicable laws of the state. When directed to do so by the board of commissioners, the Lewis County planning section shall also perform such other duties as are not inconsistent the laws of the state.

(3) Administrative Responsibilities. A director of the department of community development shall be appointed by the board of commissioners, and he shall be responsible for the proper operation of the Lewis County planning section. He shall be directly responsible to the board of commissioners, and shall have responsibility for appointing employees with such responsibilities within the department as shall be established by the board. He shall be responsible for providing secretarial and technical assistance to the Lewis County planning commission, hereinafter created and established. [Ord. 1186 §1, 2005]

2.11.030 Planning commission.

(1) Composition. Pursuant to RCW 36.70.040 and 36.70.070 the Lewis County planning commission shall consist of seven members, including:

(a) Two commission members who reside in each of the county districts; and

(b) One at-large commission member.

(2) Purpose. The planning commission shall assist the planning section in carrying out its duties, including assistance in the preparation and execution of the comprehensive plan and the adoption of development regulations for Lewis County, Washington, and shall hold public hearings and shall make findings and conclusions which shall be transmitted to the planning section for transmittal to the board of county commissioners, together with such comments and recommendations as the section deems necessary.

(3) Appointment. Existing members of the planning commission may retain their positions and current terms. Vacancy resulting from the expiration of a term of office, resignation or any other reason shall be filled by appointment by the chairman of the board of county commissioners from a list of not less than one nominee residing in the respective district by the respective district county commissioner of the vacating member, except the at-large position may be filled by one nominee from any district.

(4) Eligibility of Appointed Members. The board of county commissioners shall nominate and select planning commission members to independently and responsibly serve their fellow citizens. The board of county commissioners shall appoint planning commission members:

(a) Without respect to political affiliations;

(b) Who represent varying geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic perspectives;

(c) Who, collectively, represent a broad range of local opinion, experience, and expertise, and are entrusted to make recommendations reflecting the broad interests of the community;

(d) Who are free of incompatible associations or conflict of interests, subject to ultimate decision by the board of county commissioners.

(5) Terms. Newly appointed planning commissioner members, other than those appointed to fill an existing term, shall have a term of four years, beginning on January first of the year; except the at-large position, which shall have a term of three years, beginning on January 1st of the year. Members who are appointed to fill a vacated existing term that has not expired shall complete the existing term. No appointed commission member shall serve more than three consecutive full terms.

(6) Moving. If a member of the planning commission moves their permanent residence out of the district they were appointed to represent, the member must tender their resignation from the planning commission; except if the member holds the at-large position, in which case they may remain on the planning commission and must inform the community development director of the change of residence. If a member moves permanent residence but remains within the district they were appointed to represent, the member may remain on the planning commission and must inform the community development director of the change of residence.

(7) Organization. The planning commission shall at its first regular meeting in January of each year organize itself by electing a chairman and vice-chairman to serve until the expiration of the calendar year. The planning commission may appoint standing or special committees to which may be assigned specific responsibilities and authority, which shall make no recommendations except to the planning commission or to others it specifies.

(8) Meetings. The planning commission shall set a regular meeting schedule consisting of not less than one regular meeting per month; provided, that if no matter requiring planning commission consideration is pending in any given month, the meeting may be canceled in advance by the chairman or secretary of the commission.

(9) Quorum. Four 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 at which a quorum is present, except in the event any state law or county code shall require a vote larger than majority, such provision shall govern.

(10) Powers and Duties - Conduct of Hearings. The powers and duties of the planning commission shall be such as are prescribed by Chapter 36.70 RCW, as amended, and other applicable laws of the state; and the planning commission shall also perform such other duties as are not inconsistent with the laws of the state, at the direction of the board of county commissioners.

(a) The planning commission shall also conduct such hearings as are required by Chapters 36.70 and 36.70A RCW, and as to all other applicable provisions of the Lewis County Code and laws of the state, and shall make findings of fact and conclusions therefrom which shall be transmitted to the planning section for transmittal to the board of county commissioners or examiner, with such comments and recommendations as the planning section shall deem necessary.

(b) In formulating its recommendations to the planning section for transmittal to the board of county commissioners, the planning commission and its advisory committees may be required to conduct public hearings; however, in any event all such meetings of the commission or its advisory committees shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the Code of Ethics for Municipal Officers, Chapter 42.23 RCW, the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 42.30 RCW, and applicable public participation policies of the county. [Ord. 1332 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 1232 §2, 2011; Ord. 1186 §1, 2005]

2.11.040 Financing and planning.

(1) Financial Obligations and Expenditures.

(a) No financial obligation or expenditure shall be incurred by either the community development department or the planning commission, except as are expressly authorized in advance by the board of commissioners as by law provided. Appropriations for the operation of both the department and planning commission shall be separately identified, but office accounting and records shall be kept by planning, as a section of the department of community development.

(b) Planning commission members shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible for mileage reimbursement, consistent with the requirements and guidelines adopted by and on file with the board of county commissioners.

(2) Planning Procedures. The director of community development shall establish such rules and procedures as shall assure thorough and expeditious handling and disposition of such matters as may be of concern to the planning section, within constitutional, statutory and code limitations. The planning commission shall adopt rules and procedures for the transaction of business and shall keep a record of its transactions, consistent with the requirements and guidelines adopted by the board of county commissioners, and within constitutional, statutory and code limitations. [Ord. 1186 §1, 2005]