Chapter 22G.050
PLANNING COMMISSION
Sections:
22G.050.010 Planning commission created.
22G.050.020 Appointment of members – Term of office.
22G.050.040 Meetings – Officers – Rules.
22G.050.060 Conflicts of interest.
22G.050.070 General powers and duties.
22G.050.010 Planning commission created.
Pursuant to RCW 35A.63.020, there is hereby created a city planning commission, which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the mayor and city council, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be provided herein or delegated to it by the mayor and city council. (Ord. 2852 § 10 (Exh. A), 2011).
22G.050.020 Appointment of members – Term of office.
The planning commission shall consist of seven members who shall be appointed by the mayor subject to confirmation by the city council. Members shall be appointed without regard to their political affiliation, and shall serve without compensation except as hereinafter provided. At least a majority of all commission members, at any time, shall be residents of the city. All members of the planning commission shall reside within the city’s urban growth area. The term of office of each member shall be six years; said terms shall be staggered so that no more than two positions become vacant in any year. A commissioner may be removed from office by the mayor for inefficiency, negligence of duty or misconduct in office. (Ord. 2852 § 10 (Exh. A), 2011).
22G.050.030 Expenses.
The planning commission, as a body, or individual members thereof, may be reimbursed for actual and reasonable expenses in the performance of their duties in behalf of the commission. Such expenses may include, but are not limited to, such items as: travel and subsistence, registration fees and other costs incidental to meetings and conferences, professional and consulting services, educational fees, dues and assessments of professional planning organizations, subscriptions to periodicals and purchases of informational and educational texts, and similar expenditures that may be deemed necessary to increase the efficiency and professional ability of the members of the commission. Planning commission expenses shall be subject to authorization and approval by the city council. (Ord. 2852 § 10 (Exh. A), 2011).
22G.050.040 Meetings – Officers – Rules.
The planning commission shall annually elect a chairman from among its members. The commission shall hold at least one regular meeting in each month for not less than nine months each year. Regular meetings shall be open to the public, and shall be scheduled for a regular time and place. Notice of time, place and purpose of any special meeting shall be given as provided by law. The commission may adopt rules for transaction of business, and shall keep a written record of its public meetings, transactions, findings and determinations, which record shall be a public record. (Ord. 2852 § 10 (Exh. A), 2011).
22G.050.050 Quorum – Voting.
A majority of the duly appointed and acting members of the planning commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. With a quorum being present, the commission may take action on any business upon an affirmative vote of a majority of those commissioners present. The chairman shall be entitled to a vote on all business. (Ord. 2852 § 10 (Exh. A), 2011).
22G.050.060 Conflicts of interest.
Any member of the planning commission with a conflict of interest, or an appearance of fairness problem, as defined by Chapter 42.36 RCW, with respect to any matter pending before the commission, shall disqualify himself from participating in the deliberations and the decision-making process with respect to the matter. If this occurs, the mayor, subject to confirmation by the city council, may appoint another person to serve as a commissioner pro tem in regard to that matter. (Ord. 2852 § 10 (Exh. A), 2011).
22G.050.070 General powers and duties.
The planning commission shall have the following powers and shall perform the following duties:
(1) Prepare a comprehensive plan for anticipating and influencing the orderly and coordinated development of land and building uses of the city and its environs; hold public hearings on said plan, and any amendments thereto, and make recommendations to the city council;
(2) Divide the city into appropriate zones within which specific standards, requirements and conditions may be provided for regulating the use of public and private land, buildings and structures, and the location, height, bulk, number of stories and size of buildings and structures, size of yards, courts, open spaces, densities of population, ratio of land area to the area of buildings and structures, setbacks, area required for off-street parking, protection of access to direct sunlight for solar energy systems, and such other standards, requirements, regulations and procedures as are appropriately related thereto; hold public hearings on the adoption of zoning ordinances and maps, and amendments thereto, and make recommendations to the city council;
(3) Prepare a shoreline management master program for the shorelines of the city, and a shoreline environment designation map, as required by state law and city ordinance; hold public hearings on the same, and any amendments thereto, and make recommendations to the city council;
(4) Review all proposed amendments to the city zoning code, subdivision code and shoreline management code; hold public hearings thereon, and make recommendations to the city council;
(5) Conduct, on its own initiative or upon request by the mayor or city council, investigations into matters relating to the physical, economic and environmental development of the city, and public works and civic improvements, and submit reports and recommendations to the mayor and city council with respect to the same;
(6) Perform such other duties or responsibilities as may be specifically delegated by the mayor or city council. (Ord. 2852 § 10 (Exh. A), 2011).