Chapter 2.60
PLANNING COMMISSION1
Sections:
2.60.010 Established – Membership – Appointment – Team.
2.60.030 Recommendation and report – Requested by city council when.
2.60.040 Recommendation – Required for certain designated uses.
2.60.055 Meetings – General requirements.
2.60.060 Quorum – Scope of action.
2.60.010 Established – Membership – Appointment – Team.
A. Pursuant to the authority conferred by Chapter 35A.63 RCW, there is established a city planning commission which shall consist of seven voting members of which one shall be the chairman.
B. Duly appointed and acting members of the city planning commission as of the effective date of the ordinance codified herein shall continue to serve for the remainder of the terms for which they were appointed.
C. Members of the city planning commission shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. Any vacancies occurring otherwise than through the expiration of terms shall be filled for the unexpired term only, by appointment by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. The members shall be selected without respect to political affiliations and they shall serve without compensation.
D. Members may be removed by the mayor for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. Any member so removed may appeal the action of the mayor to the city council. A majority vote of the council sitting in regular session is required to reinstate the appellant member.
E. The terms of office of the members of the city planning commission shall be four years. (Ord. 2426 § 1, 1991; Ord. 2064 § 1, 1982; Ord. 1823 § 1, 1976; Ord. 1386 § 1, 1961; Ord. 886 § 1, 1943).
2.60.020 Powers and duties.
The planning commission shall have all of the powers and perform each and all of the duties specified by said Chapter 35.63 RCW, together with any other duties or authority which may hereafter be conferred upon them by the laws of the state of Washington, the performance of such duties and the exercise of such authority to be subject to each and all the limitations expressed in such legislative enactment or enactments. (Ord. 886 § 2, 1943).
2.60.030 Recommendation and report – Requested by city council when.
The city council may refer to the planning commission, for its recommendation and report, any ordinance, resolution or other proposal relating to any of the matters and subjects referred to in said Chapter 35.63 RCW, and the commission shall promptly report to the council thereon, making such recommendations and giving such counsel as it may deem proper in the premises. (Ord. 886 § 3, 1943).
2.60.040 Recommendation – Required for certain designated uses.
Chapter 14.05 MVMC identifies the permits that the planning commission will make recommendation(s) to the city council on. (Ord. 3523 § 3, 2011).
2.60.050 Officers – Duties.
A. Chair and Vice Chair. At the first meeting of each year, the members of the city planning commission shall elect a chair and vice chair, who shall serve in such capacity for that year. The chair shall preside over the meetings of the commission and exercise all the powers incident to the office. The vice chair shall serve in the capacity of chair only in the chair’s absence. The chair or vice chair shall retain their voting rights on each and every issue before the commission.
B. Chair Pro Tem. In the absence of the chair and vice chair, the members of the planning commission shall select a chair pro tem from those members present at the current meeting. The chair pro tem shall retain voting rights on each and every issue before the commission.
C. Secretary. The planning commission may designate one of its members to act as secretary without salary, or if requested by the commission, the mayor shall designate a member of the paid staff of the city to serve as such secretary. The secretary shall keep record of all meetings of the commission and its committees when requested to do so. (Ord. 3523 § 4, 2011).
2.60.055 Meetings – General requirements.
A. Open Meetings. All meetings of the city planning commission shall be open and public in accordance with Chapter 42.30 RCW and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting except as otherwise provided in Chapter 42.30 RCW and this chapter.
B. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the city planning commission shall be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the hour of 6:00 p.m. at Mount Vernon Police and Court Campus, 1805 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, Washington; provided, however, that when any of these days falls on a holiday the chair shall designate an alternate day and notice of such meeting shall be given in a manner consistent with the requirements of Chapter 42.30 RCW. The city planning commission may upon motion duly made and carried at a regular meeting dispense with, postpone, or advance the date of any regular meeting of the city planning commission. Regular meetings of the city planning commission shall normally conclude at or before 10:00 p.m.; provided, that should there be additional business to conduct, the city planning commission may by motion, consensus, or acquiescence continue to conduct business past the hour of 10:00 p.m. or by vote of a majority of those present continue the meeting until another date.
C. Special Meetings. A special meeting may be called at any time by the chair, or vice chair acting as presiding officer, or by a majority of the members of the city planning commission. Notice of such meetings shall be made in accordance with RCW 42.30.080.
1. Rescheduling of Regular Meetings. The planning commission may, upon majority vote of the commission, and with permission of the mayor, change the day and/or time that their meetings are held. If the meeting schedule is changed from that which subsection B of this section directs, a public notice shall be published in the local newspaper letting the public know of the changed schedule and the estimated duration of such a change. Notice of such meeting rescheduling shall also be made in accordance with RCW 42.30.080.
D. Conducting Meetings. The parliamentary rules and procedures contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall apply. When an open record public hearing is held and public comment is presented to the commission the following rules shall apply:
1. Each speaker is requested to limit their comments to three minutes of speaking time. If a speaker is representing an organization, that speaker shall be granted five minutes of speaking time.
2. Members of the public attending the meeting may only speak if acknowledged by the chairperson.
3. If audience dialogue becomes disruptive, the chairperson may recess the meeting or request that the meeting be adjourned. (Ord. 3652 § 2, 2015).
2.60.060 Quorum – Scope of action.
A majority of the voting membership of the planning commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Any action taken by a majority of those present when those present constitute a quorum, at any regular or special meeting of the planning commission, shall be deemed and taken as the action of the commission. (Ord. 1823 § 3, 1976; Ord. 886 § 6, 1943).
2.60.070 Annual report required – Contents.
Repealed by Ord. 3523. (Ord. 886 § 7, 1943).
2.60.080 Authority of planning commission to hear impact fee appeals.
Repealed by Ord. 3523. (Ord. 2596 § 17, 1994; Ord. 2552 § 18, 1993).
For city zoning responsibilities and powers, see MVMC Title 17.