Chapter 2.16
PLANNING COMMISSION AND DEPARTMENT*
Sections:
2.16.010 Planning Department Established.
2.16.020 Planning Commission – Created.
2.16.030 Planning Commission – Hearings.
2.16.050 Administrative Responsibility.
2.16.060 Financing – Planning.
2.16.080 Terms of Office and Appointments.
* For statutory provisions regarding planning commissions and departments, see RCW 36.70.
2.16.010 Planning Department Established.
There is created pursuant to the provisions of RCW 36.70, a Yakima County planning department which shall be organized and function as any other department of the county.
(Vol. X p. 576 §1, 1965).
2.16.020 Planning Commission – Created.
There is created pursuant to the provisions of RCW 36.70, a Yakima County planning commission to consist of seven members, one of whom shall be the Yakima County engineer, which the planning commission shall assist the Yakima County planning department in carrying out its duties, including assistance in the preparation and execution of the comprehensive plan and recommendations to the planning department for the adoption of official controls and/or amendments thereto.
(Vol. X p. 576 §2, 1965).
2.16.030 Planning Commission – Hearings.
The planning commission shall conduct such hearings as are required by RCW 36.70 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 it deems necessary.
(Vol. X p. 576 §3, 1965).
2.16.040 Powers and Duties.
The powers and duties of the planning department and of the planning commission shall be such as are now described by RCW 36.70, as amended, and other applicable laws of the state. When directed to do so by the board of Yakima 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.
(Vol. X p. 576 §4, 1965).
2.16.050 Administrative Responsibility.
A director of planning shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners; he shall be responsible for the proper operation of the planning department; he shall be directly responsible to the board of county commissioners; he shall have the responsibility of employing, supervising and dismissing the personnel of the planning department; he shall be responsible for providing secretarial and technical assistance to the planning commission.
(Vol. X p. 576 §5, 1965).
2.16.060 Financing – Planning.
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.
(Vol. X p. 576 §6, 1965).
2.16.070 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 procedures shall not be in contravention of state law or county resolution.
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.
(Vol. X p. 576 §7, 1965).
2.16.080 Terms of Office and Appointments.
The terms of office for members of the county planning commission shall be for four years. 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; provided, however, that members of the heretofore existing planning commission whose terms have not expired as of the date of the ordinance codified herein are appointed as members of the planning commission and shall serve out the full term of office to which they were appointed.
(Vol. X p. 576 §8, 1965).
2.16.090 Vacancies.
Vacancies resulting from the expiration of terms of office shall be filled by appointments for a term of four years in the manner provided in Section 2.16.080. 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.
Vacancies occurring for any reason other than the expiration of the term shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired portion of the term except if, on the effective date of this chapter, the unexpired portion of a term is for more than four years the vacancy shall be filled for a period of time that will obtain the maximum staggered terms, but shall not exceed four years. Vacancies shall be filled from the same commissioner district as that of the vacating member.
(Vol. X p. 576 §9, 1965).
2.16.100 Organization.
At its first meeting in January of each year the planning commission shall organize by electing a chairman and 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.
(Vol. X p. 576 §10, 1965).
2.16.110 Quorum – Meetings.
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; provided, that where state law or county resolution require a vote larger than the majority of a quorum, such provision shall govern.
The planning commission 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 cancelled.
(Vol. x p. 576 §11, 1965).