El Centro Municipal Code Div. 2 Powers and Duties

The city planning commission may make surveys and investigations of all matters pertaining to public improvements, having to do with roads, water supply, sewers, tunnels, parks, playgrounds, public places, improvements and services to be rendered by public utilities and all matters pertaining to safety, convenience, comfort and welfare of the people of the city, for which material and construction, maintenance or improvement of lands and buildings, or the acquisition of such land and buildings, for such public use and for the official approval of the council or its legally constituted agents is required.

(Ord. No. 322, § 5(1); Code 1962, § 21-15)

The council may at its discretion require the city planning commission to investigate and report on specific improvements or upon bond issues to be used upon such improvements. These reports should be filed within a reasonable period of time, the date to be fixed by the council.

(Ord. No. 322, § 5(2); Code 1962, § 21-16)

(a) All recommendations of the city engineer, the building inspector or the city attorney requiring legislation to be enacted by the council and affecting directly or indirectly the work of the city planning commission, as outlined in section 20-55, shall first be submitted to the city planning commission, either at the request of the city planning commission or on the initiative of the official making such recommendation.

(b) In either case, a report shall be submitted by the city planning commission to the council within four (4) weeks from the time the matter has been submitted to the commission.

(c) Failure of the city planning commission to submit such a report within the specified time or at the later date to be fixed by the council shall be deemed to constitute approval of such recommendation or legislation by the commission.

(Ord. No. 322, § 5(3); Code 1962, § 21-17)

The city planning commission may prepare plans, charts, maps and reports for the improvement, growth, development and beautification of the city and its surroundings for a distance of three (3) miles from the corporate limits of the city. Such plans shall include streets, plazas, boulevards and other lanes of traffic, as well as parks, playgrounds, setback lines on streets and other lanes of traffic.

(Ord. No. 322, § 5(4); Code 1962, § 21-18)

(a) Before taking official action thereon, the city council shall refer the following matters to the city planning commission:

(1) Location of public buildings.

(2) Rules and regulations for the control of subdivisions to be recorded within the corporate limits of the city and territory adjoining the city for a distance of three (3) miles outside of the corporate limits of the city.

(3) Billboard regulations.

(4) Civic center.

(5) Tree planting and tree protection regulations.

(6) Orientation and control of traffic.

(7) Any other matters which in the opinion of the council would benefit the public health, safety and welfare of the city.

(b) Such reference shall, however, not be necessary in cases where the council already has in its files official reports submitted by the city planning commission regarding the matters under consideration and requiring official action on the part of the council.

(Ord. No. 322, § 5(4); Code 1962, § 21-19)

(a) The city planning commission shall make all investigations required in the preparation of zoning maps and zoning ordinances and shall submit to the council a report consisting of the zoning map, the zoning ordinance and other information pertaining to such zoning maps and zoning ordinances.

(b) After the adoption of a zoning ordinance by the council, no changes shall be made in such ordinances or maps without first submitting such changes for consideration and report on the part of the commission. Such reports shall be returnable within two (2) weeks from the time that such notice of change was forwarded by the city clerk to the secretary of the city planning commission.

(Ord. No. 322, § 5(5); Code 1962, § 21-20)

(a) The city planning commission shall also have the powers and duties conferred and imposed upon such bodies by sections 65090 et seq., of the Government Code of the state; provided, however, that, in exercising such powers and duties they shall first be authorized by the council, unless such powers and duties are already provided for in this chapter.

(b) The council may require the city planning commission to assume such other powers and duties as may be conferred upon planning commissions by any further statute providing for city planning commissions and describing their powers and duties within the state.

(Ord. No. 322, § 5(6); Code 1962, § 21-21)

The city planning commission may in its discretion employ city planners, engineers, architects or other competent consultants and technicians; provided that, their employment has first been authorized by the council and that funds have been set aside by the council for that purpose.

(Ord. No. 322, § 5(7); Code 1962, § 21-22)

(a) The city planning commission has authority and power to hold such hearings as in their opinion may assist in the development of plans for the improvement, development and growth of the city. The place and date of such hearings shall be announced in the local newspapers of general circulation at least ten (10) days in advance of such hearings.

(b) In no case shall the city planning commission make recommendations to the council entailing the enactment of local legislation without first holding a hearing as provided for in the first paragraph of this section.

(Ord. No. 322, § 7; Code 1962, § 21-23)

State Law reference— Ten (10) days notice required, Gov. Code, § 65854.