Chapter 2.12 — Planning Commission

2.12.010 Established.

2.12.020 Statutory regulations.

2.12.030 Members--selection.

2.12.040 Members--terms.

2.12.045 Meetings and records.

2.12.050 Officers.

2.12.052 Remuneration.

2.12.055 Expenses.

2.12.060 Removal from office.

2.12.065 Absence from meetings to vacate office.

2.12.070 Vacancy--posting of notice in event of unscheduled vacancy.

The city council establishes a planning commission to be composed of five members. Three voting members shall constitute a quorum.

(Ord. 454 § 1, 1984: Ord. 308 § 2(part), 1977.)

The commission is to be governed by the pertinent sections of the Government Code, commencing with Section 65150, but not limited thereto.

(Ord. 308 § 6, 1977).

The five members are to be selected by the city council. At least four members shall be registered voters of the city. One member may be chosen from the registered voters who reside within a distance of one-half mile from city limits as measured from the nearest point of city limits to the nearest edge of the property of said resident being considered.

(Ord. 805-2012 § 1, 2012: Ord. 454 § 2, 1984: Ord. 396 § 1, 1982: Ord. 308 § 3(part), 1977).

The terms of the planning commissioner shall be four years, with two terms commencing as of the first day of January of each even numbered year not divisible by four and three terms commencing as of the first day of January of each even-numbered year divisible by four. The terms of the planning commissioners serving as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section shall be continued until their natural expiration, at which time appointments will be made for the term prescribed by this section. Any vacancy in the office of the planning commissioner caused by any reason whatsoever, shall be filled by an appointment by the council, such appointments to coincide with the terms of office specified by this section.

(Ord. 454 § 3, 1984: Ord. 308 § 4, 1977).

The commission shall hold at least one regular meeting each month and such other meetings as may be necessary. The commission shall keep a public record of its resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations.

(Ord. 464 § 1, 1985).

A. Every two years, the commission shall choose a chairman and vice chairman from its members.

B. The city council shall after giving due consideration to any available recommendation of the planning commission, appoint the secretary and staff advisor to the commission, who shall serve at the pleasure of the city council without vote.

(Ord. 464 § 3, 1985: Ord. 396 § 2, 1982: Ord. 308 § 3(part), 7, 1977).

The members of the planning commission shall be paid at the rate of twenty-five and 00/100 dollars ($25.00) per meeting for each meeting they attend, to a maximum not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per month. (i.e., a commissioner who attends three or more meetings in any given month shall only receive the maximum payment of $50.00).

(Ord. 611, 1992)

Members of the planning commission may be reimbursed for expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties upon the submission of appropriate claims for consideration by the city council. Members of the planning commission may be entitled to be reimbursed for expenses incurred outside the county only if prior authorization is obtained from the city council.

(Ord. 464, § 2, 1985).

A commissioner can be removed from office for cause involving the conviction for any crime involving moral turpitude and can be suspended from the commission pending trial, if charged with such a crime. Likewise, a commissioner can be removed for violation of his oath of office at the pleasure of the city council and may also be removed by a majority vote of the entire city council at a regular or special meeting, following written notice of the planning commissioner being removed that this matter will be considered at that meeting.

(Ord. 464 § 4, 1985: Ord. 308 § 5, 1977).

A. If a member of the planning commission is absent from three successive regular meetings of the planning commission, without cause, the office the member shall be deemed to be vacant and the term of that member shall be terminated and the secretary of the planning commission shall immediately inform the city council of the vacancy.

B. An absence of the member of the planning commission due to illness or an unavoidable absence from the city shall, if written notice or by telephone thereof is given to the planning commission on or before the day of any missed regular meeting of the planning commission, be deemed an absence for cause.

(Ord. 464 § 5, 1985: Ord. 454 § 4, 1984).

A. Whenever a vacancy shall appear, the city council shall fill it at the earliest possible date by appointment, and the person so appointed shall serve for the term of the commissioner whom he succeeded.

B. Whenever an unscheduled vacancy occurs in the planning commission, whether due to resignation, death, termination or other causes, a special vacancy notice shall be posted in the office of the city clerk within twenty days after the vacancy occurs. Final appointment to the planning commission to fill such vacancies shall not be made by the city council for at least ten days after the posting of the notice in the city clerk’s office.

C. Notwithstanding the foregoing notice provisions, the city council may, if it finds that an emergency exists, fill unscheduled vacancy immediately. Persons appointed to fill such a vacancy shall only serve on an acting basis until the final appointment is made pursuant to this section.

(Ord. 480 § 1, 1986: Ord. 308 § 8, 1977).