Newark Municipal Code Ch. 2.12 Planning Commission

There is created a commission to consist of five members, which shall be designated as the planning commission of the city.

(Ord. 39 § 1, 1956)

(Ord. No. 483, § 1(Exh. A), 3-26-2015)

Five members of the commission, that shall reside within the city and be at least eighteen years of age, shall be appointed by the mayor, with the approval of the city council.

(Ord. 39 § 2, 1956)

(Ord. No. 483, § 1(Exh. A), 3-26-2015; Ord. No. 521, § 3, 6-25-2020)

The terms of office of the members of the commission shall be for four years; provided, however, that of the seven members first appointed one shall be appointed for the term of one year, two for the term of two years, two for the term of three years and two for the term of four years. Any vacancies among the appointed members shall be filled by appointment by the mayor with the approval of the city council for the unexpired portion of the term.

(Ord. 39 § 3, 1956)

Any appointed members of the commission may be removed either by the mayor, subject to the approval of the city council, or by a majority vote of the city council. Any time a commissioner has absences during a consecutive six-month period in excess of three meetings a letter requesting a written explanation will be generated by the city council and the commissioner will be given a ten-day period to respond. The city council will evaluate the reasons given for the absences. If there is no written response, the commissioner will automatically be terminated.

(Ord. 39.1 § 1, 1981: Ord. 39 § 4, 1956)

The city council may by resolution appoint such members of the council, city officials or employees as it deems advisable to assist the planning commission and such employees shall have no vote on said commission.

(Ord. 39 § 5, 1956)

As soon as practicable following the termination of the term of office of any commissioner, the planning commission shall organize, by electing from its members a chairman and vice chairman to serve at the pleasure of the commission. A secretary shall be designated for the recording of minutes of the planning commission and to keep a record of its resolutions, proceedings and transactions. The secretary may be, but need not be, a member of the commission and shall serve at the pleasure of the commission.

(Ord. 39 § 6, 1956)

The planning commission shall fix the time and places of regular and special meetings of the commission, which shall not be less frequent than once each month. All meetings of the commission shall be open to the public.

(Ord. 39 § 7, 1956)

The planning commission shall receive compensation as it may be established from time to time by resolution of the city council, and shall receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenditures made in the performance of their prescribed duties.

(Ord. 239, 1988: Ord. 39 § 8, 1956)

The planning commission shall have the powers and duties as follows:

A. The powers and duties conferred and imposed upon city planning commissions by the applicable provisions of Chapter 3, Title 7 of the Government Code of the state;

B. The powers and duties conferred and imposed upon the planning commission by the zoning ordinance, Ord. 92, on file in the office of the city clerk;

C. The powers and duties conferred and imposed upon the planning commission by Title 16 of this code;

D. Any other powers and duties imposed upon the city planning commission by law;

E. To report its decisions and recommendations in writing to the city council;

F. To advise the city council in the adoption and maintenance of a comprehensive general plan for the physical growth and development of the city. Said plan shall reflect the future goals of Newark and, after its adoption by the city council, shall represent the city's policies on matters of physical growth. It shall serve to guide the general location of future public facilities and improvements and to aid in the encouragement and regulation of private development;

G. Serve as an advisory body to the city council on matters related to the city growth and development and on such other matters as may be requested by the city council;

H. Promote public interest in planning and encourage citizen participation in formulation of the general plan;

I. Engage in a program of acquainting the public with the problems and alternate solutions relating to the local physical environment;

J. To make recommendations to the city council pertaining to any proposed dedication to the city of any property.

(Ord. 39 § 9, 1956)