Boards and Committees

The planning and zoning commission shall be comprised of seven members appointed by the mayor. 
The planning and zoning commission shall be charged with the following responsibilities:
A.    The commission shall prepare and recommend to the council:
1.    A comprehensive plan consisting of maps and related texts for the systematic development of the city;
2.    A zoning ordinance to implement the plan;
3.    A subdivision ordinance;
4.    The official map of the city;
5.    Modifications to the above documents.
B.    The performance of functions of planning and zoning by the commission shall be performed when the commission has transmitted its recommendations to the council and when the council has acted thereon by ordinance or resolution.
C.    The function of platting shall be performed by the commission, convened as the platting authority for the city, and completed upon it having approved or rejected proposed plats, replats, and vacations of public ways according to law.
D.    The planning functions of the planning commission are as follows:
1.    To prepare from time to time plans for the systematic development of the city as a place of residence and business;
2.    To investigate and report upon the location and design of any public building, dock, beach, ski ground, statue, memorial, park, parkway, boulevard, street or alley, playground, public street, alley or grade thereof before final action is taken by the city or any department, office, or agency;
3.    To investigate and prepare, under such directions and conditions as the council may from time to time request, the commission's recommendations on a capital improvements program, and to review the same periodically and revise it from time to time but not less frequently than annually; that the annual capital improvement programs shall constitute permanent records of the commission which shall be public records;
4.    To investigate and recommend to the council for adoption by ordinance, with such amendments as the commission believes necessary and proper because of local conditions, such published codes of technical regulations as relate to the functions of planning, platting and zoning;
5.    To investigate and prepare, for time to time, and to initiate on its own motion in the absence of directions from the council, reports on the availability of public lands by selection, transfer at less than appraised value, and otherwise, for city purposes. In this regard special attention shall be given to acquisition of lands for public recreation;
6.    To investigate and prepare reports on the location and establishment of:
a.    Outdoor public recreation;
b.    Trap, street, rifle and pistol ranges;
c.    Public campgrounds.
E.    The planning and zoning commission shall make recommendations to the council concerning building and land use regulations, fire and health hazard and nuisance regulations and recommendations, including condemnation, and recommendations concerning the establishment of districts as will best accomplish the purposes of the comprehensive plan and accommodate the building and land use regulations.