Commission Duties and Responsibilities

§ 30.05            PLANNING COMMISSION.

            (A)       Establishment and membership.  A Planning Commission is hereby established.  It shall be composed of seven members.

            (B)       Powers, duties and responsibilities.  The Planning Commission shall provide assistance to the City Council in the administration of the City’s zoning and subdivision regulations.  The Planning Commission shall have the following responsibilities:

(1)        Annually adopt a work program consistent with its responsibilities provided for in the City Charter, the City Code, Minnesota Statutes Chapter 462 and as otherwise directed by the City Council;

(2)        Prepare and recommend to the City Council for adoption a comprehensive plan and amendments as provided for by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 462.  Such plan may be prepared in sections, each of which must relate to a major subject of the plan, as outlined in the Commission’s work program.  The comprehensive plan must include those official controls as defined by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 462 including, but not limited to, ordinances establishing zoning, subdivision controls, site plan regulations, sanitary codes, building codes, and official maps;

(3)        Review the acquisition or disposal of real property by the City as provided for by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 462 for the purpose of considering this action for consistency with the City’s comprehensive plan.  Upon the completion of its review, the Planning Commission shall forward to the City Council the following: i) its findings as to compliance of the proposed acquisition or disposal by the City of real property with the comprehensive plan; and ii) if any modifications or amendments to the comprehensive plan are necessary;

(4)        Review capital improvement programs for consistency with the comprehensive plan.  Capital improvements may include, but are not limited to, plans for construction of major public works facilities; new public streets, thoroughfares, pathways and the like; reconstruction of streets, utility extensions; major utility reconstruction; and changes in the use of City-owned land.  Upon the completion of its review, the Planning Commission shall forward to the City Council the following: i) its findings as to compliance with the comprehensive plan; and ii) if any modifications or amendments to the comprehensive plan are necessary;

(5)        Review proposed amendments to the City’s zoning and subdivision regulations and submit its recommendations to the City Council;

(6)        Review all development proposals and hold public hearings according to the authority and procedures set forth in the City’s zoning and subdivision regulations; and

(7)        Assist or provide input at the request of the City Council regarding the hiring of planning and community development personnel in accordance with the City’s Administrative Staff Hiring Policy

(8)        Serve as the Board of Adjustment.