§ 2-147. Membership; appointment and terms.

(a)

The commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the mayor subject to approval of the majority of the members of the city council. Three members shall be ex officio members who shall include the mayor, the chief administrative official, or a person designated by him or her; and one member of the city council. The terms of office of ex officio members shall coincide with their elected terms of office on the city council or the term of office of the chief elected official who appointed him or her.

To be qualified to be a member and remain a member of the commission, the individual shall meet the following qualifications:

(1)

Shall be a qualified elector of the city, except that one member may be a nonqualified elector who lives outside the boundaries of the city;

(2)

Shall not be a declared candidate for any political office, except this condition shall not apply to the council representative to the commission or the mayor as set forth in subsection 2-147A; and

(3)

Shall not be an employee of the city except as allowed by subsection 2-147A.

(b)

The membership shall be representative of the important segments of the community, such as the economic, governmental, educational, and social development of the city in accordance with the major interests as they exist in the city as follows:

(1)

Natural resources;

(2)

Recreation;

(3)

Education;

(4)

Public health;

(5)

Government;

(6)

Transportation;

(7)

Industry; and

(8)

Commerce.

(c)

The membership shall also be representative of the entire geography of the city to the extent practicable, and as a secondary consideration to the representation of the major interests.

(d)

Members, other than ex officio members, shall be appointed for three-year terms. However, when first appointed, a number of members shall be appointed to one-year, two-year, or three-year terms such that, as nearly as possible, the terms of one-third of all commission members will expire each year.

If a vacancy occurs, the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as provided for an original appointment such that, as nearly as possible, the terms of one-third of all commission members continue to expire each year. A member shall hold office until his or her successor is appointed.

(e)

An ex officio member of the planning commission shall not serve as the chairperson of the planning commission.

(f)

Removal from office. The city council may remove a member of the commission for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office upon written charges and after a public hearing. Failure to disclose a potential conflict of interest shall be considered malfeasance in office. Failure to repeatedly attend commission meetings shall be considered nonfeasance in office.

(g)

Membership compensation. All members of the planning commission shall serve as such with compensation as established by the city council.

(Ord. No. 437, § I, 2-23-09)