Laserfiche WebLink
RELEVANT LINKS: <br />LMC Model Planning <br />Commission Ordinance. <br />• Size or number of planning commission members. <br />• Terms of members. <br />• Organization and structure. <br />• Powers and duties. <br />A. Size or number of members <br />State statute does not specify how many commissioners a planning <br />commission should have. As a result, the city ordinance should establish a <br />reasonable number that reflects the needs of the city. An odd number is <br />preferred to avoid tie -vote situations. Generally, cities appoint between five <br />and nine individuals to serve as commission members. <br />Some considerations in choosing the number of commissioners include: <br />• Costs to the city in terms of salary (if a salary is paid). <br />• Availability of community members to serve or potential difficulty in <br />recruiting members to serve full terms. <br />B. Terms of members <br />State statute does not set the length of terms for commission members, or <br />impose limits on the number of successive terms that commission members <br />may serve. As a result, city ordinance should establish the length of terms <br />for commission members. <br />Some considerations in choosing the length of commission terms include: <br />• The substantial length of time necessary to conduct studies, draft, and <br />adopt a comprehensive plan. <br />• The extensive body of knowledge that commission members must <br />master to be effective planning commissioners. <br />These two considerations generally favor a longer, four-year term (rather <br />than a two-year term), since rapid turnover of planning commissioners may <br />hinder the city's efficiency in adopting, implementing, and enforcing its <br />comprehensive plan. <br />Cities establishing a new planning commission for the first time, may wish <br />to provide staggered terms initially. For example, one term may be for one <br />year, another for two years, and another for three years, etc., with successors <br />serving full four-year terms. Staggering terms in this manner will help <br />ensure long-range continuity for the planning commission, and prevent a <br />situation where all commission seats are vacant at once. This ensures that <br />the planning commission is not without veteran members every four years. <br />League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 1/20/2015 <br />Planning Commission Guide Page 2 <br />