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RELEVANT LINKS: <br />See LMC information memo, <br />Official Conflict of Interest. <br />Part IV Conflict of Interest in <br />Non -Contractual Situations. <br />56 Am. Jur. 2d Municipal <br />Corporations § 142. <br />Cities may establish in their ordinance or planning commission policy <br />various ways for councilmembers to serve on the planning commission. <br />1. Full voting members <br />Local ordinance or commission policy may provide that one or two city <br />councilmembers will participate as full voting members of the planning <br />commission on all decisions, and for discussion and quorum purposes. <br />2. Non-voting members <br />Local ordinance or commission policy may provide that one or two city <br />councilmembers will sit on the planning commission as non-voting <br />members. Sometimes these members are called "council liaisons." When <br />city ordinance creates non-voting members, to avoid confusion, city <br />ordinance or the commission policy should specify: <br />• Whether the councilmembers will count for quorum purposes. <br />• Whether the councilmembers may participate in discussion on matters <br />before the commission. <br />• Whether the councilmembers may hold an office on the commission, <br />such as chairperson, secretary, etc. <br />3. City staff on planning commission <br />City ordinance or commission policy may require that the city attorney, city <br />engineer or city administrator/clerk serve as an ex -officio, voting member or <br />non-voting of the planning commission. This, however, does not appear to <br />be a common practice. More commonly, city staff may attend planning <br />commission meetings as needed to provide the planning commission with <br />necessary advice and information. <br />E. Compensation <br />City ordinance or commission policy may provide that planning commission <br />members may be compensated for their service, or that they serve on a <br />strictly non -compensated volunteer basis. Generally, when compensation is <br />provided, it is for a nominal amount on an annual or per meeting basis. <br />F. Conflicts of interest <br />When appointing planning commissioners, cities should be aware that <br />appointed officials are subject to the same concerns related to conflict of <br />interest as city councilmembers. In the appointment process, the city council <br />should attempt to discern if potential conflicts of interest exist. <br />League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 1/20/2015 <br />Planning Commission Guide Page 5 <br />