Laserfiche WebLink
RELEVANT LINKS: <br />See Section IV- Planning <br />Agency Meetings. <br />See Planning Commission <br />Structure and Procedure, <br />LMC Model Policy. <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.354. <br />See Section III — Powers and <br />Duties of the Planning <br />Commission. <br />Minn. Stat. § 462.354. <br />C. Organization and structure <br />The planning commission ordinance may establish the organizational <br />structure of a planning commission. For example, the ordinance may require <br />a chairperson, acting chair, and secretary. In the alternative, the ordinance <br />may enable the planning commission to suggest a policy (commonly known <br />as bylaws), subject to council approval, that establishes a form of <br />organization for its meetings. Placing organizational requirements in a policy <br />adopted by council resolution, rather than in ordinance form, is generally <br />preferred, because it provides a more flexible means to develop and amend <br />policies. <br />D. Powers and duties <br />State statutes prescribe several mandatory duties for a planning commission. <br />These duties should be included in the ordinance creating the planning <br />commission. A city council may also assign the planning commission <br />optional duties addressed in statute. Any optional duties assigned should be <br />adopted in ordinance. Since state statute contains optional duties, general <br />ordinance language stating that commission duties "shall be as established by <br />state statute" may cause confusion over duties and should be avoided. The <br />powers and duties of the planning commission are discussed more <br />extensively below. <br />II. Appointment of city planning commission <br />members <br />A. Council as a whole may serve as the planning <br />commission <br />The city council may choose to designate itself as the city's planning <br />commission. However, most cities choose to establish a planning <br />commission as a separate advisory body. This approach reduces the overall <br />workload of the council, promotes citizen involvement, and allows <br />commissioners to specialize in developing their body of knowledge <br />concerning municipal planning. <br />B. Authority to appoint commissioners <br />State statute does not establish a process for the appointment of planning <br />commissioners. As a result, the city ordinance or charter provisions should <br />specify who has the authority to appoint commission members. Generally, <br />appointing authority is vested in the city council as a whole. <br />League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: <br />Planning Commission Guide <br />12/16/2024 <br />Page 3 <br />