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RELEVANT LINKS: <br />See Section II -A, Council as <br />a Whole May Serve as the <br />Planning Commission. <br />In the alternative, cities may vest appointment power in the mayor <br />exclusively, or may vest in the mayor the power to appoint commissioners, <br />subject to council approval. <br />Some city charters may already contain provisions related to general <br />appointments to city boards and commissions. In these cities, the charter <br />provisions preempt local ordinance. <br />Cities also should consider adopting a policy for the recruitment and <br />retention of commission members. The policy may be adopted as a resolution <br />and need not be in ordinance form. Adopting the policy via resolution will <br />allow more flexibility in developing and amending the ordinance. Such a <br />policy may include information regarding: <br />• The advertisement period for open positions. <br />• The submission of letters of interest and a statement of qualifications for <br />board positions, or a city application form. <br />• An interview process prior to appointment. <br />C. Residency requirements <br />Planning commissioners are not required to reside within city limits. As a <br />result, city ordinance should specify any residency requirements for serving <br />on the planning commission. Frequently, cities limit eligibility for planning <br />commission membership to city residents. Often, these cities feel that <br />planning commissioners should live in the communities in which they serve. <br />Conversely, some cities may wish to allow non-residents to serve on <br />planning commissions to increase the pool of eligible applicants. In addition, <br />these cities may feel that property owners or business owners who do not <br />reside within the city may still bring a valuable perspective. <br />D. Councilmembers and city staff serving on the <br />planning commission <br />In cities where the council as a whole has decided not to serve as the <br />planning commission, it may still be desirable for some councilmembers to <br />sit on the planning commission or attend commission meetings. Cities may <br />establish in their ordinance or planning commission policy various ways for <br />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 />League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: <br />Planning Commission Guide <br />12/16/2024 <br />Page 4 <br />