There is hereby established the Montezuma City Planning Commission which is composed of six members of which all members shall be residents of the city. The planning commission was originally created by Ordinance No. 204 which was passed and approved on June 14, 1973.

(Ord. 204, Sec. 1; Code 1995; Ord. 459)

The members of the planning commission shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the council at the first regular meeting of the governing body in January of each year and take office at the next regular meeting of the commission. The members of the planning commission appointed shall serve as long as they would like or until voted off by the council. By the re-establishment of the commission, all current members continue to serve their present terms of office. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties as deemed desirable by the governing body.

(Ord. 205, Sec. 1; Code 1995; Ord. 460)

The members of the planning commission shall meet whenever it is necessary. The commission shall elect one member as chairperson and one member as vice chairperson who shall serve a one year term. At the end of that one-year term if they wish to stay on, they can be voted back in and if they wish to get off of the planning commission, they will stay until their successor has been selected. The secretary will be the city clerk.. Special meetings may be called at any time by the chairperson or in the chairperson’s absence by the vice-chairperson. A majority of the planning commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A proper record of all the proceedings of the commission shall be kept.

(Ord. 205, Sec. 2; Code 1995; Ord. 460)

The governing body and planning commission shall have all the rights, powers and duties as authorized in K.S.A. 12-744, 12-745, and 12-747, and such other powers and duties as are now or may hereafter be prescribed by law.

(Ord. 205, Sec. 3; Code 1995; Ord. 460)

The planning commission is hereby designated to also serve as the city’s board of zoning appeals with all the powers and duties as provided for in K.S.A. 12-759. The board shall adopt rules in the form of bylaws for its operation which shall include hearing procedures. Such bylaws shall be subject to the approval of the governing body. Public records shall be kept of all official actions of the board which shall be maintained separately from those of the commission. The board shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing evidence presented, findings of fact, decisions and the vote upon each question or appeal. A majority of the members of the board present and voting at the hearing shall be required to decide any appeal. Subject to subsequent approval of the governing body, the board shall establish a scale of reasonable fees to be paid in advance by the appealing party.

(Code 1995; Code 2014)

The governing body shall approve a budget for the planning commission and make such allowances to the commission as it deems proper, including funds for the employment of such employees or consultants as the governing body may authorize and provide, and shall add the same to the general budget. Prior to the time that moneys are available under the budget, the governing body may appropriate moneys for such purposes from the general fund. The governing body may enter into such contracts as it deems necessary and may receive and expend funds and moneys from the state or federal government or from any other resource for such purposes.

(Code 1995)