§ 36-69. Planning and Zoning Commission.

(a)

Establishment. Pursuant to Vernon's Local Government Code, § 211.007, the Planning and Zoning Commission is established consisting of nine members appointed as described in chapter IV, section 2-87.

(b)

Terms of members. The members of the Planning and Zoning Commission shall serve for overlapping two-year terms.

(c)

Chairman. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from its own membership of the Commission.

(d)

Presiding officer. The chairman shall preside over meetings of the Commission. The vice-chairman shall preside in the absence of or at the request of the chairman.

(e)

Quorum, majority vote. A quorum shall consist of five members of the Commission in attendance. Action on any matter shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all members of the Commission, except in cases when the Commission has twice held a public hearing and considered a zoning application and is unable to reach a majority vote. In such instances, the Commission may submit a report instead of a recommendation to the City Council.

(f)

Meetings. Regular meetings shall be held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. and may be recessed from time to time, effective September 2015, at Shavano Park City Hall, and notice of each meeting shall be given in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. Special meetings may be called by the chairman, provided written notice thereof is mailed to each member at least 72 hours prior to the time thereof and notice of each such meeting shall be given in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public. The place, day and/or hour of meetings may be changed by vote of the Commission at any regular meeting.

(g)

Motions. Any motion by a member shall require a second. After a motion has been made and duly seconded, discussion of the motion may be held for a reasonable time. Discussion by members or by opponents or proponents, of a question before the Commission shall terminate whenever a member shall call for a vote upon the question or whenever the chairman shall so rule.

(h)

Procedure. Whenever any question or procedure or qualification may be raised at a Commission meeting, the chairman shall rule thereon. A member may move to overrule the chairman's decision, which may be done only by a majority vote of the members present.

(i)

Voting. Voting on zoning applications shall be called by roll call vote. Voting on all other matters may be by voice vote, provided that roll call vote shall be taken upon demand of any member.

(j)

Conflict of interest. A member shall not vote or participate as a member in any matter before the Commission if the member has any interest in the matter, whether such interest is direct or indirect, financial or otherwise. If a member has a conflict of interest, the member shall comply with Tex. Local Governmental Code § 171.001 et seq. In any case, where the question of a member's interest is raised, the chairman shall rule on whether the member should be disqualified.

(k)

Recommendations. The Commission shall take no final action on any matter before it without first obtaining a recommendation from the director of planning and reports from the other city departments concerned, as determined by the Commission.

(l)

Duties. The duties of the Planning and Zoning commission are [as] follows:

(1)

Review, consider and take action on all preliminary and final plats consistent with the requirements of State and local law;

(2)

Review and make recommendations for zoning boundaries and appropriate zoning regulations for zoning districts;

(3)

Review and consider amendments to the City's comprehensive plan;

(4)

Hold public hearings and consider planning issues when deemed appropriate by the Planning and Zoning Commission upon a finding by a majority vote that the issue being considered is a "planning issue" with such findings being recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

(5)

To perform duties and functions as required by State law; and

(6)

To perform other duties and functions as requested by a majority vote of City Council.

(Ord. No. 100-02-08, § I(exh. A, § IX(A)), 8-12-2008; Ord. No. 100-04-12, § I, 7-23-2012; 0-2015-012 , § III, 3-23-2015; Ord. No. 0-2015-017 , 8-27-2015)