Ordinance 03-035 Creates Planning Commission & Establishes Duties i-
CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY
SPOKANE COUNTY, WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 35
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY, SPOKANE COUNTY,
WASHINGTON, CREATING A PLANNING COMMISSION AND ESTABLISHING
THE DUTIES THEREOF.
WHEREAS, the City of Spokane Valley is a non-charter code city authorized to create a
Planning Commission which will serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council;
WHEREAS, the City will adopt a Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations to
guide the reasonable and orderly development of the City;
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to respond to the expressed concerns of citizens that
immediately after incorporation the City begin a comprehensive planning process and review of
development regulations; and
WHEREAS, the City of Spokane Valley desires to encourage citizen input into the
planning process by establishing a Planning Commission which will study, receive public input
and recommend a Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations to the City Council for
review and adoption.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Spokane Valley, Washington, do
ordain as follows:
Section 1. Establishment and Purpose,. There is created the City of Spokane Valley
Planning Commission. The purpose of the Planning Commission is to study and make
recommendations to the Mayor and City Council for future planned growth through continued
review of the City's comprehensive land use plan, development regulations, shoreline
management, environmental protection, public facilities, capital improvements and other matters
as directed by the City Council.
Section 2. Membership.
1. Qualifications: The membership of the Planning Commission shall
consist of individuals who have an interest in planning, land use, transportation, capital
infrastructure and building and landscape design as evidenced by training, experience or interest
in the City of Spokane Valley.
2. Appointment: Members of the Planning Commission shall be
nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by a majority vote of at least four (4) members of the
City Council. Planning Commissioners shall be selected without respect to political affiliations
and shall serve without compensation. The Mayor, when considering appointments, shall
attempt to select residents that represent various interests and locations within the City.
3. Number of Members/Terms: The Planning Commission shall
consist of seven (7) members. All members shall reside within the City of Spokane Valley. The
terms for the initial Commissioners shall be two (2) one (1) year terms, two (2) two (2) year
terms and three (3) three (3) year terms. The initial members and their terms shall be decided by
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the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. Subsequent terms shall be for a three (3) year
period. Terms shall expire on the thirty-first day of December.
4. Removal. Members of the Commission may be removed by the
Mayor, with the concurrence of the City Council, for neglect of duty, conflict of interest,
malfeasance in office, or other just cause, or for unexcused absence from three (3) consecutive
regular meetings. Failure to qualify as to residency shall constitute a forfeiture of office. The
decision of the City Council regarding membership on the Planning Commission shall be final
and without appeal.
5. Vacancies. Vacancies occurring other than through the expiration
of terms shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as for appointments
6. Conflicts of Interest. Members of the Planning Commission shall
fully comply with RCW 42.23, Code of Ethics for Municipal Officers, R.C`V 42.36, Appearance
of Fairness, and such other rules and regulations as may be adopted from time to time by the City
Council regulating the conduct of any person holding appointive office within the City. No
elected official or City employee may be a member of the Planning Commission.
Section 3. Meetings—Rules.
1. The Planning Commission shall every second year organize and
elect from its members a Chair, who shall preside at all meetings of the Commission and perform
such other functions as determined by rule. A Vice-Chair shall be elected to preside in the
absence of the Chair. A majority of the Commission members shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, and a majority vote of those present shall be necessary to carry any
proposition.
2. The Commission shall determine a regular meeting schedule (time,
place and frequency) and shall meet, at least, one time every month. All meetings shall be open
to the public.
3. The Commission shall adopt such rules and regulations as are
necessary for the conduct of business and shall keep a taped record of its proceedings.
Section 4. Staff Support. Administrative staff support to the Planning Commission
shall be provided by the City Planning and Community Development Department. In addition,
the Commission, through its Chair may request formal opinions or memorandums from the City
Attorney or Planning and Community Development Director on any pending matter.
Section 5. Duties and Responsibilities. The Planning Commission, as an advisory
body to the City Council, shall perform and have the following duties and responsibilities:
1. Assist in the preparation of a Comprehensive Plan and
Development Regulations in compliance with RCW 36.70A and 35A.63 including the
establishment of procedures for early and continuous public participation in the development
and amendment of the Comprehensive Plan and the Development Regulations;
2. Review plans and regulations related to land use management,
shoreline management, environmental policy, transportation systems, public facilities and capital
infrastructure planning and development;
3. Upon request from the City Manager or City Council, review
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potential annexations to the City;
4. Where design review is required by land use ordinances of the
City, perform such design review unless that review is delegated to some other appointed body
or City staff;
5. Identify issues and recommend priorities for geographic sub-areas
including park and open space areas in the City;
6. Meet and confer with the Hearing Examiner to review the
administration of land use policies and ordinances to enhance the planning and permitting
process;
7. Make periodic written and oral reports to the City Council
addressing work in progress and other significant matters relating to the City;
8. Hold public hearings in the exercise of duties and responsibilities;
9. Perform such Other duties and powers as may be conferred by
ordinance, resolution or motion of the City Council.
Unless otherwise assumed by the City Council, the Planning Commission
shall hold all public hearings required to be held in the course of adoption or amendment to the
Comprehensive Plan, the development regulations, adoption or amendment of the zoning map, or
adoption or amendment of regulations for the subdivision of land, shoreline management,
environmental regulations, and other land use ordinances of the City.
Section 6. Severability. If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance
shall be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other
section, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance.
Section 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect five (5)
days after publication of this Ordinance or a summary thereof in the official newspaper of the
City as provided by law.
PASSED by the City Council this day of I? ruary, 003.
Mayor, Michael De hem' g
ATlWaik.
L• ,
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Interim City Clerk, Ruth Mu ler
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Approved As To Form:
In - r ty Atttn a nley M. chwartz
Dat- : Publication: f ,, 4 26 o3
Effective Date: "21.,a1., &/ ...TO 3
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