Bylaws
BY-LAWS OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SALINA, KANSAS
Adopted April 5, 1977
Amended September 20, 1977
Amended October 16, 1979
Amended February 19, 1985
Amended March 1, 1988
Amended November 8, 1988
Amended November 19, 1991
Amended August 15, 1995
Amended April 2, 1996
Amended December 3, 1997
ARTICLE I - NAME AND AUTHORITY
Sec.1. Name. The name of this organization shall be known as the Salina City Planning
Commission. (Hereinafter, it shall be called the Commission.)
Sec. 2. Authority. The Salina City Planning Commission is established by Ordinance
#8348 of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Salina, Kansas,
pursuant to authority of Kansas Statutes Annotated 12-741 et. seq.
ARTICLE II - POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 1. The Commission shall be vested with all powers and duties available to it as
specified in Article 7, Chapter 12, of Kansas Statutes Annotated and all amendments
thereto.
Sec. 2. Specifically, the Commission shall:
A. cause plans to be prepared for the City of Salina and such other
areas which, in the opinion of the Commission, forms the total
community;
B. hold public hearings as provided by law;
C. make and recommend policy to the City Commission in areas of
physical and social development;
D. adopt such regulations and rules as may be provided by law;
E. recommend on and provide plans for such other matters as may be of
interest to the public and the Governing Body.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERS
Sec. 1. Composition. The Planning Commission membership shall be as provided in
Ordinance #8348.
Sec. 2. Term of Office. The term of office of each member shall be for three (3) years and
until a successor is appointed and qualified.
Sec. 3. VotinQ. At all meetings of the Planning Commission, each member attending shall
be entitled to cast one (1) vote. All members present shall cast either an affirmative or
negative vote unless he has vacated his seat because of a conflict of interest. Voting shall
be by voice or by roll call as determined by the Chairman. The affirmative vote of at least
three (3) members shall be required for adoption of any item of business. In the event that
an item of business receives a majority of the votes cast, but such majority does not
consist of the three vote minimum required, such item shall be tabled until the next regular
Commission meeting. The number of votes cast for and against each motion shall be
recorded in the minutes.
Sec. 4. Conflict of Interest. A member of the Planning Commission shall not participate in
any proceeding or action when the member or his or her employer, business partner,
associate, or any person related to him or her by blood or marriage has a recognizable
financial interest in the outcome of the proceeding or action. Any recognizable financial
interest in the outcome of any proceeding shall be disclosed at or before the meeting at
which the action is being heard or considered. No member of the Planning Commission
shall appear for or represent any person, firm, corporation or entity in any matter pending
before the Commission, unless the member is representing him or herself as owner of the
subject property.
Any member of the Commission who feels that he or she has a conflict of interest (as
defined in this section) on any matter that is on the Commission's agenda shall explain the
nature of such conflict, voluntarily vacate his or her seat and leave the meeting room. Any
member may raise the question of conflict of interest or possible conflict of interest with
respect to any other member present. The question raised must be decided by majority
vote of the members present.
Sec. 5. Absences. Whenever a member misses three (3) consecutive meetings or his or
her attendance falls below 75% in a twelve month period, the Secretary shall so notify the
Mayor of the City of Salina. The Commission shall recommend to the City Commission
replacement of any member who has four (4) consecutive absences from regular
meetings.
Sec. 6. Vacancies. Any vacancy resulting from resignation, removal, or death of a member
serving as Chairman, shall cause the Vice-Chairman to automatically assume the position
of Chairman and a new Vice-Chairman shall be elected.
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ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Sec.1. The officers of the Planning Commission shall be Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and
Secretary.
Sec. 2. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be elected at the annual meeting and shall
serve for a term of one (1) year, or until their successors are elected. Any member
nominated for the office of Chairman shall have at least one (1) full year of unexpired term
to serve.
Sec. 3. The Director of Planning shall serve as Secretary, and he may appoint a staff
member as Assistant Secretary.
Sec. 4. Any vacancy of office shall be filled by election for the remainder of the normal
term.
Sec. 5. No person shall be eligible to hold the office of Chairman or Vice-Chairman for
more than two (2) full, consecutive one-year terms.
ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Sec. 1. Chairman. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Commission and
shall be eligible to vote on all matters coming before the Commission. He shall appoint all
committees and is responsible for conducting all meetings in an orderly manner. The
Chairman shall sign all resolutions and other approved records, papers, and documents of
the Commission.
Sec. 2. Vice-Chairman. The Vice-Chairman shall perform all the duties and assume all the
responsibilities of the Chairman in his absence.
Sec. 3. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep accurate records of all proceedings of the
Commission. He shall be responsible for issuing all necessary correspondence, notices,
and agendas. He shall be responsible for compiling reports and keeping attendance
records. The Secretary is hereby designated as the "official agent" for the Commission in
handling all federal, state, and local contracts and agreements. The Secretary, or his
designated appointee, shall present Commission actions and recommendations to the
Governing Body. The Secretary shall sign and note approval of the minutes of the
Commission and shall, when required by law, authenticate the signature of the Chairman.
Sec. 4. Assistant Secretary. In the absence of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary shall
act in the manner and capacity as Secretary.
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ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
Sec. I. ReQular MeetinQs. Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held on the first
and third Tuesday of each month, unless such date is a legal holiday, in which case no
meeting will be held. Unless otherwise publicly announced by the Chairman, all meetings
shall be held in the City Commission Room, Room 107, City-County Building, 300 West
Ash Street, Salina, Kansas beginning at 4:00 P.M. Any such change shall be given public
notice for the convenience of persons having business before the Commission.
Sec. 2. AQenda. The Secretary, or other authorized officer, shall prepare an agenda of all
matters to come before the Commission no later than the Thursday preceding the next
regular meeting. All requests for inclusion on the agenda must be made known to the
Secretary by 5:00 P.M. on the Wednesday preceding the next regular meeting.
Off-agenda items may be considered with the approval of the majority of the members
present.
Sec. 3. Special Meetinqs. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman, or in his
absence, the Vice-Chairman, or upon written request of any three (3) members of the
Commission. Notice received by letter or phone by Commission members and the news
media 24 hours prior to the scheduled time shall be considered ample notice.
Sec. 4. Annual MeetinQ. The first regular meeting of the month of September of each year
shall be designated as the annual meeting, at which time officers for the following twelve
months shall be elected.
Sec. 5. Quorum. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the Commission
appointed and qualified at any given time. In the absence of a quorum at any meeting, the
presiding officer may adjourn the meeting to a specific time, date, and place, which shall
be publicly announced.
Sec. 6. Open MeetinQs. All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public and to
attendance by representatives of the news media.
Sec. 7. Public HearinQs. The public shall be invited to speak on any item under
consideration by the Commission. Each speaker shall be required to state their name and
address for purposes of maintaining a record of the hearing. Upon introduction of an item
by the Chairman, the general order of presentation shall be as follows:
a) Brief report by planning staff.
b) Comments by the applicant and/or applicant's representative.
c) Comments by interested citizens.
d) Additional comments by participants.
e) Discussion and action by Commission.
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Before any action by the Commission, all interested parties shall be given an opportunity
to be heard.
Sec. 8. Minutes Available To Public. The Secretary shall prepare and maintain permanent
minutes to be kept available for public view and use.
ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES
The Chairman shall appoint committees as may be deemed necessary to carry on the
work of the Commission.
ARTICLE VIII - ANNUAL REPORT
The Secretary shall prepare an annual report for review and approval by the Commission
indicating accomplishments in the prior year, goals, needs and concerns. Said report shall
be submitted to the City Commission by January 31 of each year.
ARTICLE IX - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the
Commission in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not
inconsistent with these Bylaws.
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Commission by a two-thirds
(2/3) vote of the members present and voting, provided that any proposed amendment
has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting.
Adopted by the Salina City Planning Commission this 3rd day of December, 1997.
Dana Morse, Chairman
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