§ 8.00. Rules and regulations for planning commission.

The officers of the commission shall be chairman and vice-chairman. These shall be elected for one-year terms ending on July 31.

The chairman shall preside over all meetings of the commission. The vice-chairman shall preside in the absence of the chairman.

A quorum shall consist of five (5) members of the commission. No final action shall be taken on any matter except pursuant to a majority vote of the members present, however, in no case shall less than five votes constitute a majority and this requirement shall govern requests for rehearings in zoning cases.

Regular meetings of the city planning and zoning commission shall be held on the last Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., in the city hall, Jacksonville. Special meetings may be called by the chairman, provided that written notice thereof is mailed to each member at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the time thereof. No approval or disapproval of any application shall be given except at regular meetings and none shall be given nor any final action taken on other matters except at regular or special meetings as provided herein. All meetings of said commission shall be open to the public. The place of meetings may be changed by vote of the commission at any regular meeting. Notice of such action shall be published in the official city newspaper one time ten (10) days prior to the effective date.

Any motion by a member shall require a second. After a motion has been made and duly seconded, discussion of the motion may be had 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.

Whenever any question of 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.

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.

A member shall not vote, or participate as a member in any matter before the commission if the member has any interest in this matter, whether such interest is direct or indirect, and financial or otherwise. In any case, where the question of a member's interest is raised the chairman shall rule on whether the member should be disqualified.

The commission shall take no final action on any matter before it before first obtaining a recommendation from the building inspector and reports from the other city departments concerned.

Releases and statements to the public and press, if any, in the name of the commission shall be made only by the presiding officer.

Any question of order or procedure not covered by these rules shall be decided according to Robert's Rules of Order (75th Anniversary Edition), insofar as that may be applicable.