Section 25.06.412 Jurisdiction, authority and duties.

In addition to the jurisdiction, authority and duties conferred on the planning director and the division of planning and zoning by other provisions of this code, the planning director shall have the following jurisdiction, authority and duties:

1. Supervision of Planning and zoning Division. The planning director shall supervise, manage and be responsible for the affairs and activities of the division, its officers, subordinates and employees, and may recommend to the director of community development the employment of experts, technical assistants, clerks, secretaries and such other personnel as shall be provided by ordinance and pay for their services and other necessary and proper expenses, but only out of such appropriations as may from time to time be made therefor.

2. Rules and Regulations. The planning director shall, consistent with the express standards, purposes and intent of this title, promulgate, adopt and issue such procedural rules and regulations as are in his opinion necessary to the effective functioning of the department and the effective conduct of the jurisdiction, authority and duties assigned to it.

3. Staff Planner to Board of Adjustment and Planning and zoning commission. The planning director shall serve as staff planner to the board of adjustment as well as to the planning and zoning commission, and in that capacity he, or his delegate, shall, when requested to do so by the secretary of the board of adjustment, attend the meetings of such body, inform such body of all facts and information at his disposal with respect to any matter brought before such body and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by this title and by the rules of such body.

4. Annual Report. The planning director shall, at least annually, prepare and submit a report to the city manager, the manager of inspection services and the chairmen of the board of adjustment and the planning and zoning commission concerning the activity of the department of planning and the status of the city's planning program. Such report shall refer to and briefly summarize the results of any major studies undertaken in the prior year, shall review and evaluate all changes in the general plan proposed or adopted during the prior year and shall set forth the recommendations of the planning director concerning the planning program and plans of the city and the specific objectives of the planning director for the planning program for the following year.

5. Planning Studies and Reports. Whenever the city council, the city manager, the planning and zoning commission or the board of adjustment shall by general rule or specific direction so request, the planning director shall within the limits of resources available conduct or cause to be conducted such surveys, investigations and field studies, and shall prepare or cause to be prepared such reports, maps, photographs, charts and exhibits as may be requested.

6. General Plan. The planning director and the department of planning shall be responsible for the initiation and continuation of such social, economic, physical and environmental studies as may be necessary or appropriate to the development and revision of the general plan by the planning and zoning commission pursuant to Chapter 25.08 of this title.

7. Applications - Receipt, Processing, Referral to Interested Parties and Agencies. The planning director shall receive and cause to be expeditiously processed the following applications:

a. Planned development applications including those for pre-application conferences, development concept plan approval and planned development site plan approval;

a. Maintain permanent and current records of the planning department, including all maps; amendments; planned development approvals and denials; and decisions rendered by the planning and zoning commission together with relevant background files and materials;

b. Furnish the manager inspection services division whatever files and materials as may be required by said manager for the efficient enforcement of this title.

a. Submit an annual report to the administrator of the Federal Insurance Administration concerning the city's participation in the Flood Insurance Program including, but not limited to, the development and implementation of floodplain management regulations.

b. Notify adjoining political jurisdictions of any public works, private development or stream alterations within Sioux City which may alter the hydrological characteristics of any drainage which enters that jurisdiction.

10. To review and offer recommendation to the City Council on applications for the vacation or partial vacation of a street or public alley involving an easement thereon, for encroachments by structures or buildings constructed prior to February 27, 1989, for the purpose of clearing title. (Ord. 89/T-7516; S-36968, 1978; S-30424, 1976)