28I.1 Authority of governing bodies--joint commission.

The governing bodies of two or more adjoining cities, independently or together with the governing

The joint planning commission shall be separate and apart from the governmental units creating it, may sue and be sued, contract for the purchase and sale of real and personal property necessary for its purposes, and shall be a juristic entity as the term is used in section 97C.2, subsection 6.

28I.2 Membership.

The commission shall have not less than five members, appointed by the governing bodies of the area served by the commission. A majority of the members of the commission may be citizens who hold no other public office or position except appointive membership on a city plan commission or other planning commission, board or agency. Citizen members shall be appointed for overlapping terms of not less than three nor more than five years or thereafter until their successors are appointed. The appointing governing bodies shall determine the amount of compensation, if any, to be paid to the members of a commission. Any vacancy in the membership of a commission shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the initial appointment. The governing bodies shall have authority to remove any member for cause stated in writing and after a public hearing.

28I.3 Organization.

The joint planning commission shall elect one of its members as chairperson who shall serve for one year or until the chairperson is re-elected or the chairperson's successor is elected. The commission shall appoint a secretary who may be an officer or an employee of a governing

28I.4 Powers and duties.

The commission shall have the power and duty to make comprehensive studies and plans for the development of the area it serves which will guide the unified development of the area and which will eliminate planning duplication and promote economy and efficiency in the co-ordinated development of the area and the general welfare, convenience, safety, and prosperity of its people. The plan or plans collectively shall be known as the regional or metropolitan development plan. The plans for the development of the area may include, but shall not be limited to, recommendations with respect to existing and proposed highways, bridges, airports, streets, parks and recreational areas, schools and public institutions and public utilities, public open spaces, and sites for public buildings and structures; districts for residence, business, industry, recreation, agriculture, and forestry; water supply, sanitation, drainage, protection against floods and other disasters; areas for housing developments, slum clearance and urban renewal and redevelopment; location of private and public utilities, including but not limited to sewerage and water supply systems; and such other recommendations concerning current and impending problems as may affect the area served by the commission. Time and priority schedules and cost estimates for the accomplishment of the recommendations may also be included in the plans. The plans shall be based upon and include appropriate studies of the location and extent of present and anticipated populations; social, physical, and economic resources, problems and trends; and governmental conditions and trends. The commission is also authorized to make surveys, land-use studies, and urban renewal plans, provide technical services and other planning work for the area it serves and for cities, counties, and other political subdivisions in the area. A plan or plans of the commission may be adopted, added to, and changed from time to time by a majority vote of the planning commission. The plan or plans may in whole or in part be adopted by the governing bodies of the co-operating cities and counties as the general plans of such cities and counties. The commission may also assist the governing bodies and other public authorities or agencies within the area it serves in carrying out any regional plan or plans, and assist any planning commission, board or agency of the cities and counties and political subdivisions in the preparation or effectuation of local plans and planning consistent with the program of the commission. The commission may co-operate and confer, as far as possible, with planning agencies of other states or of regional groups of states adjoining its area.

A planning commission formed under the provisions of this chapter shall, upon designation as such by the governor, serve as a district, regional or metropolitan agency for comprehensive planning for its area for the purpose of carrying out the functions as defined for such an agency by federal, state and local laws and regulations.

28I.5 Plans distributed.

Copies of the plan or plans and amendments or revisions of a plan or plans prepared by a commission may be transmitted by the commission to the chief administrative officers, the legislative bodies, the planning commissions, boards or agencies of the counties and cities, within its area, and to regional or metropolitan planning commissions established for adjoining areas. A commission may make copies of its plan or plans or parts of plans available for general distribution or sale, and may advise and supply information, as far as available, to persons and organizations who may request such advice and information and who are concerned with the area's development problems. It may also provide information to state and local agencies and to the public at large, in order to foster public awareness and understanding of the objectives of regional or metropolitan planning, and in order to stimulate public interest and participation in the orderly, integrated development of the area served by the commission.

28I.6 Filing documents with commission.

To facilitate effective and harmonious planning of the region or metropolitan area, all governing bodies in the area served by a commission, and all county and city planning commissions, boards or agencies in the area may file with the commission, for its information, all county or city plans, zoning ordinances, official maps, building codes, subdivision regulations, or amendments or revisions of them, as well as copies of their regular and special reports dealing in whole or in part with planning matters. County or city governing bodies, or county or city local planning commissions, boards or agencies may also submit proposals to a commission for such plans, ordinances, maps, codes, regulations, amendments or revisions prior to their adoption, in order to afford an opportunity to the commission to study such proposals and to render advice thereon.

28I.7 Construction of provisions.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to remove or limit the powers of the co-operating cities, counties, school districts, benefited water districts, benefited fire districts, sanitary districts, or similar districts as provided by state law. All legislative power with respect to zoning and other planning legislation shall remain with the governing

28I.8 Contracts for planning.

A metropolitan planning commission may contract with professional consultants, the Iowa department of economic development or the federal government, for local planning assistance.