(1) Selection of Officers. The commission shall choose annually at its first regular meeting one of its members to act as chairman and another as vice chairman, who shall perform all the duties of the chairman during his absence or disability,

(2) Adopt Rules and Regulations. The commission shall adopt such rules and regulations governing its organization and procedure as it may deem necessary.

(3) Annual Report. The commission shall each year make a report to the mayor and council of its proceedings, with a full statement of its receipts, disbursements and the progress of its work during the preceding fiscal year.

(4) Appointment of Assistants. Subject to the limitations contained in this chapter as to the expenditure of funds, it may appoint such assistants as it may deem necessary and prescribe and define their respective duties and fix and regulate the compensation to be paid to the several persons employed by it.

(5) Comprehensive Plan. It shall have full power and authority to make or cause to be made such surveys, studies, maps, plans, or charts of the whole or any portion of the city or of any land outside thereof, which in the opinion of the commission bears relation to the comprehensive plan and shall bring to the attention of the council and may publish its studies and recommendations.

(6) Comprehensive Plan – Preparation. For the purpose of making a comprehensive plan for the physical development of the city, the commission shall make careful and comprehensive studies of present conditions and future growth of the city and with due regard to its relation to neighboring territory. The plan shall be made with the general purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the city and its environs which will, in accordance with the present and future needs, best promote health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare, as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development.

(7) Comprehensive Plan – Public Hearing. Before adopting a comprehensive plan as referred to in subsection (6) of this section, or any part of it, or any substantial amendment thereof, the commission shall hold at least one public hearing thereon, notice of the time of which shall be given by one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the city not less than 10 nor move than 20 days before the date of hearing. The adoption of the plan or part or amendment thereof shall be by resolution of the commission carried by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the members of the commission. After adoption of said plan by the commission an attested copy thereof shall be certified to the council and the council may approve the same. When said plan or any modification or amendment thereof shall receive the approval of the council, the said plan until subsequently modified or amended as hereinbefore authorized shall constitute the official city plan.

(8) Comprehensive Plan – Amendments. When the comprehensive plan as hereinbefore provided has been adopted no substantial amendment or modification thereof shall be made without such proposed change first being referred to the commission for its recommendations. If the commission disapproves the proposed change it may be adopted by the council only by the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members of the said council.

(9) Recommendations on Improvements. No statuary, memorial or work of art in a public place, and no public building, bridge, viaduct, street fixtures, public structure or appurtenances, shall be located or erected, or site therefor obtained, nor shall any permit be issued by any department of the city for the erection or location thereof until and unless the design and proposed location of any such improvement shall have been submitted to the commission and its recommendations thereon obtained, except such requirements and recommendations shall not act as a stay upon action for any such improvement when the commission after 30 days’ written notice requesting such recommendations, shall have failed to file same.

(10) Review and Comment on Plats. All plans, plats, or replats of subdivision or resubdivisions of land embraced in the city or adjacent thereto, laid out in lots or plats with the streets, alleys, or other portions of the same intended to be dedicated to the public in the city, shall first be submitted to the commission and its recommendations obtained before approval by the council.

(11) Review and Comment on Street and Park Improvements. No plan for any street, park, parkway, boulevard, trafficway, riverfront, or other public improvement affecting the city plan shall be finally approved by the city or the character or location thereof determined, unless such proposal shall first have been submitted to the commission and the latter shall have had 30 days within which to file its recommendations thereon.

(12) Zoning. The commission shall have and exercise all the powers and duties and privileges in preparing and amending the city zoning code as provided by Iowa Code, Chapter 414.

(13) Fiscal Responsibilities. The commission shall have full, complete and exclusive authority to expend for and on behalf of the city all sums of money appropriated to it, and to use and expend all gifts, donations or payments whatsoever which are received by the city for city planning and zoning purposes.

(14) Limitation on Entering Contracts. The commission shall have no power to contract debts beyond the amount of its income for the present year.