Archives West Finding Aid

The Planning Commission was established in 1924 and began meeting in 1925. It was established to address the large number of petitions and requests from various organizations and districts for major improvements involving new streets, street widening, bridges and regrades. In early years, the Commission included six appointive members and three ex-officio members; it later included citizens appointed by the Mayor for staggered three-year terms. By the 1950s the Commission was assisted by a permanent staff of professional planners and in 1967 the Charter was amended to enable the creation of a city planner position. The Planning Commission became part of the Department of Community Development (DCD) in 1972. DCD was abolished in 1992 and a Planning Department was established, absorbing the activities of the Office of Long Range Planning and the Human Services Strategic Planning Office.