Sec. 2-1303. - Governing body-composition and appointments; terms of office and vacancies; membership qualifications; procedures for appointment of members including the public advocate; officers; quorum and voting; meetings; and attendance requirements.
(a) Governing body-composition and appointments. The board shall consist of 13 members.
(1) The following ten members shall be appointed by the city commission:
a. One member who is actively engaged in the residential home building industry in connection with affordable housing;
b. One member who is actively engaged in the banking or mortgage banking industry in connection with affordable housing;
c. One member who is a representative of those areas of labor actively engaged in home building in connection with affordable housing;
d. One member who is actively engaged as an advocate for low-income persons in connection with affordable housing;
e. One member who is actively engaged as a for-profit provider of affordable housing;
f. One member who is actively engaged as a not-for-profit provider of affordable housing;
g. One member who is actively engaged as a real estate professional in connection with affordable housing;
h. One member who resides within the city limits of the city;
i. One member who represents employers within the city; and
j. One member who represents essential services personnel, as defined in the local housing assistance plan;
If the city is unable to appoint a member actively engaged in these activities in connection with affordable housing, a member engaged in the activity without regard to affordable housing may be appointed.
(2) The following three members shall be appointed as follows:
a. One chairperson nominated by the mayor and appointed by city commission;
b. Two members from city administration nominated by the city manager and appointed by city commission. One of these two members shall actively serve on the city's planning department;
(b) Terms of office and vacancies. Members shall be appointed for a term of four years. Except as hereinafter provided, the city commission shall appoint an individual to fill a vacancy due to the death, resignation or removal of any member of the board, which person shall serve only for the remainder of the unexpired term. A vacancy in the chairperson or any of the two members appointed from city administration shall be filled in the same manner as provided above for the appointment of those board members. Nothing set forth herein shall prohibit any individual from being reappointed, subject to the provisions of section 2-885.
(c) Membership qualifications. All board members shall be 18 years of age or older.
Each member of the board shall be an individual of outstanding reputation for integrity, responsibility and commitment to serving the community, and is expected to participate actively in the functioning of the board.
Except as provided in subsection (a)(1), members of the board shall not be required to be permanent residents of the city, own real property in the city, or work or maintain a business in the city.
(d) Procedure for appointment of members. No appointment to the board shall be made until notice has been given in a newspaper of general circulation in the city of the appointments to be made at least 15 days prior to making the appointment, which notice shall have solicited and encouraged the public and citizen organizations within the city having interest to submit names of persons and their qualifications for consideration. The qualifications of those to be considered as prospective members of the board, except for the chairperson, shall be evaluated by the department of housing and community development. The department of housing and community development shall recommend appointees to the city commission for final appointment, except for the chairperson.
(e) Officers. The chairperson shall be appointed by the mayor. The board shall elect from its members a vice-chairperson, and may designate a secretary and such other officers as deemed necessary. The chairperson of the board shall have the power to appoint all members serving on the various committees which the board may establish from time to time.
(f) Quorum and voting. At all meetings of the board, a minimum of five members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and each member shall have one vote on every issue submitted to a vote of the board. The act of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board. The members of the board may make and adopt bylaws and rules for the board's governance.
(g) Meetings. The board shall hold regular monthly meetings, except in the month of August, and may hold such other meetings as it deems necessary. All meetings of the board shall be public meetings. Written minutes of the proceedings of all actions taken at the meetings of the board shall be properly recorded and maintained.
(h) Attendance requirements.
(1) Any board member shall be automatically removed if, in a given calendar year:
a. He or she is absent from three consecutive meetings; or
b. He or she is absent from four of the board's meetings;
c. Provided that regardless of their compliance with subsections (1)a. and b., members must attend at least 50 percent of all the board meetings held during each calendar year.
(2) A member of the board shall be deemed absent from a meeting when he or she is not present at the meeting at least 75 percent of its duration.
(3) The provisions of this section may be waived by a vote of the members of the board if, prior to removal for failing to meet the attendance requirements hereinabove, a member requests a waiver of the same providing the member's reasons supporting such request.
(Ord. No. 13030, § 3, 10-16-08; Ord. No. 13967, § 4, 2-25-21)
