[Amended 1-17-2005 by Ord. No. 05-02]
There is hereby created a Park Commission for the Village of Pleasant Prairie.
[Amended 2-4-2008 by Ord. No. 08-06]
The Park Commission shall consist of seven members, appointed by the Village President. The members shall be citizens of recognized experience and qualifications. All appointments to the Park Commission shall be in writing and shall be filed with the Village Clerk. The Village President shall also appoint two alternate members of the Park Commission, who shall attend all meetings, hearings and other proceedings of the Park Commission. The first alternate member shall vote whenever any regular member is absent or has a conflict of interest. The second alternate member shall vote whenever two or more regular members are absent or have a conflict of interest or whenever one regular member and the first alternate member are absent or have a conflict of interest. The Village Board may authorize members of said Commission to be compensated for their expenses not to exceed $20 per meeting.
[Amended 2-4-2008 by Ord. No. 08-06]
A. 
The members of the initial Park Commission appointed by the Village President pursuant to this article shall be appointed, respectively, for terms of either one or two years. Annually thereafter (beginning in 2005) and prior to May 1, the Village President shall appoint four members one year and three members the following year for a two-year term. Any vacancy on the Park Commission may be filled by a Village Trustee for the balance of the term of the former member, or the Village President may appoint a new Park Commission member to serve the balance of the term of the former member.
B. 
The alternate members of the Park Commission shall serve a one-year term which shall commence upon their appointment and shall end on the following April 30. Annually thereafter and prior to May 1, the Village President shall appoint each alternate member for a one-year term.
Any Park Commissioner who does not attend three successive meetings shall automatically become eligible to forfeit their seat, which will be vacated for appointment of another Park Commissioner by the Village President.
The Park Commission shall elect officers, which will include a Chair, whose duty is to facilitate the meetings; a Vice Chair, who will facilitate meetings in the absence of the Chair; and a Secretary, who will keep all correspondence. Elections for Park Commission officers shall be held annually at the first meeting in May.
[Amended 11-16-2009 by Ord. No. 09-57; 5-16-2011 by Ord. No. 11-15; 11-4-2019 by Ord. No. 19-35]
Meetings shall be held once a month or at the call of the Village President, the Park Commission Chair or a majority of the full Commission and shall be open to the public. A vote by the full majority of Park Commission members shall establish meeting days and time.
Four members shall constitute a quorum, but all actions shall require approval of a majority of the full Commission, except a motion to adjourn.
A written record shall be kept showing all actions taken, resolutions, findings, determinations, transactions, and recommendations made, and a copy of such record shall be filed with the Village Clerk as a public record.
The Park Commission shall have such powers as may be necessary to enable it to perform its functions and duties and promote park and open space planning. Such powers shall include the following and all others granted by the Village Board:
A. 
To make recommendations to the Village Plan Commission in areas of land use and park and open space development.
The Park Commission shall have the following functions and duties:
A. 
To ensure the quality of life for all members of the community by facilitating the acquisition, development and preservation of parklands, open space areas and recreational facilities in an orderly and uniform process.
B. 
To create and maintain a Village Park and Open Space Plan and recommend the plan's adoption to the Village Plan Commission and Village Board. The Park and Open Space Plan shall be in conformance with the Village Comprehensive Land Use Plan for Development.
C. 
Upon the request of the Village Board, to review and update Chapter 242, Parks and Recreation, of this Code concerning standards for parks and open space development.
D. 
To recommend to the Village Plan Commission and Village Board any changes or amendments to subdivision conceptual plans which pertain to parks and open space development.
E. 
To consider and report or recommend on all matters referred to the Park Commission.
F. 
Until such time as the Village Board adopts a Village Park and Open Space Plan, the Park Commission shall use the Kenosha County Park and Open Space Plan prepared by the Southeastern Regional Planning Commission and existing Village land use plans as guidelines for recommendations.
The Village Board, having final authority thereon, may refer to the Park Commission for its consideration and report, before final action is taken, the following matters:
A. 
Location, design and naming of any public parklands and open space areas.
B. 
Acquisition, acceptance, extension, lease, sale, or abandonment of any Village park, parkway or open space area.
C. 
All proposed or requested changes and amendments to the Village Park and Open Space Plan or Chapter 242, Parks and Recreation, of this Code.