[Adopted 1-7-2019 by Ord. No. 19-002]
This article shall be known, identified and cited as the "River Raisin Heritage Corridor Advisory Commission" and herein be referred to as the "Commission."
A. 
The Commission shall provide advice and make recommendations to the Mayor, City Council, the City Manager and the Planning Commission in regard to implementation, prioritization, phasing, modification, and/or development of the River Raisin Heritage Corridor Master Plan and the land located in the vicinity of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park.
B. 
The Commission shall function in an advisory capacity only and shall have no authority to adopt, amend, modify, alter or rescind any policy, rule, regulation, plan or ordinance that governs the implementation, prioritization, phasing, modification, and/or development of the River Raisin Heritage Corridor Master Plan and the land located in the vicinity of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park.
The Commission shall have the following responsibilities:
A. 
To make recommendations to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and/or Planning Commission on a variety of matters pertaining to implementation, prioritization, phasing, modification, and/or development of the River Raisin Heritage Corridor Master Plan and the land located in the vicinity of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park.
B. 
To make recommendations to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and/or Planning Commission regarding policies and/or legislation pertaining to implementation, prioritization, phasing, modification, and/or development of the River Raisin Heritage Corridor Master Plan and the land located in the vicinity of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park.
C. 
To periodically review the status of the implementation of the River Raisin Heritage Corridor Master Plan and to assist in the development of programs, strategies, and plans to encourage the purposes of the River Raisin Heritage Corridor Master Plan and the development of the land located in the vicinity of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park.
D. 
To develop collaborative relationships designed to facilitate the exchange of mutually beneficial information with governmental entities and nonprofit organizations dedicated to a purpose or purposes consistent with or complementary to the purposes of the River Raisin Heritage Corridor Master Plan, subject to Council's oversight authority. As part of this responsibility, the Commission shall review information provided by the Superintendent of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park of the National Park Service and engage in appropriate dialogue with the Superintendent regarding the purposes of the River Raisin Heritage Corridor Master Plan.
A. 
The Commission shall be comprised of five Commissioners. All members shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by a majority vote of City Council, as follows: one member for one year, two members for two years, and two members for three years. Thereafter, each member shall serve for three years or until a successor has been appointed.
B. 
It is strongly recommended that one individual resident of the City be considered for appointment to represent the interest of the City residents at-large together with individuals representing the following organizations or groups: the River Raisin National Battlefield Park Foundation, the Monroe County Historical Commission, the Monroe County Historical Society, Monroe County Library System, Native American Tribes or groups representing the interest of indigenous people of the region, and groups associated with the international and national significance of the Battle of the River Raisin including groups from Canada, Great Britain or other states.
C. 
At least two of the Commissioners shall be residents of Monroe County, Michigan, at least one of whom shall be a resident of the City of Monroe.
D. 
A member of City Council shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by a majority vote of City Council as a nonvoting City Council liaison to the Commission.
E. 
Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Commission shall be filled by the appointing authority, i.e., appointed by the Mayor and approved by a majority vote of City Council, for the remainder of the unexpired term.
F. 
Commissioners shall serve at the pleasure of City Council.
A. 
The Commission shall meet at least once quarterly. At least annually, the Commission shall provide a written report to the Planning Commission and the City Council concerning the activities of the Commission and the implementation, prioritization, phasing, modification, and/or development of the River Raisin Heritage Corridor Master Plan and the land located in the vicinity of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park.
B. 
A majority of the Commissioners shall constitute a quorum.
C. 
All Commission meetings shall be open to the public and all business shall be conducted in public session. All meetings shall be posted and conducted in conformity with the Michigan Open Meetings Act.[1] At each meeting, there shall be an opportunity for the public to speak.
[1]
Editor's Note: See MCLA § 15.261 et seq.
D. 
The Commission shall keep minutes of all meetings it conducts, and such minutes shall contain a record of all proceedings, resolutions, and actions taken by the Commission. Such minutes shall be open to public inspection.
E. 
All Commission meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.
F. 
The Commission may develop advisory committees to assist in the purposes and duties of the Commission. Any advisory committee established hereunder shall not include more than two members of the Commission.
The Commission shall have assigned to it City staff as designated by the City Manager who shall be Secretary to the Commission and who shall have the responsibility to: record the meetings on audiotape; keep, prepare, and distribute meeting minutes; and prepare and distribute materials to be considered in the business of the Commission; and act as a resource to the Commissioners.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this article is declared unconstitutional or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision or holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this article.
This article shall be in full force and effect 20 days after final passage and publication.