There is hereby created a commission to be known as the culture and heritage board. The culture and heritage board shall have the composition, structure, organization, powers, duties and functions established by this division.
(Ordinance 2462 adopted 10/5/10)
(a) 
The members of the culture and heritage board shall consist of current members of the city’s museum coalition and members appointed by the city commission. Two members from each group comprised of the city’s museum coalition shall be represented on the board: two members from the city’s history museum, two members from the Freddy Fender museum; two members from the Texas Conjunto Hall of Fame and Museum; and two members from the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center. The two members from each group shall be recommended to the city commission by the groups themselves for appointment by the city commission.
(b) 
(1) 
The culture and heritage board shall consist of 11 members appointed by the city commission for staggered terms of three years or until their successors are appointed and qualify; except, that of the members of the commission initially appointed after October 5, 2010:
(A) 
All appointments following these initial terms will be for three years.
(B) 
The initial slate of members will draw lots to determine their place on the board and the duration of their first term.
(i) 
Places 1, 2, 3, 4 shall serve an initial three-year term.
(ii) 
Places 5, 6, 7, 8 shall serve an initial two-year term.
(iii) 
Places 9, 10, 11 shall serve an initial one-year term.
(C) 
Thereafter, members of the culture and heritage board shall be appointed for terms of three years with terms expiring on December 31st of the fourth year after the appointments.
(2) 
Vacancies on the board shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired term.
(c) 
Members of the board shall serve without pay, but travel and other incidental expenses may be provided upon approval of the director, the chairperson and the secretary-treasurer of the commission; subject, however, to compliance with the statutes, ordinances, policies and procedures established by the city for reimbursement of expenses for county boards, agencies and commissions.
(d) 
The culture and heritage board shall adopt bylaws and rules of procedure not inconsistent with this code, and the commission shall maintain records and minutes of its proceedings and meetings.
(e) 
The culture and heritage board shall meet at regular intervals, but not less frequently than once each quarter. The chairperson or a majority of the members of the commission may call special meetings of the commission at any time. Any member of the commission who shall be absent from 50% or more of the meetings of the commission during any 12-month period shall be deemed to have forfeited the membership of the member on the commission and shall be removed without further action by the commission or the city commission. It shall be the responsibility of the secretary-treasurer of the commission to notify the commission, the offending member and the city commission of the absences, removal and vacancy, and the city commission shall fill the vacancy created thereby in the manner of the original appointment, for the unexpired term of the member.
(f) 
The culture and heritage board may, by a two-thirds vote of members of the board at any meeting of the commission, annually elect ex-officio members of the board for terms of one year. Ex-officio members of the board may participate in discussions of policy or other matters of importance to the board, but shall not be permitted to vote on any matter coming before the board. Ex-officio members of the board may not be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the board.
(Ordinance 2462 adopted 10/5/10)
(a) 
The officers of the culture and heritage board shall consist of the chairperson, the vice-chairperson, the secretary, the treasurer and other officers as may be set forth in the bylaws.
(b) 
(1) 
Officers of the board shall be elected by the commission in accordance with the bylaws.
(2) 
Officers of the board shall serve without pay, but may be reimbursed for travel and other incidental expenses incurred in connection with board responsibilities; subject, however, to compliance with statutes, ordinances, policies and procedures established by the city commission governing the reimbursement of expenses for city boards.
(Ordinance 2462 adopted 10/5/10)
The culture and heritage board shall employ a staff, consisting of an executive director and other employees, consistent with the availability of funds, as may be necessary to implement and carry out the purposes and objectives of this division and the policies, functions, duties, responsibilities and programs of the board.
(Ordinance 2462 adopted 10/5/10)
The culture and heritage board shall adopt policies and procedures relating to purchasing, the acquisition and disposal of commission collections, conflicts of interest and freedom of information not inconsistent with the general law and statutes of the state and the ordinances and policies of the city.
(Ordinance 2462 adopted 10/5/10)
The purposes and objectives of the culture and heritage board shall be:
(1) 
To maintain and operate museums and sites related to the diverse cultural, historical and natural heritage of the city;
(2) 
To locate, select, conserve, restore, develop, appropriately mark and preserve the authenticity and unique character of other sites related to the diverse cultural, historical and natural heritage of the city;
(3) 
To advise the city commission and citizens of the city on matters of their shared cultural, historical and natural heritage;
(4) 
To promote and coordinate, with the city commission and other agencies, efforts to identify, conserve, protect and publicize the museums and other places related, to the cultural, historical and natural heritage of the city;
(5) 
To accept donations of and to purchase property, art, artifacts, services, manuscripts, photographs, memorabilia, government records, books, buildings and grounds and other items suitable for use by the board in order to preserve the cultural, historical and natural heritage of all of the city’s citizens, as well as other materials collected by donation or purchase suitable for educating the citizens of the city about matters of cultural, historical and natural heritage issues in general; provided, however, that all real property owned, leased or used by the commission or any related entity for commission purposes shall be transferred to the city by the persons or entities owning title thereto, and all real property used or acquired for board purposes shall be owned, purchased, leased, held, conveyed or disposed of in the name of the city by the city commission;
(6) 
To serve as the permanent repository and perpetual caretakers of art, artifacts, services, manuscripts, photographs, memorabilia, government records, books and the buildings and grounds as may be entrusted to its care, and other items suitable for use by the board in order to preserve the cultural, historical and natural heritage of the city; and
(7) 
To promote to the citizens of the city and surrounding area, as well as the general public, awareness of and visitation to museums and related sites in order to create a comprehensive system of linked cultural, historical and natural heritage attractions which enhance the economic development and cultural, historical and natural heritage of the city.
(Ordinance 2462 adopted 10/5/10)
The culture and heritage board shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) 
Make bylaws for the management and regulation of its business and affairs;
(2) 
Elect officers and prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the officers;
(3) 
Establish and appoint committees and subcommittees (The board shall not delegate or devolve any power; duty or responsibility conferred upon the board under the general law or the provisions of this division to any committee or subcommittee of the board.);
(4) 
Establish and implement policies and carry out programs and projects as may be advisable in order to effectuate and implement the objectives of this division in accordance with the general law, the provisions of this division and the ordinances and policies of the county; subject, however, to the availability of funds (The commission shall not make or enter into any contract or agreement involving or requiring an expenditure of funds in excess of funds appropriated by the city commission or made available to the commission from other sources.);
(5) 
Accept donations of, or purchase art, artifacts, services, manuscripts, photographs, memorabilia; government records, books, buildings and grounds and other items suitable for use by the board in order to preserve the cultural, historical and natural heritage of all of the city’s citizens, as well as other materials collected by donation or purchase suitable for educating the citizens of the city about the matters of cultural, historical and natural heritage issues in general (All real property owned or used by the board or any related entity for board purposes shall be transferred to the city by the persons or entities owning title thereto and all real property used or acquired for board purposes shall be owned, purchased, leased, held, conveyed or disposed of in the name of the city by the city commission.);
(6) 
Submit an annual budget and plan of operation to the city commission before July 1st of each year for the next ensuing fiscal year;
(7) 
Receive and expend grants, gifts, donations, appropriations, admission fees and user fees from any public or private source for the operation, maintenance, expansion or improvement of property, sites, collections, programs or educational or other activities of the board;
(8) 
Apply for and seek the approval of the city commission for the purchase, sale, lease, use or exchange of real property for the use of the board or any related entity (All real property used by the commission or any related entity for board purposes shall be owned, purchased, leased, exchanged, acquired, sold, conveyed, transferred or disposed of by the city commission in the name of the city.);
(9) 
Purchase, lease, acquire, receive, hold, own or use personal property, artifacts, collections, displays, exhibits, manuscripts, photographs, memorabilia, government records, books and other items suitable for use by the board in the name of the board (The board shall be operated in all respects as a tax-exempt board under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.);
(10) 
Operate, maintain and make available to residents of the city one or more museums, historical sites, collections, repositories or other projects, with the programs as may be suitable for use by the board in order to preserve the cultural, historical and natural heritage of the city and its citizens as may be deemed appropriate or advisable for those purposes;
(11) 
File annually a detailed report of its operations and expenditures for the previous fiscal year with the city commission;
(12) 
Locate, select, conserve, restore, develop, appropriately mark and preserve sites, buildings, rooms, facilities, equipment, exhibits, displays, collections, artifacts, manuscripts, services, photographs, memorabilia, government records, books, buildings, grounds or other sites or items suitable for use by the board in order to preserve the cultural, historical and natural heritage of the city and its citizens;
(13) 
Develop, revise, amend and implement mission statements for the culture and heritage board not inconsistent with the provisions of this division.
(Ordinance 2462 adopted 10/5/10)
The culture and heritage board shall also file an annual report and accounting of personal property, collections, exhibits, artifacts, grants, appropriations, gifts, revenues or donations owned, held, used, received, transferred, purchased, sold, leased or disposed of by the board during the previous fiscal year with the city commission.
(Ordinance 2462 adopted 10/5/10)