There is hereby created an advisory board known as the parks board of the city. The parks board shall perform such duties as the city council may, from time to time, prescribe by ordinance, resolution, or order.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.A, adopted 4/9/12)
(a) 
Composition; appointment of members.
The parks board shall be composed of nine (9) members, each of whom, at the time of appointment, shall be a resident of the city or be a resident of Ellis County. Parks board members shall be appointed by the mayor.
(b) 
Qualifications.
All parks board members must demonstrate a genuine interest in the city’s parks and the greater Italy community, an ability to work effectively with the public, and the time to devote to service on the parks board.
(c) 
Residency requirement.
A parks board member who ceases to reside in either the city or Ellis County during his term of office shall immediately forfeit that office. Notice of said forfeiture of office should be submitted to the city secretary as soon as possible.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.B, adopted 4/9/12)
Each member of the parks board shall serve a two-year term, from January 1 of the year of appointment to December 31 of the following year; provided, however, that four (4) members of the parks board shall have terms that expire on December 31 of even-numbered years and five (5) members of the parks board shall have terms that expire on December 31 of odd-numbered years. Members of the parks board shall serve until their successor is appointed, and may be reappointed to successive terms.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.C, adopted 4/9/12)
Any member of the parks board may not miss three (3) consecutive regular meetings without being excused by the parks board, and if a parks board member is absent from three (3) consecutive regular meetings without being excused by the parks board, that member automatically forfeits the office and a vacancy is created on the parks board. When a vacancy is created on the parks board as a result of noncompliance with this attendance requirement, the city secretary will advise the mayor of the need to fill the vacancy on the parks board.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.D, adopted 4/9/12)
The mayor shall appoint a replacement to fill a position on the parks board in case of a vacancy.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.E, adopted 4/9/12)
Resignation of a member of the parks board shall be in writing. Resignation is effective, and not subject to revocation, upon delivery of such written notification to the city secretary, and such vacancy shall be filled by the mayor for the remaining term, as set forth herein.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.F, adopted 4/9/12)
Members of the parks board serve at the will and pleasure of the mayor. Any parks board member may be removed from office prior to the expiration of the member’s term by the mayor.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.G, adopted 4/9/12)
Members of the parks board shall serve without compensation.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.H, adopted 4/9/12)
The parks board shall conduct bimonthly (i.e., once every two (2) months) regular meetings on the third Monday of the month. Dates and times of all meetings of the parks board shall be as determined by the parks board, but in no event shall the parks board meet less often than bimonthly (i.e., once every two (2) months). Special/called meetings of the parks board may be set in coordination with the city secretary, and as properly noticed.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.I, adopted 4/9/12)
The parks board shall elect a chair and a vice-chair from among its members. The chair shall call and preside over all meetings of the parks board. The vice-chair shall perform all duties of the chair at such times as the chair is absent from a meeting.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.J, adopted 4/9/12)
The parks board shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) 
To make and recommend for adoption a master plan, as a whole or in part, for the future development and redevelopment of the city’s parks and recreation facilities;
(2) 
To make recommendations to the city council for the adoption of ordinances and other rules, regulations, goals and policies for the operation of the city’s parks;
(3) 
To make recommendations to the city council relative to the acquisition, by lease, exchange or purchase, of additional lands for public park and recreational purposes within or outside the city limits;
(4) 
To investigate and make recommendations to the city council relative to the acquisition of gifts, grants or matching funds from public or private entities for use in the development of additional city park and recreational facilities;
(5) 
To make recommendations to the city council concerning the approval or disapproval of proposed changes in the city’s parks, recreational facilities and related programs;
(6) 
To assist the city administrator, in an advisory capacity, in supervising, managing and controlling the city’s parks, recreational facilities and related programs;
(7) 
To assist city staff and the city council in the planning process for parks, recreational facilities and related programs;
(8) 
To assist city staff and the city council in the recruitment of volunteers and the solicitation of voluntary contributions;
(9) 
To promote park use and recreational program participation in the city; and
(10) 
To perform such other duties as may be delegated to the parks board by the city council as prescribed by ordinance, resolution, or order.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.K, adopted 4/9/12)
The parks board shall deliberate and abide by the following rules of order:
(1) 
Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all meetings of the parks board. The chair shall rule on all points of order. The purpose of the rules of order is to ensure an orderly, efficient meeting that allows all persons the opportunity to speak.
(2) 
All official action must be by motion and second, and must receive the affirmative vote of the required number of members. The chair shall state the motion, call for the vote and announce the results of the vote.
(3) 
The vote shall be by ayes and nays and shall be entered into the record of the meeting. Any abstentions shall also be noted in the record of the meeting. Members of the parks board abstaining due to a conflict of interest shall submit a written statement of abstention to the city secretary, and shall not participate in the deliberation or vote of the matter before the parks board that is the subject of the conflict of interest.
(4) 
All official action must take place in open session of a meeting of the parks board.
(5) 
Any member of the parks board desiring to speak on a matter before the parks board shall do so only when recognized by the chair. The recognized member shall hold the floor until the member yields the floor to the chair. The member shall confine all remarks and discussion to the matter under consideration. Unless otherwise recognized by the chair, no member shall speak more than once on a particular subject until every member requesting to be recognized shall have had the opportunity to speak.
(6) 
Only one agenda item may be discussed at a time, unless logic and practical considerations allow similar topics to be considered together for purposes of convenience and efficiency, in the opinion of the chair. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the vote of the parks board must be on one agenda item at a time, and the record of the meeting shall so reflect.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.L, adopted 4/9/12)
The parks board shall have authority to make rules and regulations for its meetings, and for conducting its business, consistent with this division and applicable law. The parks board shall provide a method of calling and conducting regular and special meetings.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.M, adopted 4/9/12)
Every regular, special, or called meeting of the parks board shall be posted, noticed, and conducted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, as amended. Notice of each meeting of the parks board shall be posted at the city hall, 101 W. Main Street, Italy, Texas 76651, at least seventy-two (72) hours before the scheduled time of the meeting, except for emergency meetings. For an emergency meeting, the notice of an emergency meeting of the parks board is sufficient if it is posted at least three (3) hours before the meeting is convened. An emergency exists to justify an emergency meeting only if immediate action is required of the parks board because of an imminent threat to the public health and safety, as defined under the Texas Open Meetings Act. The parks board shall clearly identify the emergency in the notice of emergency meeting.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.N, adopted 4/9/12)
The parks board shall meet in open session to consider issues that may be brought before it for action, and must keep minutes of the meetings as the record thereof. The minutes shall reflect the date, time and place of the parks board meeting; attendance of parks board members; issues that are addressed during the meeting; the vote taken by the parks board on every item voted upon; and a brief description of the parks board’s discussions on agenda items and comments made by persons speaking to the parks board during the meeting. The parks board must consider and vote to accept the minutes of previous parks board meetings as a standard practice and as a standing agenda item on each meeting’s agenda. The minutes of every parks board meeting shall be approved by majority vote of the parks board at the next regularly scheduled meeting or as soon thereafter as practicable. A copy of all minutes, after approval by the parks board, shall be filed with the city secretary and shall become a part of the city’s official records. The minutes of an open meeting conducted by the parks board are public records and shall be made available for public inspection and copying upon written request to the city secretary under the same procedures and standards as applicable to other city records that are subject to the Texas Public Information Act.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.O, adopted 4/9/12)
(a) 
If a closed meeting is allowed under the Texas Open Meetings Act, the parks board may not conduct the closed meeting unless a quorum of the parks board first convenes in an open meeting for which notice has been given as provided by this division, and during which the chair publicly announces that a closed meeting will be held, and identifies the provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act under which the closed meeting is to be held.
(b) 
Any action, decision or vote on a matter deliberated in a closed meeting under this division may only be made in an open meeting that is held in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
(c) 
The parks board shall keep a certified agenda of the proceedings of each closed meeting in the manner provided by and in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.P, adopted 4/9/12)
The parks board shall report its recommendations and activities to the city council and to the public.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.Q, adopted 4/9/12)
The parks board shall have authority to employ such qualified persons, entities and/or businesses as may be necessary for the proper conduct of its business, but such authority is subject to and contingent upon first receiving prior approval and authorization by the city council, and is subject to and contingent upon prior budgeting of appropriate city funds to pay for such services and other necessary expenses. Under no circumstances may the parks board create a debt or other obligation of the city in violation of state law.
(Ordinance 12-0409-01, sec. 3.R, adopted 4/9/12)