(a)
This division creates the parks and
recreation commission (“commission”) appointed by the
city council. The commission shall consist of seven (7) members who
shall reside either in the incorporated city limits or its extraterritorial
jurisdiction.
(b)
The members of the commission shall
serve two-year staggered terms, with four (4) members being appointed
in April of even-numbered years and three (3) members being appointed
in April of odd-numbered years.
(c)
The initial commission, four (4)
of the members shall be appointed for one-year terms and three (3)
members shall be appointed for two-year terms. Thereafter, all terms
shall be two-year terms.
(d)
Unless otherwise required by state
law, all members serve at the pleasure of the city council and may
be removed at any time with or without cause.
(Ordinance 2016-20 adopted 10/11/16)
(a)
Unless otherwise determined by city
council, at least five (5) of the members of this commission shall
reside within the corporate limits of the city and no more than two
(2) members shall be residents of the city’s extraterritorial
jurisdiction.
(b)
If a city resident member of the
commission ceases to reside in the city and his or her relocation
reduces the number of city resident commission members below four
(4), that person shall give such notice of such fact and may be deemed
to have resigned from the commission as of the date his or her residence
changed, and the city council shall appoint a resident commission
member to fill the remainder of the resigning member’s term.
The temporary lack of four (4) resident members created by the vacancy
shall not impair the ability of the commission to perform its duties
nor the actions taken by the commission. If a resident commission
member moves to the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and
the relocation leaves at least four (4) resident members on the commission,
the relocated member shall continue to hold his or her place on the
commission. A quorum of the commission shall be required to open meetings,
conduct business and take action on any agenda items.
(c)
The city council may take into consideration
an applicant’s history on delinquency in payment of any city
taxes, utility bills, citations, municipal court judgments and assessments
and so forth in qualifying the applicant.
(d)
Notwithstanding any city ad hoc committees
or except where duplicate appointments are authorized by ordinance,
city charter or by state law, a person may not serve as a member of
the parks and recreation commission if he or she also serves on the
city planning and zoning commission, economic development corporation
board of directors, or local government corporation.
(Ordinance 2016-20 adopted 10/11/16)
(a)
The commission shall have a chairperson
and a vice-chairperson elected from its membership to serve for a
one-year term. Officers shall be elected annually by the commission.
If the commission wishes to appoint an officer residing outside of
the city limits, then the commission must request city council approve
such appointment.
(b)
The chairperson shall preside over
the commission and shall have the right to vote on all items before
the commission. The vice-chairperson shall fulfill the duties of the
chairperson when the chairperson is not available for any reason.
(c)
The city manager or his or her designee
shall be an ex officio member of the commission.
(d)
The commission may establish rules
or bylaws as necessary for the orderly conduct of its business, subject
to approval by the city council.
(e)
The commission shall meet at least
monthly, if there is business at hand, at a time and place established
by the commission. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson
or interim chairperson of the commission, city manager or his or her
designee or upon the request of any three (3) commission members.
All meetings of the commission shall be open to the public and shall
conform with the Texas Open Meetings Act, section 551 of the Government
Code.
(f)
A quorum shall consist of a majority
of the members of the commission except that when a vacancy exists,
a quorum shall consist of a majority of the remaining members.
(g)
The commission shall keep a record,
which shall be reasonably available to the public, of its resolutions,
proceedings and actions.
(h)
A commission member shall be required
to complete any state-mandated training, to include but not limited
to open meetings act training, within ninety (90) days after appointment.
Any training expenses incurred by the member may be eligible for reimbursement
by the city subject to the city’s travel and training policy.
(i)
A commission member having any potential conflict of interest on any policy, decision, or determination before the commission shall disclose to each of the other members the nature of his potential conflict and shall abstain from voting on such policy, decision or determination. In the event that the commission member recognizes a conflict or clear potential for conflict of interest, he or she shall recuse him or herself from discussion and action on the topic involving such conflict. The disclosure shall be recorded in the commission’s minutes. Intentional or knowing failure to disclose a conflict of interest shall be governed under the general penalty section as set forth in section
1.01.009 of this code.
(Ordinance 2016-20 adopted 10/11/16)
The commission shall serve in an
advisory capacity to the mayor and city council and shall have the
following purposes and duties, as well as other duties as assigned
by the city council, as necessary to perform the business of the commission:
(1)
The commission shall act in an advisory
capacity to the city council and the planning and zoning commission
with advice and recommendations on all policies, rules and regulations
relating to the administration of a public parks and recreation program.
(2)
The commission shall provide advisory
oversight of public playgrounds, athletic fields, recreation centers
and other facilities and activities on any of the properties owned
or controlled by the city or on other properties with the consent
of the owners and authorities.
(3)
The commission shall have the power
to conduct any form of recreation activity that will employ the leisure
time of the people in a constructive and wholesome manner.
(4)
At the request of the city council,
the commission shall make a complete annual report and other required
reports to the city council.
(5)
The commission will act in an advisory
capacity with other municipal departments and/or political subdivisions
to provide and establish, operate, conduct, and maintain a supervised
recreation system and to acquire, operate, improve and maintain property,
both real and personal, for parks, playgrounds, recreation centers,
and other recreation facilities and activities.
(6)
The commission will follow the directives
of the city’s comprehensive plan and any subsequent master plans
regarding parks, recreation, trails and so forth.
(Ordinance 2016-20 adopted 10/11/16)