The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this subdivision, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning. The term "herein" means a reference included in this subdivision. Any definition not expressly prescribed herein shall, until such time as defined by ordinance, be construed in accordance with customary usage in municipal planning and engineering practices.
Board or boards
means and refers to a formal body that is created by ordinance passed by majority vote of the city council. A board's members are appointed by the council and serve on a voluntary basis without compensation. Each board shall derive its authority, purpose, charge, and duties from the ordinance that creates such board. A board has no authority to act beyond the scope and requirements of the ordinance creating the board. A board is established, and may be dissolved, solely at the discretion of the city council or as called for under the ordinance creating the board. For purposes of the City Charter, this subdivision, any resolution, and state or federal law, a board shall not be considered a committee, commission, or agency.
Commission or commissions
means and refers to a formal body that is created by ordinance passed by majority vote of the city council, and charged with a particular function. Each commission shall derive its authority, purpose, charge, and duties from the ordinance that creates it, as well as from local and state law. A commission is established, and may be dissolved, solely at the discretion of the city council.
Council board member
means a member of the city council who is appointed to the board by the mayor as a regular member of the board.
Ex officio member
means a non-voting member who is appointed by the city council to a board at the recommendation of that board.
Regular member
means an individual who is appointed to a board by the city council.
(Ordinance 852, § 2, adopted 6/2/2015; Ordinance 887, § 3, adopted 1/19/2016; Ordinance 1168, § 3, adopted 9/7/2021)
A board shall continue to meet and perform its duties if it has at a regular meeting enough members present to constitute a quorum. A quorum shall be a majority of a board's members appointed. Vacant positions shall not be included in determining a quorum.
(Ordinance 852, § 3, adopted 6/2/2015)
(a) 
The council shall appoint no more than seven persons as regular members to serve on a board unless explicitly defined per state statute or the city charter.
(b) 
The council may vote to appoint members to any board created and authorized by the city council under this subdivision. No person shall be appointed to a board except by a majority vote by the city council to approve such appointment. Members may be dismissed from a board by a majority vote of the city council, with or without cause.
(c) 
Applications will be accepted through a process as established by the city council. The current policy is on file in the Office of City Secretary.
In the event of mid-term vacancies, city council may direct staff by majority vote to open the application period and establish a special meeting date outside of the dates established above, with sufficient notice to the public, as determined by the city council.
(d) 
A vacancy shall automatically occur for a board position if an appointment, reappointment or replacement is not made during 60 days after a reappointment or replacement date expires. The mayor may appoint a council member to serve on the board in the event a vacancy exists within the board. The term for the council board member shall not exceed one year without reappointment by the mayor.
(e) 
If a vacancy occurs, the council may fill such vacancy. A person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve until the term of the vacated position expires. If a vacancy has less than one-half of its term still remaining, the person appointed to fill the position may be appointed to three subsequent full terms. If a vacancy has more than one-half of its term still remaining, the person who is appointed may only be reappointed for two additional full terms of two years.
(Ordinance 852, § 4, adopted 6/2/2015; Ordinance 1189, § 2, adopted 4/5/2022; Ordinance 1205, § 2, adopted 6/7/2022; Ordinance 1272, § 3, adopted 6/20/2023; Ordinance 1291, § 1, adopted 10/17/2023)
Unless a different term length is established by city council for members of a particular board or commission, a person appointed as a regular member to a board or commission shall serve one term of two years and may be reappointed for two more terms. Regular members may serve past their appointed or reappointed terms until the council reappoints or replaces them, but in no event shall a regular member serve for longer than 60 days after their term expires unless authorized by state law or the Texas Constitution.
(Ordinance 852, § 5, adopted 6/2/2015; Ordinance 1168, § 2, adopted 9/7/2021)
If a member of a board is absent for three regular consecutive meetings, the regular member office is considered vacant unless the member is sick or has first obtained a leave of absence from the majority of the board members present at a regular meeting. The board in question shall be the judge of whether the member has had three such consecutive unexcused absences.
(Ordinance 852, § 5, adopted 6/2/2015)
An individual shall not be eligible for appointment to a board or commission unless the individual meets the following qualifications on the day prior to the date of appointment: (1) be at least 18 years of age; (2) be a citizen of the United States; (3) have been a resident of the State of Texas and the city for at least six consecutive months; and (4) not be delinquent on any indebtedness to the city. An appointee may not be a city employee. If any appointee ceases to possess any of these qualifications, such position to which the appointee was appointed shall immediately become vacant.
(Ordinance 852, § 6, adopted 6/2/2015; Ordinance 1168, § 3, adopted 9/7/2021; Ordinance 1189, § 3, adopted 4/5/2022; Ordinance 1272, § 4, adopted 6/20/2023)
Boards shall meet at least once per quarter. Notice of meetings shall be posted in accordance with Texas Open Meetings Act.
(Ordinance 852, § 7, adopted 6/2/2015)
Any board with authority to create a committee must have approval of the city council to approve such committee. An approved committee shall be established by resolution, which shall define the purpose of the committee. The committee shall dissolve after one year, or when the purpose has been completed, or upon council majority vote to dissolve the committee.
(Ordinance 852, § 8, adopted 6/2/2015)
Any board or boards, including any committees within a board, that are created pursuant to this subdivision shall be subject to the requirements and limitations of the Texas Open Meetings Act, currently codified in V.T.C.A., Government Code ch. 551, and any subsequent amendments or recodifications of such act.
(Ordinance 852, § 9, adopted 6/2/2015)
Any currently appointed regular members shall complete their current terms.
(Ordinance 852, § 10, adopted 6/2/2015)
[1]
Editor's note—Former § 2-50, which pertained to ex officio members and derived from Ordinance 887, 1/19/2016, and Ordinance 987, 2/20/2018, was moved to § 2-1137 by Ordinance 1291, 10/17/2023.
Each board and commission shall have a city employee that is designated as a liaison for official communication between the board or commission and the city. A current list of Liaisons may be obtained through the city secretary.
(Ordinance 1272, § 5, adopted 6/20/2023)