(a) 
The convention and visitors bureau will be brought into the city as a department on January 4, 2010, and its employees will be granted all the customary benefits afforded to non-civil service employees.
(b) 
The executive director for the convention and visitors bureau will report directly to the assistant city manager.
(Code 1997, § 32.180; Ordinance 09-35, adopted 12/2/2009)
(a) 
Board members shall be appointed from the following sectors:
(1) 
Two persons who work or worked in a hotel or motel in a managerial capacity.
(2) 
One person who works or worked in a restaurant in a managerial capacity.
(3) 
One person who works or worked in a retail establishment in a managerial capacity.
(4) 
One person who represents the arts but is not a city employee.
(5) 
One person who helps organize or promote events for the community.
(6) 
One person who works in or represents nature tourism.
(b) 
Each member shall serve a term concurrent with the term of the city commissioner who appointed the member. All members of the board shall be at least 21 years of age.
(c) 
Members appointed to the board must reside within the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District jurisdictional boundary or work at or operate a business within the corporate city limits of the city.
(d) 
Criteria for membership on the board shall be as follows:
(1) 
Board members shall be appointed from the following sectors:
a. 
Two persons who are owners of a hotel or motel in the city or who work in a local hotel or motel in a managerial capacity;
b. 
One person who is the owner of a restaurant in the city or who works in a local restaurant in a managerial capacity;
c. 
One person who is an owner or manager in a retail establishment;
d. 
One person who represents the arts but is not a city employee.
e. 
One person who helps to organize or promote amateur sporting events for the community; and
f. 
One person who works in or represents nature tourism.
(2) 
The city commissioners will draw lots to determine which commissioner will make appointments from particular sectors.
(3) 
An assistant city manager shall serve in an ex-officio capacity.
(4) 
No board members may serve more than three consecutive terms.
(Code 1997, § 32.181; Ordinance 09-35, adopted 12/2/2009; Ordinance 10-8, adopted 3/3/2010; Ordinance 12-38, § 1, adopted 6/6/2012; Ordinance 2016-56, § 1, adopted 12/7/2016; Ordinance 18-24, § 1, adopted 6/20/2018)
(a) 
In addition to the appointments made by the city commissioners, the following organizations will also have a member serve on the board of directors:
(1) 
The Harlingen Chamber of Commerce themselves shall appoint one member who serves on the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors or who is employed by the Chamber;
(2) 
The Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival themselves shall appoint one person from their organization to serve on the board of directors;
(3) 
The Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre themselves shall appoint one member who serves on their board of directors or who is employed by the Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre;
(4) 
The downtown improvement district themselves shall appoint one member who serves on the board of directors or is an employee of the downtown improvement district;
(5) 
The recreational vehicle association shall appoint one member from their association who is a Harlingen resident; and
(6) 
The Marine Military Academy themselves shall appoint one person who is employed at the Marine Military Academy.
(b) 
An assistant city manager shall serve as an ex officio member of the board. The board members not appointed by the city commission shall serve two-year staggered terms. The members shall draw lots and four of the members shall serve a two-year term and three members shall initially serve one year terms. Thereafter, the initial term, all board members shall serve two year terms.
(Code 1997, § 32.182; Ordinance 09-35, adopted 12/2/2009; Ordinance 10-8, adopted 3/3/2010; Ordinance 12-38, § 1, adopted 6/6/2012)
A quorum for the board of directors shall be four board members for official action. Any board member who fails to attend three consecutive monthly meetings shall automatically forfeit membership without further action by the board of the city commission.
(Code 1997, § 32.183; Ordinance 09-35, adopted 12/2/2009; Ordinance 10-8, adopted 3/3/2010; Ordinance 12-38, § 1, adopted 6/6/2012; Ordinance 2016-56, § 1, adopted 12/7/2016)
The board shall have the following duties:
(1) 
The board members shall choose from among its membership a chairperson and vice-chairperson for one-year terms. The chairperson shall preside over the board meetings. The vice-chairperson shall act in the capacity of the chairperson in the chairperson's absence;
(2) 
The board shall develop a strategic visitors and conventioneers plan and recommend modifications to the plan as necessary;
(3) 
The board shall provide input to the Harlingen Convention and Visitors Bureau regarding tourism strategies and visitors and conventioneers' activities in the city.
(Code 1997, § 32.184; Ordinance 09-35, adopted 12/2/2009; Ordinance 10-8, adopted 3/3/2010; Ordinance 2016-56, § 1, adopted 12/7/2016)