[Adopted 10-26-2000 by Ord. No. 15-2000]
A Neighborhood and Housing Commission is established for the purpose of studying the housing and neighborhood issues and concerns facing the City of Auburn and to recommend programs to address, minimalize and/or resolve the problems.
A. 
Membership. The Neighborhood and Housing Commission shall consist of not more than nine members nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The Director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development, Corporation Counsel, Building Inspector, and the Chief of Police or their designees shall serve as ex officio members.
B. 
Terms. The terms of office shall be for three years or until their successors are appointed and qualified, except that the initial terms of members or the terms of the persons appointed to fill vacancies shall vary in such a manner that thereafter the term of at least one member shall expire annually.
C. 
Vacancies. If a vacancy shall occur other than by expiration of term, it shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term.
D. 
Compensation. The members of the Neighborhood and Housing Commission shall not receive compensation for their services as members thereof.
The municipal officials on the Neighborhood and Housing Commission shall not, by reason of membership thereon, forfeit their right to exercise the powers, perform the duties or receive the compensation of the municipal office held by them during such membership.
The Chairperson of the Neighborhood and Housing Commission shall be designated by the Mayor at the beginning of each calendar year for a one-year term, but upon her or his failure to do so said Commission members shall elect the Chairperson.
The Commission will pursue the issues by, among other means:
A. 
Examining the problem of vacant housing and recommending solutions;
B. 
Examining specific neighborhood problems that may be related to criminal activity and recommending solutions;
C. 
Examining and recommending ordinances and codes relating to neighborhood and housing issues;
D. 
Examining the establishment of neighborhood committees;
E. 
Examining housing stock; and
F. 
Examining the conditions of neighborhoods and recommending improvements.
The City Manager shall have the power and authority to employ experts and a staff upon request of the Neighborhood and Housing Commission and to approve such other expenses of the Commission as may be necessary and proper, not exceeding in all the appropriation that may be made for such Commission by the Council.
The Neighborhood and Housing Commission shall make an annual report to the City Council and the City Manager, as well as such other reports as may be requested.
The Neighborhood and Housing Commission may adopt rules and regulations in respect to procedures before it and in respect to any subject matter for which it has jurisdiction under this article or any other statute, ordinance or law, after public hearing by the Neighborhood and Housing Commission and subject to the approval of the Council.