(A) Created. There is hereby created a Tourism and Convention Development Committee, which shall be composed of five members.
(B) Compensation. The members shall serve without compensation. Of the members appointed:
(1) Two shall be selected by the board of directors of the City Chamber of Commerce in accordance with its rules for participation in the Committee, subject to Council approval; and
(2) Three shall be selected by the City Council, with a minimum of one from the hospitality industry.
(C) Term of office.
(1) Each member of the Tourism and Convention Development Committee shall serve four-year terms and until a successor has been appointed and accepted such appointment.
(2) The Tourism and Convention Development Committee members shall be appointed for four years.
(3) The term shall expire on June 30 in the year in which the term would normally expire, regardless of the date of appointment. Members may be removed without cause. A majority vote of the remaining members of the appointing body will be required before a member may be removed. An appointee shall serve out the remainder of the incomplete term.
(D) Powers and duties.
(1) Three members shall constitute a quorum, and all business may be transacted by a simple majority at a quorum, except that approving the budget, incurring any nonbudgeted expenditure, amending the bylaws of the Committee or written agreement with the Chamber or city, or hiring or firing personnel, will require an agreement by at least three members.
(2) The Committee shall select from its members a Chair, who shall serve for a period of one year.
(3) The meetings of the Committee shall be called by the Chair.
(4) The members shall be given five days’ notice prior to any meeting, provided emergency meetings may be held if any members consent to such meeting in writing. All meetings of the Committee, subcommittees, task forces, or study groups shall be subject to the State Open Meeting Act, 25 O.S. §§ 301 through 314.
(E) Responsibilities. The Committee shall:
(1) Promote public awareness and education as to the values of the promotion of tourism and conventions;
(2) Gather information and ideas, conduct research, develop advertising, promotional programs, materials, and equipment, travel to bid conventions and trade show events, and to promote the city’s image so that the city will be developed and maintained as a convention, tourism, and recreation center;
(3) Submit to the City Council annually a budget of operations for the forthcoming year;
(4) Contract with the Chamber of Commerce to carry out and administer the programs as developed by the Committee;
(5) Promote investment in facilities that have a primary purpose of providing space for conventions, tourism, recreation, or entertainment; and
(6) Employ persons or other legal entities to perform services necessary to the fulfillment of the Committee’s duties; provided, nothing in this article shall prohibit the employment of Committee members by the Committee, the Chamber of Commerce, or the city.
(Prior Code, § 20-165) (Ord. 2000-835, passed 8-21-2000; Ord. 2007-09, passed 9-4-2007)