(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. The County Board of Commissioners.
CHAIRPERSON. The Chairperson of the Park Commission, as provided hereunder.
COMMISSION. The County Park Commission, as created by this section.
PLANNING COMMISSION. The Planning Commission of the county.
SECRETARY. The Secretary of the Park Commission, as provided hereunder.
VICE-CHAIRPERSON. The Vice-Chairperson of the Park Commission, as provided hereunder.
(B) Establishment. The Park Commission is hereby established to be an advisory body to the Board of Commissioners and the Planning Commission which shall have the duties hereinafter set forth. The Board of Commissioners may, by resolution duly adopted, delegate to the Park Commission all or any part of those powers as authorized by M.S. § 398.36, as it may be amended from time to time.
(C) Composition.
(1) The Commission shall consist of seven members who shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners. The members of the Commission shall be entitled to reimbursement for their expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the Park Commission. They shall also be entitled to compensation, as may, from time to time, be specified by the Board of Commissioners by resolution duly adopted.
(2) The Board of Commissioners may, from time to time, designate additional persons to act as ex officio members of the Park Commission. They shall also be entitled to compensation, as may, from time to time, be specified by the Board of Commissioners, by resolution duly adopted.
(3) The Board of Commissioners may, from time to time, designate additional persons to act as ex officio members of the Park Commission. One or more additional persons may be members of the Board of Commissioners.
(D) Terms of office. Seven members shall be appointed to the Commission. They shall serve staggered three-year terms with no less than two nor more than three members to be appointed each year. A vacancy resulting from causes other than expiration of the term shall be filled only for the remainder of that term. Each year in office shall coincide with the calendar year.
(E) Vacancies. The Board of Commissioners shall fill all vacancies occurring on the Commission by appointment for the unexpired term then existing.
(F) Removal of members. The Board of Commissioners, by a unanimous vote of all of its members, shall have the authority to remove any member of the Commission from office whenever, in its discretion, the best interests of the county shall be served thereby.
(G) Officers. The members of the Commission shall meet in regular session the second month of every year and organize by electing from their members the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson to serve for the ensuing year. They shall also appoint the Secretary. The Secretary need not be a member of the Commission.
(H) Duties of officers.
(1) It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to preside over all meetings of the Commission.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chairperson to preside in the absence of the Chairperson.
(3) It shall be the duty of the Secretary to record the minutes of all meetings.
(I) Rules and procedure. The Commission shall adopt rules to govern its meetings and procedures. The rules may be amended from time to time, but only upon notice to all members that the proposed amendment(s) shall be acted upon at a specified meeting. A majority vote of the Commission shall be required for the approval of the proposed amendment.
(J) Meetings.
(1) Regular meetings. The Commission shall meet once a month, unless there is no business to come before the Commission, place, time and date to be decided. A schedule of the regular meetings shall be kept on file at the primary office of the Park Commission. If the Park Commission decides to hold a regular meeting at a time or place different from the time or placed stated in its schedule of regular meetings, it shall give the same notice of the meeting that is provided in this section for a special meeting.
(2) Special meetings. The Chairperson or any two members of the Commission shall have the authority to call a special meeting of the Commission. Notification of the members of the Park Commission by telephone shall be sufficient. At least three days before the meeting, written notice shall be posted on the bulletin board of the Park Commission and shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to each person who has filed a written request for notice of special meetings. As an alternative to mailing or otherwise delivering notice to persons who have requested notice, notice may be published once at least three days before the meeting in the official newspaper.
(3) Open meetings. All regular meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public, except that meetings of the Park Commission may be closed only as permitted by M.S. § 13D.05, as it may be amended from time to time.
(K) Absence of members. Absence from three consecutive regular meetings without the formal consent of the Commission shall be deemed to constitute a resignation of a member and the vacancy thus created shall be filled thereafter as provided in division (E) above.
(L) Duties. The duties of the Park Commission shall include:
(1) A survey of existing, proposed and potential parks to serve as a guide to the preservation of unique areas, the protection of water and land areas and to locate leisure time areas for outdoor recreation;
(2) The preparation and periodic updating of a county’s comprehensive park plan;
(3) Recommendations to the Board of Commissioners for park land acquisition and methods of financing and maintenance;
(4) Preparation and revision of master plans for county and regional parks;
(5) Additional items as the Board of Commissioners may, from time to time, assign to the Commission for its study and report;
(6) Review and recommendations on the annual park budget and capital improvements program before presentation to the County Board;
(7) Review and make recommendations on general park operating policies;
(8) Initiate park policy recommendations to be presented to the County Board; and
(9) Review and comment on Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission policies.
(M) Annual report. The Commission shall submit annually a full report of its work to the Board of Commissioners.
(Ord. 19, passed 6-10-80)