(a) There is hereby created the community development commission. The commission shall consist of fifteen members appointed by the mayor with the consent of the city council. The mayor shall initially appoint one member for a one year term, two members for a two year term, two members for a three year term, two members for a four year term and two members for a five year term. The new members appointed pursuant to this amendatory ordinance shall be appointed for terms as follows: one member for a one year term, one member for a two year term, one member for a three year term, one member for a four year term and two members for a five year term. Their successors shall serve for a term of five years. Members shall continue to serve on the commission until their successors are appointed and qualified. If a vacancy occurs in the office of any member, an appointment shall be made in like manner to fill the unexpired term. Five members shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of five members constituting a majority of those voting on the matter shall be required for the commission to take any action. One member shall be designated by the mayor to serve as chairman.
All members shall serve without compensation. The mayor in his sole discretion may remove any member from office. A person serving the city in another capacity as officer or employee shall be eligible to serve on the commission. The department of planning and development shall perform the administrative functions of the commission, including, but not limited to, the negotiation of redevelopment agreements.
(b) The commission shall assume all rights, powers, duties and obligations of the former commercial district development commission and the former department of urban renewal. All personnel, books, records, property and funds of such former commission and department shall be transferred to the commission. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the commercial district development commission and the department of urban renewal may continue to exercise all powers and functions possessed by those bodies prior to the effective date of this ordinance until at least five members of the community development commission have been appointed and qualified.
(c) Except as specified in this chapter, the provisions of this ordinance shall not affect any redevelopment project, redevelopment or conservation plan or any agreement relating to a blighted commercial area, a slum and blighted area, a blighted vacant area, a redevelopment area or a conservation area designated prior to the effective date of this ordinance. With respect to such designations, projects, plans or agreements the commission may exercise any power and perform any function of the commercial district development commission or the department of urban renewal authorized by this code or by statute immediately prior to the effective date of this ordinance.
(Added Coun. J. 12-11-91, p. 10936; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-97, p. 54748; Amend Coun. J. 12-10-97, p. 58952; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-08, p. 47220, Art. VIII, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-17-10, p. 106597, Art. IX, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-26-13, p. 67481, Art. I, § 7)