(A) Established. There is hereby established a Park, Cemetery, and Tree Board for the city. Such Board shall be composed of six members who shall be residents of the city, and shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council. The members shall be appointed at the first regular meeting in December of each year, except for the original Board. At the time of the original appointments, one-third of the number to be appointed shall be appointed for a term of one year, one-third of the number to be appointed shall be appointed for a term of two years, and one-third of the number to be appointed shall be appointed for a term of three years, which terms shall be computed from the first meeting in the preceding December. After the appointment of the original Board, it shall be the duty of the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council to appoint or reappoint one-third of the Board for a term of three years to commence at the time of appointment at the first meeting in December. Each member shall serve until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. A vacancy occurring on such Board by death, resignation, or disqualification of a member shall be filled for the remainder of such term at the next regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council. A majority of the members of the Park, Cemetery, and Tree Board shall constitute a quorum. Any reference in the city code to the Board of Park Commissioners, Park Board, Park and Cemetery Board, Tree Board, or Cemetery Board shall be construed to mean and shall refer to the Park, Cemetery and Tree Board.
(B) Organization. The members of the Park, Cemetery, and Tree Board at their first meeting in each year following the appointment of members by the Mayor and City Council shall elect one of their own members as Chairperson of the Board and another member to be Secretary of the Board. Before entering upon their duties, each member of the Board shall take an oath to be filed with the City Clerk that he or she will faithfully perform the duties of his or her office and will not in any manner be actuated or influenced therein by personal or political motives. No member shall receive any compensation for his or her service as a member of the Park, Cemetery, and Tree Board. The Board shall make such rules as it deems expedient for the regulation of its own organizational business.
(C) Duties.
(1) The Park, Cemetery, and Tree Board shall act in an advisory capacity to the City Council and City Administrator pertaining to the proper care, maintenance, improvement, development, and use of the city park and tree systems and the cemetery. The Board shall also, upon the request of the City Council or City Administrator, consider, investigate, make findings, reports, and recommendations concerning any manner or question involving parks, trees, or the cemetery in the city together with any other duties vested in the Board by this code or by a resolution of the City Council.
(2) The Park, Cemetery, and Tree Board shall develop and recommend to the City Council and City Administrator appropriate rules, regulations, and policies for the use, care, and general operation of the park and tree systems and the cemetery.
(3) The Park, Cemetery, and Tree Board shall make recommendations to the City Council and City Administrator concerning the park, cemetery, and tree budget expenditures and revenues including fees and charges and may make recommendations to the City Council and City Administrator on contracts of any nature involving expenditures in accordance with the policies and procedures of the city and to the extent that funds may be provided for such purpose.
(Prior Code, § 32.05) (Ord. 1728, passed 6-23-2003; Ord. 1732, passed 7-28-2003)