(a) General. An urban district corporation may be created under this Section for the benefit of each urban district. An urban district corporation created under this Section is a public instrumentality of the County and is a commercial district management authority for that urban district. An urban district corporation is not within the Executive or Legislative branches of County government, is separate and distinct from the County, and is an independent entity. To the extent not inconsistent with this Section or Article 25A, Section 5(FF) of the Maryland Code, an urban district corporation may exercise all powers and is subject to all requirements applicable to non-stock corporations under the Corporations and Associations Article of the Maryland Code. An urban district corporation performs tasks of benefit to the government.
(b) Services. An urban district corporation may provide the following services to benefit residents and businesses in the district (and which may incidentally benefit neighboring communities):
(1) promotion, organization, and support of cultural, recreational, and business activities;
(2) specialized transportation services, including jitney service;
(3) subject to Section 68A-3, enhancement and maintenance of streetscape and provision of additional streetscape amenities; and
(4) other initiatives to advance the business and residential environment and sense of community through such measures as enhanced security, coordination of retail marketing and signage, facade improvements, business retention services, community initiatives, and similar activities.
A Corporation may provide a service outside the boundaries of an urban district if the service will primarily benefit businesses or residents in the urban district. A Corporation may also provide any authorized service to another Corporation or urban district.
(c) Creation.
(1) An urban district corporation may be created by the adoption of a resolution by the County Council that is approved by the County Executive or, if disapproved by the Executive, is readopted by a vote of 6 Councilmembers. The public must be given at least 30 days to comment on the proposed articles of incorporation and by-laws before the Council adopts the resolution. The resolution must approve articles of incorporation that state the:
a. name of the corporation;
b. names, addresses, and terms of office of the first directors of the corporation;
c. location of the principal office of the corporation;
d. purposes for which the corporation is formed; and
e. powers of the corporation, subject to the restrictions or limitations on the powers of the corporation in this Section and in Article 25A, Section 5(FF) of the Maryland Code.
(2) The resolution adopted under paragraph (1) must also approve proposed by-laws for the corporation that include provisions required under Section 68A-10(h).
(3) The County Executive, or any other person designated in the resolution adopted under paragraph (1), must execute and file the articles of incorporation for recording with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. When the articles of incorporation are accepted for recording by the Department of Assessments and Taxation, the corporation becomes a body corporate, lawfully and properly created and authorized to exercise its powers.
(4) The County Council may amend the articles of incorporation by adopting a resolution approved by the County Executive or, if the resolution is disapproved by the Executive, readopting it by a vote of 6 Councilmembers. Any amendment must be filed and recorded with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. A copy of the articles of incorporation and any amendment must be filed with the County Executive. (1987 L.M.C., ch. 2, § 2; 1993 L.M.C., ch. 16, § 1; 1999 L.M.C., ch. 22, § 1; 2000 L.M.C., ch. 26, § 1.)