(A) There is hereby created a Department of Economic Development of the City of Mt. Vernon. The Department shall encourage, foster, promote, and stimulate business and industrial development in the City of Mt. Vernon. The Department of Economic Development shall be under the direction and supervision of the City Manager.
(B) An Executive Administrator of the Department of Economic Development shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(1) To coordinate, recommend, and implement the Department of Economic Development programs.
(2) To act as the Chairman of the Mt. Vernon Economic Development Commission, to keep all records and minutes of the Commission, and to coordinate the activities of the Commission with the City Manager.
(3) To develop and submit an annual proposed budget for the Department for consideration by the City Manager and City Council.
(4) To organize and implement sales and marketing programs consistent with the Commission’s goals and objectives.
(5) To maintain a data base on available industrial sites and buildings.
(6) To organize and implement industrial retention programs consistent with the Commission’s goals and objectives.
(7) To handle all administrative duties concerning the Department of Economic Development for the City of Mt. Vernon as directed by the City Manager.
(8) To provide monthly and annual reports of activities, costs, and projected endeavors to the City Manager and City Council.
(C) (1) There is further hereby created the Mt. Vernon Economic Development Commission for the City of Mt. Vernon which shall be an agency of the City and shall have the powers and duties prescribed by this Ordinance and by the Statutes of the State of Illinois.
(2) The Commission shall serve in an advisory capacity to the City Manager and the City Council in the operation of the Department of Economic Development and the City’s economic development efforts.
(3) The Commission (excluding the non-voting Chairman and non-voting Secretary) shall consist of 21 members. Ten of the 21 members shall serve ex officio, said members being the Mayor and Council of the City of Mt. Vernon, the Chairman of the County Board of Jefferson County, the City Manager of the City of Mt. Vernon, the President of the Greater Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois 54th District State Senator, and the Illinois District 107 State Representative; said ex officio members shall be non-voting members and may attend meetings by an appointed designee. The remaining 11 members shall be appointed by the Mayor of the City of Mt. Vernon with the advice and consent of the City Council. Each term of office shall begin May 1, except that initial appointments shall take effect upon appointment. All appointments shall be for a three year term, except the initial appointment of three members shall expire on May 1, 1996, the initial appointment of the final four members shall expire May 1, 1997, and the initial appointment of four of the final four members shall expire on May 1, 1998. Upon a member’s term expiring, the position becomes vacant unless filled by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council within 60 days of expiration of the term.
(4) In the event of a vacancy, said vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the City Council.
(5) The Commission may designate one of its members or a non-voting administrative person to serve as Secretary. The Chairman of the Commission shall be the Executive Administrator of the Department of Economic Development; the Chairman shall be nonvoting.
(6) The Commission shall make an annual report to the corporate authorities not later than May 1 of each year hereafter.
(Prior Code, Art. 2, § 2.13)