(A) The county hereby creates the "Riverbend Park Steering Committee". The Steering Committee shall consist of nine members, three of whom shall be members of the County Council (together, the "designated members") and six of whom shall be residents of the county as described below (together, the "appointed members" and together with the designated members, the "members").
(B) Designated members.
(1) The designated members shall be the Chairperson of the County Council (the "Chair") and two additional members of County Council appointed by the Chair and accepted by such appointee; however, at the discretion of the Chair, the Chair may determine to appoint a third member of County Council to serve in lieu of the Chair.
(2) Each designated member shall serve ex officio and shall continue serve for the shorter of (i) the term of the Chair; or (ii) the term of such member of County Council, as applicable.
(3) Any Designated Member may resign at any time by providing written notice to the Chair, or if the Chair so determines to resign, such resignation shall be deemed effective upon the appointment of another member of County Council to replace the Chair.
(4) Upon the occurrence of any vacancy by a designated member, another member of County Council shall be chosen by the Chair fill such vacancy.
(5) Upon the election of any new Chair and for so long as the Steering Committee is in existence, the new Chair shall replace the old Chair and shall further make appointments of the new designated members as described hereinabove mutatis mutandi.
(C) Initial appointed members; appointed members.
(1) The initial appointed members (the "initial appointment members") shall be appointed by the Chair. In order to qualify as an initial appointed member or a successor appointed member, each such member (1) shall be a resident elector in the county; and (2) shall have experience in one or more of the following fields: (i) medial communications; (ii) development - particularly a person with familiarity with the local marketplace and development requirements; (iii) outdoor recreation; (iv) education - preferably with experience in outdoor education/outdoor classrooms; (v) outdoor tourism - with a focus on experience economy; (vi) marketing - with a focus on outdoor recreation and use; (vii) business/corporate finance/industry - generally someone from business, industry or institutional community; (viii) philanthropy with an understanding of outdoors, conservation and recreation; or (ix) community activist with knowledge of community needs (collectively, the "appointment qualifications").
(2) (a) The initial appointed members, as appointed by the Chair, shall be appointed to serve the following initial staggered terms in order to ensure continuity of experience on the Steering Committee in the future:
1. The first two initial appointed members appointed shall serve for an initial term ending December 31, 2021;
2. The second two initial appointed members appointed shall serve for an initial term ending December 31, 2022; and
3. The final two initial appointed members appointed shall serve for an initial term ending December 31, 2023.
(b) Thereafter, any future appointed members, each of whom shall be required to meet the appointment qualifications, shall be appointed by County Council for a term of three years (beginning on January 1 of the applicable year), or until such time as such appointed member's seat upon the Steering Committee has been filled through a subsequent appointment by the County Council. The initial appointed members may be renewed as an appointed member and appointed members may be appointed to an unlimited number of terms.
(3) The County Council may suspend, expel or terminate any initial appointed member or appointed member for any reason.
(4) Any initial appointed member or appointed member may resign, at any time, by delivering written notice to the County Council or the President (as described below), as the presiding officer of the Steering Committee.
(5) Any appointed member of the Steering Committee who shall be absent from 50% or more of the meetings of the Steering Committee during any 12-month period shall be deemed to have forfeited their membership on the Steering Committee, and shall be deemed to have automatically resigned from the Steering Committee.
(6) Vacancies, for any reason, on the Steering Committee for service of an unexpired term of an initial appointed member or an appointed member shall be filled in the same manner as original appointment.
(D) Members - generally.
(1) Each member, including the designated members, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to or considered by the Steering Committee.
(2) Members of the Steering Committee shall serve without pay; however reasonable travel and other incidental expenses may be provided upon approval of the Treasurer (as described below). Written documentation of any and expenses and reimbursement shall be submitted on forms provided by the Treasurer in his discretion. Further any expenses and reimbursement shall be subject to compliance with the statutes, ordinances, policies and procedures established by the County Council for reimbursement of expenses for county boards, agencies and commissions.
(E) The Steering Committee is subject to and governed by the provisions of the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, as codified at S.C. Code §§ 30-4-10 et seq., as amended (the "Freedom of Information Act"). The Steering Committee expects and intends to comply with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act in all of its actions and activities. The public shall be notified of meetings of the Steering Committee and all meetings shall be conducted in every respect in the manner required Freedom of Information Act. The records of the Steering Committee, except as the Freedom of Information Act or any other laws or provisions of State of South Carolina or federal law otherwise permit, shall be open to the public in the manner required by the Freedom of Information Act.
(Ord. 121, passed 1-4-21)