Patriot News MN

CITY COUNCIL

CITY OF CLEARWATER

ORDINANCE NO. 2023-04

AMENDING PART I, CHAPTER 2,

ARTICLE VI, DIVISION 5 – PARK COMMISSION

OF THE CLEARWATER CITY CODE

THE CITY OF CLEARWATER HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:

City Code PART I, CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE VI, DIVISION 5 – PARK COMMISSION is hereby repealed in its entirety and replaced as follows:

Exhibit A

DIVISION 5. PARK COMMISSION

Sec. 2-251. Established.

It is the purpose of the council of the City of Clearwater to provide a high quality of life for the residents of Clearwater by maintaining parks, trails, and other recreational amenities for public enjoyment.

For said purpose, there is hereby established a park commission. The park commission shall be advisory to the city council.

Sec. 2-252. Powers and duties.

The park commission shall advise and assist the city council in matters relating to park facilities and amenities within the city. The commission shall have no power to incur debt for which the city or any department thereof shall be liable and it shall have no power or authority to make any improvement, alterations or changes in any of the parks or city facilities without the consent of the city council. The commission will perform the following functions:

(1) Develop and maintain a comprehensive plan for the Clearwater park system which categorizes park and recreation areas and facilities;

(2) Recommend policies regarding short and long-range planning, acquisition, development, and use of the park lands and recreation facilities to the city council for possible inclusion in the capital improvement plan;

(3) Propose rules and regulations for the use of any parks, recreational, or leisure facilities.

(4) Consider proper names for park and recreation areas and facilities and make recommendations to the city council for such titles;

(5) Conduct studies and investigations as specifically directed or delegated by the city council. To represent the city council at appropriate meetings, hearings, and other events when so directed; and

(6) The commission shall also have the authority to create subcommittees as deemed necessary to assist with the role of the commission.

Sec. 2-253. Members.

The park commission shall consist of five members appointed by the city council. Not more than two may be members of the city council. A council member shall be appointed annually to serve on the commission as a liaison to the city council and shall have the same voting powers as other members. All commission members shall have equal voting privileges.

The non-city council members shall be appointed from a pool of applicants. City residents shall be given priority over non-residents. Non-residents shall only be appointed if the pool of resident-applicants has first been exhausted. A non-resident, once appointed, shall not be removed from office and replaced by a resident-applicant until their term of office has expired or otherwise becomes vacant for reasons other than residency.

Any member of the commission may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the city council upon written charge. Absences from any three meetings in a year, unless excused in advance, may be grounds for removal by the city council. Any such removal creates a vacancy on the commission.

Sec. 2-254 – Term of Office; Vacancies.

Members shall serve staggered terms of three years commencing in January in the year of appointment. Council members appointed to the commission shall be appointed annually. In the event of any vacancy, the city council shall appoint a person to complete the unexpired term.

Sec. 2-255. Officers; by-laws.

At the first regular meeting each year, the park commission shall elect a chair and a vice-chair from among its appointed members. The chair presides at all meetings of the park commission and represents the commission at other meetings as requested by the city council. The vice-chair acts as the chair in the chair’s absence. The city administrator or designee shall fill the role of secretary to the commission.

The commission shall also adopt its own by-laws for the conduct of its business.

Sec. 2-256. Meetings.

(a) Regular meetings. The park commission shall hold at least one meeting each month unless there is no business before the commission, in which case the monthly meeting will be cancelled. City staff shall notify members via email of any meeting cancellation.

(b) Special meetings. Special meetings may be called by city staff if needed to comply with statutory deadlines, or at the request of a developer who shall reimburse the city for the costs of such special meeting. City staff shall contact members when scheduling a special meeting to ensure a quorum is available on the date chosen.

Sec. 2-257. Compensation

Compensation of the commission members shall be established via ordinance or resolution of the city council.

Secs. 2-258—2-270. Reserved.

Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and summary publication, which is hereby authorized by the City Council.

ADOPTED THIS 8th DAY OF MAY 2023

/s/ Andrea Lawrence Wheeler, Mayor

ATTEST:

/s/ Annita M. Smythe, City Administrator

(Published in the Patriot: 05/20/23.)