§ 305.01. Creation; general requirements.

Unless otherwise provided by law or herein, the provisions in this subsection apply to all City commissions.

Subdivision 1. Creation. A Commission may be established by a majority of the City Council. The Council shall adopt a resolution or ordinance that will describe the purpose and function of the Commission. City Commissions are advisory bodies to the City Council. The Council shall periodically review the role, responsibilities and procedures of each Commission. The Council may eliminate a Commission by adopting a resolution or ordinance rescinding the resolution or ordinance establishing the Commission.

Subd. 2. Residency. Members of city commissions shall be residents of the City, unless an ordinance or resolution expressly provides otherwise.

Subd. 3. Terms. The City Council shall appoint members to the commissions for terms not to exceed three years. No member shall serve more than three consecutive terms on the same Commission. Appointment to serve on a Commission for a period of time greater than one-half of a complete term shall be counted as a full term. If the Council appoints an individual who had a break in continuous service of at least one full term, it shall be treated as a first-term appointment. Commissioners may only serve on one Commission at a time.

Subd. 4. Youth appointments. The City Council may appoint a maximum of two youth members to certain commissions. Terms for youth appointments shall be one year, commencing on September 1 and ending on August 31. No youth member shall serve more than three consecutive terms on the same Commission. Except as otherwise provided for by resolution of the Council, youth members must be residents of the City and enrolled in a high school or equivalent. A youth member may only serve on one Commission at a time.

Subd. 5. Attendance. Members are required to attend regular commission meetings. Commission members shall notify the Commission Chair or staff liaison if he or she is unable to attend a meeting. The Council shall conduct an annual review of the attendance of members of City commissions.

Subd. 6. Removal/vacancy. Commission members serve at the pleasure of the City Council and, unless prohibited by law, may be removed at any time for any reason, including but not limited to, excessive absences from commission meetings. When a vacancy occurs, the Council shall appoint a person to fill the unexpired term of the vacated seat. Unless provided otherwise by law or city resolution, a seat on a Commission is vacated upon any of the following:

(a)

Death;

(b)

Removal of legal residence in the City;

(c)

Resignation in writing presented to the City Manager, or designee;

(d)

Removal by the Council; or,

(e)

Election or appointment to a public office.

Subd. 7. Committees. Commissions may establish committees from time to time as the need arises.

Subd. 8. Staff/council liaisons. Each January, the City Council shall designate a Council member as liaison and one alternative liaison to each Commission. The City Manager shall appoint one City employee to serve as a staff liaison to each Commission. Council and staff liaisons are not voting members of a Commission.

Subd. 9. Bylaws/rules of procedure.

(a)

Commissions may adopt bylaws to govern meeting procedures and other matters not addressed in this Section. If the bylaws of a Commission and this Section conflict, this Section shall prevail. Commissions may amend bylaws with approval of a 2/3 majority vote of the Commission.

(b)

At all meetings of a Commission where formal action is required on a matter, the meeting shall be governed by Sturgis' Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure. At meetings where no action is required, no formal parliamentary procedure shall govern the conduct of the proceedings unless necessary such as when a formal motion is before the Commission.

(Added, Bill No. 2015-17)