§ 2-2-91. Creation and organization.

(a)

An enterprise zone development agency to be known as the Palmetto/North Manatee County EZDA is hereby created.

(b)

The Palmetto/North Manatee County EZDA shall be governed by a thirteen-member board of commissioners to be appointed from the following categories, with priority in appointments to those individuals or businesses located within the enterprise zone:

•

One member from the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce;

•

One member from the Memphis Community Development Corporation;

•

One member from the Suncoast Workforce Development Board Inc.;

•

One member from the local code enforcement boards to rotate between the City of Palmetto and Manatee County;

•

One member representing the Manatee County Sheriff's Office;

•

One member representing the City of Palmetto Police Department;

•

One member from a local financial institution;

•

One business owner operating in the zone;

•

One resident of the zone;

•

The Manatee County Commissioner representing District Two or, if the Manatee County Commissioner representing District Two is unable to serve, a County Commissioner elected at-large;

•

The City of Palmetto Councilperson representing Ward One or, if the City of Palmetto Councilmember representing Ward One is unable to serve, the councilmember elected at-large;

•

One member of the North County Action Team; and

•

One member of the Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency.

(c)

The terms of office of the commissioners shall be for four (4) years, except the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, in making the initial appointments, shall appoint two (2) commissioners for a term of three (3) years, two (2) commissioners for a term of two (2) years and one commissioner for a term of one year.

(d)

A vacancy occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term. Each commissioner shall hold office until a successor has been appointed and has qualified. A certificate of the appointment or reappointment of any commissioner shall be filed with the clerk of the county and the certificate is conclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of the commissioner. The clerk of the county shall send a copy of each said certificate to the State of Florida Department of Commerce.

(e)

The powers of the Palmetto/North Manatee County EZDA shall be exercised by the commissioners. A majority of the commissioners constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting business and exercising the powers of the agency and for all other purposes. Action may be taken by the agency upon a vote of a majority of the commissioners present, unless in any case the bylaws require a larger number.

(f)

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners may remove a commissioner for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office only after a hearing and only if the commissioner has been given a copy of the charges at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing and has had an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel. Any commissioner whose relationship with respect to the category provided in (b) above is terminated, either permanently or temporarily, or any commissioner who is unable to serve permanently or temporarily, shall be deemed to have created a vacancy and the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners may appoint a new commissioner for the unexpired term or for the period of the vacancy.

(Ord. No. 95-50, § 1, 11-7-95; Ord. No. 96-39, § 1, 8-6-96; Ord. No. 96-49, §§ 1, 2, 10-29-96)