§ 2-2-92. Operation.

(a)

The Palmetto/North Manatee County EZDA shall have the following power and responsibilities:

(1)

To assist in the development and implementation of the strategic plan, as defined in F.S. Ch. 290.

(2)

To oversee and monitor the implementation of the strategic plan. The agency shall make quarterly reports to the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners and the City of Palmetto Council to evaluate the progress in implementing the strategic plan.

(3)

To identify and recommend to the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners and the City of Palmetto Council ways to remove regulatory barriers.

(4)

To identify to the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners the financial needs of, and local resources or assistance available to, eligible businesses in the enterprise zone.

(5)

The following powers and responsibilities shall be performed by the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners:

a.

To review, process, and certify applications for state enterprise zone tax incentives pursuant to F.S. §§ 212.08(5)(g), 212.08(5)(h), 212.08(15), 212.096, 220.181, and 220.182.

b.

To provide assistance to businesses and residents within the enterprise zone.

c.

To promote the development of the enterprise zone, including preparing, purchasing, and distributing by mail or other means of advertising, literature and other material concerning the enterprise zone and enterprise zone incentives.

d.

To borrow money and apply for and accept advances, loans, grants, contributions, and any other form of financial assistance from the federal government or the state, county, or other public body or from any sources, public or private, for the purposes of this act, and to give such security as may be required and to enter into and carry out contracts or agreements in connection therewith; and to include in any contract for financial assistance with the federal government for or with respect to the development of the enterprise zone and related activities such conditions imposed pursuant to federal laws as the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners deems reasonable and appropriate which are not inconsistent with the purposes of this section.

e.

To appropriate such funds and make such expenditures as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the Florida Enterprise Zone Act.

f.

To make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers under this section.

g.

To procure insurance or require bond against any loss in connection with its property in such amounts and from such insurers as may be necessary or desirable.

h.

To invest any funds held in reserves or sinking funds, or any funds not required for immediate disbursement, in such investments as may be authorized by the Florida Enterprise Zone Act and applicable provisions of law.

i.

To purchase, sell, or hold stock, evidences of indebtedness, and other capital participation instruments.

(b)

The Palmetto/North Manatee County EZDA shall file such reports and perform any other duties and/or services required by law and may perform the duties prescribed in subsection (a)(5) above and F.S. § 290.0056(9), and any other applicable provision of law as may be delegated to the Palmetto/North Manatee County EZDA by resolution of the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners.

(c)

The clerk to the board of county commissioners shall serve as clerk of the Palmetto/North Manatee County EZDA and the auditor, recorder and custodian of funds.

(d)

The Palmetto/North Manatee County EZDA shall adopt bylaws for the transaction of its business, and shall keep a record of its transactions, attendance and voting records of its commissioners, which record shall be a public record.

(e)

Pursuant to F.S. § 290.0056, the Palmetto/North Manatee County EZDA is a public body corporate and politic and as a public instrumentality all actions of the agency shall be in accordance with applicable law, to include, but not limited to the Florida Public Records Law (F.S. Ch. 119) and the Florida Government-in-the-Sunshine Law (F.S. § 286.011).

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