§ 2-9.5-4. Same—General powers.

The authority is hereby authorized and empowered to:

(1)

Adopt rules and procedures for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business.

(2)

Adopt and use an official seal.

(3)

Sue and be sued in the name of the Manatee County Civic Center Authority, which power is granted without waiving or removing its immunity from suit except insofar as such immunity is expressly herein waived or removed. It shall be neither necessary nor proper to name the individual members of the authority as parties.

(4)

Plan, develop, purchase, leave or otherwise acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, extend, enlarge, relocate, equip, repair, maintain and operate facilities subject to the referendum for bonding purposes as hereinafter defined. All contracts for construction, improving, extending, enlarging, relocating, repairing and equipping of facilities of the authority shall be in accordance with policies and procedures authorized or adopted by the authority.

(5)

Make a comprehensive plan for the overall orderly development of the facilities and develop detailed architectural and engineering plans for specific facilities, and obtain necessary feasibility and other reports and studies.

(6)

Acquire by lease, grant, purchase, gift or devise from any source, including governmental units, subject to the referendum for bonding purposes as hereinafter defined, all property, real or personal, or any estate or interest therein, necessary, desirable or convenient for the purpose of this chapter, and lease or rent all or any part thereof and exercise its powers and authority with respect thereto. Governmental units may sell or lease said property to the authority for nominal consideration. Without limiting the foregoing or the existing powers and authority of the County of Manatee or the municipalities in Manatee County, the county and municipalities in the county may, within their respective territorial jurisdictions and by the methods provided by Chapters 73 and 74, Florida Statutes, insofar as said statutes are consistent herewith, condemn real property, and as herein provided and with the agreement of the authority, transfer same to the authority, all to be done for the uses and purposes of this chapter; any title to real property so acquired by condemnation may be in fee simple, absolute and unqualified in any way or any lesser interest therein; nothing in this chapter shall be construed to allow condemnation of real property for purposes or uses other than as herein provided.

(7)

Lease, rent or contract for the operation of any part of any of the facilities of the authority.

(8)

Fix and collect rates, rentals, fees and charges for the use of any and all of the facilities of the authority.

(9)

Contract for the operation of concessions on or in any of the facilities of the authority; the authority may also at its discretion, operate such concessions as it deems desirable.

(10)

Advertise and promote within or without the state any of the facilities and the events and activities of the authority.

(11)

To employ such consulting services, engineers, superintendents, managers, construction and financial experts, attorneys and such employees and agents as may in the judgment of the authority be deemed necessary and fix their compensation.

(12)

Cooperate and contract with the government of the United States or the State of Florida or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of either, or with any municipality, district, private corporation, partnership, association, person or individual in providing for or relating to the authority and facilities as may be necessary, desirable or convenient in carrying out the provisions and purposes of this chapter.

(13)

Publicize, advertise and promote the activities and projects authorized by this chapter, to make known to users, potential users, and public in general, the advantages, facilities, resources, products, attractions and attributes of the activities and projects authorized by this chapter; to create a favorable climate of opinion concerning the activities and projects authorized and indicted by this chapter; to cooperate with other agencies both public and private in accomplishing the purposes enumerated and indicated by this chapter, and in furtherance thereof, to authorize reasonable expenditures in accordance with policies and procedures established by resolution of the authority for the purposes herein enumerated herein, including, but not limited to, meals, hospitality and entertainment of persons in the interest of promoting and engendering good will toward the activities and projects herein authorized.

(14)

Convey real and personal property to other governmental units in accordance with applicable law.

(Ord. No. 14-38, § 3(Exh. A), 8-12-14)