July 13, 2005, Introduced by Reps. Bieda, Ward and Stakoe and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
A bill to amend 1975 PA 197, entitled
"An act to provide for the establishment of a downtown development
authority; to prescribe its powers and duties; to correct and
prevent deterioration in business districts; to encourage historic
preservation; to authorize the acquisition and disposal of
interests in real and personal property; to authorize the creation
and implementation of development plans in the districts; to
promote the economic growth of the districts; to create a board; to
prescribe its powers and duties; to authorize the levy and
collection of taxes; to authorize the issuance of bonds and other
evidences of indebtedness; to authorize the use of tax increment
financing; to reimburse downtown development authorities for
certain losses of tax increment revenues; and to prescribe the
powers and duties of certain state officials,"
by amending section 4 (MCL 125.1654), as amended by 1987 PA 66.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 4. (1) Except as provided in subsections (7) and (8), an
authority shall be under the supervision and control of a board
consisting of the chief executive officer of the municipality and
not less than 8 or more than 12 members as determined by the
governing body of the municipality. Members shall be appointed by
the chief executive officer of the municipality, subject to
approval by the governing body of the municipality. Not less than a
majority of the members shall be persons having an interest in
property located in the downtown district or officers, members,
trustees, principals, or employees of a legal entity having an
interest in property located in the downtown district. Not less
than 1 of the members shall be a resident of the downtown district,
if the downtown district has 100 or more persons residing within
it. Of the members first appointed, an equal number of the members,
as near as is practicable, shall be appointed for 1 year, 2 years,
3 years, and 4 years. A member shall hold office until the member's
successor is appointed. Thereafter, each member shall serve for a
term of 4 years. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be made by
the chief executive officer of the municipality for the unexpired
term only. Members of the board shall serve without compensation,
but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses. The
chairperson of the board shall be elected by the board.
(2) Before assuming the duties of office, a member shall
qualify by taking and subscribing to the constitutional oath of
office.
(3)
The business which that
the board may perform shall be
conducted at a public meeting of the board held in compliance with
the
open meetings act, Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976,
being
sections 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1976
PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275. Public notice of the time, date, and
place
of the meeting shall be given in the manner required by Act
No.
267 of the Public Acts of 1976 the
open meetings act, 1976 PA
267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275. The board shall adopt rules consistent
with Act
No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976 the
open meetings
act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275, governing its procedure and
the holding of regular meetings, subject to the approval of the
governing body. Special meetings may be held if called in the
manner provided in the rules of the board.
(4) Pursuant to notice and after having been given an
opportunity to be heard, a member of the board may be removed for
cause by the governing body. Removal of a member is subject to
review by the circuit court.
(5) All expense items of the authority shall be publicized
monthly and the financial records shall always be open to the
public.
(6) In addition to the items and records prescribed in
subsection (5), a writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession
of, or retained by the board in the performance of an official
function shall be made available to the public in compliance with
the
freedom of information act, Act No. 442 of the Public Acts of
1976,
being sections 15.231 to 15.246 of the Michigan Compiled Laws
1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.
(7) By resolution of its governing body, a municipality having
more than 1 authority may establish a single board to govern all
authorities in the municipality. The governing body may designate
the board of an existing authority as the board for all authorities
or may establish by resolution a new board in the same manner as
provided in subsection (1). A member of a board governing more than
1 authority may be a resident of or have an interest in property in
any of the downtown districts controlled by the board in order to
meet the requirements of this section.
(8) By ordinance, the governing body of a municipality that
has a population of less than 5,000 may have the municipality's
planning
commission created pursuant to Act No. 285 of the Public
Acts
of 1931, being sections 125.31 to 125.45 of the Michigan
Compiled
Laws 1931 PA 285, MCL 125.31
to 125.45, serve as the
board provided for in subsection (1).