§ 216. Urban renewal agency.

(a)

There is hereby created in the City of Fort Lauderdale a public body corporate and politic to be known as the "urban renewal agency" of the City of Fort Lauderdale; provided that such agency shall not transact any business or exercise its powers hereunder until or unless the local governing body has made the finding prescribed in section 5 [section 205 hereof] and has elected to have the urban renewal project powers exercised by an urban renewal agency as provided in section 15 [section 215 hereof].

(b)

If the urban renewal agency is authorized to transact business and exercise powers hereunder, the city commission shall appoint a board of commissioners of the urban renewal agency which shall consist of seven (7) commissioners. The term of office of each such commissioner shall be one (1) year.

(c)

A commissioner shall receive no compensation for his services but shall be entitled to the necessary expenses, including traveling expenses, incurred in the discharge of his duties. Each commissioner shall hold office until his 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 City of Fort Lauderdale and such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of such commissioner.

The powers of the urban renewal agency shall be exercised by the commissioners thereof. A majority of the commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business and exercising 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 by-laws shall require a larger number. Any persons may be appointed as commissioners if they reside within the area of operation of the agency (which shall be coterminous with the area of operation of the municipality) and are otherwise eligible for such appointments under this act [division].

The city commission shall designate a chairman and vice-chairman from among the commissioners. The agency may employ an executive director, technical experts and other such agents and employees, permanent and temporary, as it may require, and determine their qualifications, duties and compensation. For such legal service as it may require, an agency may employ or retain its own counsel and legal staff. The agency authorized to transact business and exercise powers under this act [division] shall file, with the city commission, on or before March 31, of each year a report of its activities for the preceding calendar year, which report shall include a complete financial statement setting forth its assets, liabilities, income and operating expense as of the end of such calendar year. At the time of filing the report, the agency shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality a notice to the effect that such report has been filed with the municipality and that the report is available for inspection during business hours in the office of the city clerk and in the office of the agency.

(d)

For inefficiency or neglect of duty or misconduct in office, a commissioner may be removed only after a hearing and after he shall have been given a copy of the charges at least ten (10) days prior to such hearing and have had an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel.

(Laws of Fla. Ch. 61-2165, § 16)