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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 21 2015 EDA Report 8A 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: December 21, 2015 AGENDA #: 8A PREPARED BY: Dan Rogness, Community & Economic Development Director AGENDA ITEM: PROPOSED BYLAWS AMENDMENT DISCUSSION: Introduction At it’s last meeting the EDA adopted bylaw amendments regarding length of terms. The purpose of this agenda item is to review and approved proposed amendments to the EDA and EDAC Bylaws related to two sections: (1) removal of a member, and (2) gifts and favors. History Major amendments to all board/commission bylaws were done in January of 2015 in order to make them all consistent and uniform. These new proposed amend- ments relate specifically to the two topics noted above and are recommended by the city attorney’s office. Current Circumstances Two sections of the Bylaws are proposed to be amended related to the removal of EDA Commissioners or EDAC members, and related to exceptions for gifts and favors. The language added to the “Removal of Member” section is intentionally general in order to provide flexibility for each unique circumstance. This proposed amendments below would be consistent for the EDA and EDAC Bylaws, except that the EDAC Bylaws will refer to a 4/5 vote by the EDA to remove any EDAC member. 3.6 REMOVAL OF MEMBER: Any member of the EDA may be removed from office by a four-fifths (4/5) vote of the entire City Council for reasons including but not limited to: (i) failure to attend a minimum of 75% of meetings; (ii) failure to attend site visits/inspections; (iii) failure to review and understand agenda materi- als; (iv) failure to participate in an appropriate and productive manner; (v) failure to continue to meet any requirement set forth in Section 203; and (vi) failure to comply with any provision of these bylaws or any federal, state or local rule or regulation. 16.3 GIFTS AND FAVORS: No public official shall accept any gift, including but not limited to money, real or personal property, services, loans, me- mentos, food, beverages, or any other favor or thing, regardless of value, from any interested person except as follows: 16.3.1 a contribution as defined in Minn. Stat. Section 10A.01, Subd. 11. 2 16.3.2 services to assist an official in the performance of official duties, including but not limited to providing advice, consultation, infor- mation, and communication in connection with legislation, and services to constituents. 16.3.3 services of insignificant monetary value. 16.3.4 a plaque or similar memento recognizing individual services in a field of specialty or to a charitable cause. 16.3.5 a trinket or memento costing $5 or less. 16.3.6 informational material of unexceptional value. 16.3.7 food or a beverage given at a reception, meal, or meeting away from the recipient's place of work by an organization before whom the recipient appears to make a speech or answer questions as part of a program. 16.3.8 received: (1) because of the recipient's membership in a group, a majority of whose members are not local officials, and an equivalent gift is given or offered to the other members of the group; (2) by an interested person who is a member of the family of the recipient, unless the gift is given on behalf of someone who is not a member of that family; or (3) by a national or multistate organization of governmental organ- izations or public officials, if a majority of the dues to the organiza- tion are paid from public funds, to attendees at a conference sponsored by that organization, if the gift is food or a beverage given at a reception or meal and an equivalent gift is given or of- fered to all other attendees. 16.3.9 received in exchange goods or services of equal value. Conclusion The EDA should review and approve the proposed bylaws amendments, or sug- gest alternative language. ISSUES: These two areas of bylaws amendment will create consistency for the City Council, EDA and all advisory committees. FINANCIAL IMPACT: No direct financial impact related to these amendments. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Motion and a second to adopt the proposed amendments to the EDA and EDAC bylaws. The city council is the final authority for the EDA Bylaws and will act on this proposal at their annual meeting on January 11, 2016. 2. Motion and a second to table action and direct staff to provide additional information. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Alternative #1 ATTACHMENTS: None