Chapter I · Administration

Article 9. Boards And Committees

Sections 1-901 to 1-915 · 15 sections

1-901 Guidelines for operations.

It shall be the policy of the City commission to follow the guidelines outline hereafter regarding the operation of appointive boards, committees and commissions:

(a)Participation. Members of appointive boards and commissions are expected to attend meetings on a regular basis. Board attendance records will be monitored by the staff liaison. Whenever a board member misses three (3) consecutive meetings or his or her attendance falls below 75% in a twelve-month period, the board’s staff liaison will so notify the City Manager. The City Manager will inform the governing Body and will formally request, by letter, clarification from the identified board member of the reason for lack of attendance. If no attendance improvement plan can be agreed upon by the City Manager and member, the member may be asked to consider resignation.

(b)Orientation. City staff shall provide an orientation session and orientation materials for all new board and commission members. This will include the enabling legislation for that board of commission, a historical perspective on the work of that board and any other material appropriate to the conduct of that board’s duties. The City manager’s office will provide all committee members with orientation material applicable to service on all City boards and commission.

(c)Compensation. Appointive board, committee and commission members will receive no compensation for service.

(d)Annual Report. With the assistance of their staff liaison, each appointive board and committee shall submit a brief annual report to the City Commission no later than January 31 of each year, indicating concerns. Such a report is intended to establish a formal line of communication between the boards and the City Commission.

(e)Appointment. The Governing Body of the City of Abilene, Kansas, shall make all appointments to City Boards and Committees annually the second Monday in January, beginning in January 2019.

(Ord. 2995; Ord. 3346)

1-902 Relationship of appointive boards, city commission and city staff.

(a)Role Definition. During orientation training, definition of the relationships of appointive boards, the City Commission and City staff shall be discussed as they are established by the enabling ordinance or by other statements of policy.

(b)Ad Hoc Committees. The City Commission may establish ad hoc committees as needed to review City programs to provide input and recommendations on City projects and to assist in program review. It is important to distinguish between the role of an ad hoc committee and the primary role of the City Commission in determining City policy on the nature of services and programs to be provided by the city and the means by which they shall be provided.

(c)Staff Responsibilities. It is not appropriate for appointive boards to give work direction to City staff. City staff is provided to a board or commission as a resource for necessary information, not to carry out assignments from the board, nor to perform tasks which may infringe on or conflict with regular departmental responsibilities. However, staff will always endeavor to work closely with boards to enable them to carry out, as efficiently as possible, their responsibilities in the City government. It is recognized that some City-appointed boards, e.g., Library Board, have their own appointed professional staff. Nothing herein is intended to change the employer-employee relationship established by law in these cases.

(Ord. 2995)

1-903 Airport advisory committee.

The Airport Advisory Committee shall consist of five (5) members, who shall be appointed by the Governing Body for three (3) year terms commencing on the second Monday in January, and the Manager of the Abilene Municipal Airport, who shall serve as an ex officio member. The Airport Advisory Committee shall make recommendations to the Governing Body in matters relating to the development, operation, and maintenance of the Abilene Municipal Airport. It shall not be a requirement to reside within the city limits of Abilene, Kansas top serve on said committee, however, the majority of said committee should reside within Dickinson County, Kansas.

(Ord. 2922; Ord. 3346; Ord. 3458)

1-904 Building standards board.

The Building Standards Board shall consist of five (5) members, who shall be appointed by the Governing Body for three (3) year terms commencing on the second Monday in January, and shall include the following:

(a) Fire Chief

(b) City Health Officer

(c) One (1) electrician licensed by the City of Abilene

(d) One (1) plumber licensed by the City of Abilene

(e) One (1) mechanical contractor licensed by the City of Abilene

The Community Development Director shall serve as Secretary of the Building Standards Board. The Building Standards Board shall have the duties and powers provided by the ordinances of the city, particularly with respect to the building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, housing, and fire codes, as adopted herein. It shall not be a requirement to reside within the city limits of Abilene, Kansas to serve on said board, however, the majority of said board should reside within the city limits of Abilene, Kansas.

(Ord. 2922; Ord. 3195; Ord. 3346)

1-905 Convention and visitors bureau.

The Convention and Visitors Bureau shall consist of seven (7) members, who shall be appointed by the Governing Body for three (3) year terms commencing on the second Monday in January, and shall include the following:

(a)Initially, four (4) members shall be appointed for terms ending on the second Monday of January 2023;

(b)two (2) members for terms ending on the second Monday of January 2024; and

(c)one (1) member for a term ending on the second Monday of January 2025.

Thereafter, at the expiration of the terms of the original members, their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years each, commencing on the second Monday in January, and each shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. Any vacancies in the membership of the bureau shall be filled by the appointment of a new member as in the case of the original appointment, to fill the unexpired term of the member whose office is vacant.

(Ord. 2922; C.O. No. 15; Ord. 3346; C.O. No. 30)

1-906 Economic development council.

The Economic Development Task Force may be appointed by the Governing Body on an ad hoc basis in accordance with section 1-902(b). The Task Force shall meet at such times determined by the City Manager.

The Economic Development Task Force shall provide policy and program advice and recommendations to promote the economic interests of the City and make recommendations to the Governing Body regarding local economic development initiatives. The Task Force may also conduct such other duties as may be assigned by the City Commission.

(Ord. 3155; Ord. 3226; Ord. 3367)

1-907 Board of health.

The Board of Health shall consist of the City Manager, the Community Development Director, and the Fire Chief or others may be deemed appropriate, who shall be appointed by the City Manager. The city clerk shall serve as the Secretary of the Board of Health. The Board of Health shall make inspections of all places and conditions deemed to be hazardous to the health of the inhabitants of the city, to serve such notices or orders as may be required or authorized by ordinances of the city and laws of the State of Kansas to correct or remedy such conditions, and to remove or abate any health nuisance in accordance with the orders of the Board.

1-908 Heritage commission.

The Heritage Commission shall consist of seven (7) members appointed by the Governing Body for three (3) year terms. The Heritage Commission shall be organized in the manner and have the powers and duties provided by Section 29 of the Zoning Code. It shall not be a requirement to reside within the city limits of Abilene, Kansas to serve on said commission, however, the majority of said commission should reside within the city limits of Abilene, Kansas.

(Ord. 2922)

1-909 Library board.

The Library Board shall consist of eight (8) members, seven (7) of whom shall be appointed by the Governing Body for four (4) year terms commencing on the first day of May, and a member of the City Commission, who shall serve as an ex officio member, as provided by K.S.A. 12-1222. The Library Board shall be organized in the manner and have the powers and duties provided by K.S.A. 12-1215 et seq.; provided, however, that in accordance with K.S.A. 12-1220, and for purposes of establishing a limitation on the tax levy fixed by law, the maximum annual tax levy for the maintenance of the library shall be limited to 8.22 mills on each dollar of assessed valuation of the city.

(Ord. 21-3405)

1-910 Planning commission.

The Planning Commission shall consist of seven (7) members, who shall be appointed by the Governing Body for three (3) year terms commencing on the second Monday in January, pursuant to K.S.A. 12-744. The Community Development Director shall serve as the Secretary of the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission shall be organized in the manner and have the powers and duties provided by K.S.A. 12-741 et seq., and the Abilene Zoning Code, as adopted herein.

(Ord. 3346)

1-911 Tree board.

The Tree Board shall consist of five (5) members, who shall be appointed by the Governing Body for three (3) year terms commencing on the second Monday in January. The Tree Board shall make recommendations to the Governing Body in matters relating to the management and development of trees and landscape in the city, and shall have the powers and duties provided by Chapter 6, Article 7 herein. It shall not be a requirement to reside within the city limits of Abilene, Kansas to serve on said board; however, all board members must reside within Dickinson County, Kansas.

(Ord. 3103; Ord. 3346; Ord. 3470)

1-912 Board of zoning appeals.

The Board of Zoning Appeals shall be organized as provided in Chapter 25 of the Zoning Regulations of the City of Abilene, Kansas. The Board of Zoning Appeals shall be organized in the manner and have the powers and duties provided by K.S.A. 12-741 et seq., and the Zoning Regulations of the City of Abilene, Kansas.

(Ord. 3316)

1-913 Kids council.

The Kids Council shall consist of two (2) adult advisors, who shall be appointed by the Governing Body for two (2) years, and sixteen (16) student members who shall be selected from applications submitted to a selection committee comprised of the adult advisors, teachers, counselors and principals, with students serving two (2) year terms commencing the second Monday in January, and shall include the following:

(a)One (1) student representative from each grade level, from grade level four (4) through grade level eight (8), with remaining representatives selected “at large” from grade level four (4) through grade level eight (8).

(b)Students living within the Unified School District 435;

(c)Students from public schools, private schools, and home schools are eligible for membership, and

(d)Adult advisors shall not having voting powers in Kids Council decisions.

The Kids Council shall make recommendations to the Governing Body in matters relating to the youth of the City of Abilene, Kansas.

(Ord. 3013; Ord. 3346)

1-914 Sister city committee.

The Sister City Committee shall consist of nine (9) members who shall be appointed by the Governing Body for three (3) year terms commencing on the second Monday in January, provided that initial appointments shall be for such terms as to allow for annual appointments of three positions. The Sister City Committee shall make recommendations to the Governing Body in matters relating to municipally-sponsored programs, exchanges and activities involving the Sister City, Omitama (previously known as Minori), Japan. It shall not be a requirement to reside within the city limits of Abilene, Kansas, to serve on said committee, however, the majority of said committee should reside within the city limits of Abilene, Kansas.

(Ord. 3003; Ord. 3346; Ord. 3458)

1-915 Public building commission.

(a)Pursuant to K.S.A. 12-1757 to 12-1768, as amended, (the “Act”), a public building commission is created by the city of Abilene, Kansas (the “City”) to be known as the Abilene, Kansas Public Building Commission, which shall be a municipal body corporate and politic.

(b)The Abilene, Kansas Public Building Commission shall consist of five commissioners who shall be same persons as are then serving as Mayor and Commissioners on the governing body of the City. The commissioners of the Abilene, Kansas Public Building Commission shall serve terms simultaneous with their terms as members of the City’s governing body. The commissioners shall serve without compensation. The commissioners shall appoint a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary. Initially, the Chairperson shall be the City’s Mayor, the Vice Chairperson shall be the Vice Mayor and the Secretary shall be the City Clerk.

(c)The Abilene, Kansas Public Building Commission is authorized to exercise the following powers and functions:

(1)To exercise all powers and authority conferred on it by the Act and any subsequent charter ordinance of the City, including, but not limited to, the authority to acquire a site or sites, acquire, construct, reconstruct, equip and furnish a building or buildings or other facilities of a revenue producing character to be maintained and operated for city offices or other purposes as are commonly carried on in conjunction with city offices and general city buildings, county courthouse, county offices, administrative offices for school districts, offices for state and federal agencies all as authorized by the Act, and including such buildings or facilities, furnishings and equipment maintained for City offices or other City purposes, including, but not limited to, City owned library facilities and recreational facilities.

(2)To lease or sublease all or any part of the buildings and facilities owned by the Abilene, Kansas Public Building Commission to the City or other agencies or entities, as authorized by the Act;

(3)To acquire fee simple title to real estate, including easements and reversionary interests in streets, alleys and other public places and personal property required for its purposes, by purchase, gift, devise or other lawful means, and to take title in the corporate name of the Abilene, Kansas Public Building Commission;

(4)To issue revenue bonds in the manner provided by the Act, for the purpose of paying the cost or portions of the cost of acquiring real estate or buildings and constructing, reconstructing, equipping and furnishing such facilities; to fix rents, fees and charges for the use of such buildings or facilities; to pledge the revenues from the facilities to secure such revenue bonds and to make covenants with respect to the maintenance, operations, repair and insuring of such improvements;

(5)To repair, maintain and operate such buildings and facilities owned by the Abilene, Kansas Public Commission;

(6)To sue and be sued;

(7)To adopt a seal; and

(8)To do all things necessary or incidental to and consistent with the powers granted to it under this code and the Act.

(Ord. 3098; Code 2014)