(a) The affairs of the authority shall be managed by a board of directors, hereinafter called the board, which shall consist of the following: At least one and not more than five board members representing each incorporated municipality located within the defined tourism promotion and development district and not more than two board members from any unincorporated area included in the tourism promotion and development district, except that the number of board members from the unincorporated area of the tourism development district may be increased to not more than four board members by a two-thirds majority vote of the then existing board members of the authority.
(b) The number of board members representing each municipality included in the tourism promotion and development district shall be computed as follows:
(1) One board seat for each seventy thousand dollars ($70,000) of annual lodging tax collections collected within the municipality. The minimum board seats per municipality shall be one and the maximum board seats per municipality shall be five.
(2) The board members representing the incorporated municipalities shall be appointed by the governing body of their respective municipality. The board members shall not be required to reside within any municipality or the tourism promotion and development district. The initial board member terms shall be one each for a one, two, and three-year term. In the event there are more than three board members representing any incorporated municipality, each additional board member shall be appointed for a three, two, or one-year initial term in the order the additional board member is appointed. Subsequent appointments shall be for a term of three years. No board member representing any incorporated municipality shall serve longer than the initial term of the board member plus two consecutive three-year terms.
(3) Appointed board members shall represent the following from within their respective municipality:
a. No more than one board member from each municipality may be a member of the elected body of the municipality.
b. No more than two board members from each municipality may be engaged in the lodging business within the tourism promotion and development district.
c. No more than two board members from each municipality may be engaged in a business within the tourism promotion and development district, other than a lodging business, whose customers or clients are primarily tourists or visitors.
d. Any other board members from each municipality shall have a background and experience in a tourist-related industry or attraction, in the field of marketing, advertising, or public relations, or other field or industry directly related to the purposes for which the authority is created and established.
(c) The number of board members representing any unincorporated area of the defined tourism promotion and development district shall be determined as follows:
(1) There shall be two board members from the unincorporated area of the tourism promotion and development district, except that the number of board members from the unincorporated area of the tourism promotion and development district may be increased to not more than four board members by a two-thirds majority vote of the then existing board members of the authority.
(2) The board members representing the unincorporated area of the defined tourism promotion and development district shall be appointed by a majority vote of the members of the county commission of the county in which the unincorporated area is located. The board members shall be required to reside within the county. The initial board member terms shall be one each for a two and three-year term. Subsequent appointments shall be for a term of three years. No board member representing the unincorporated area of the tourism promotion and development district shall serve longer than the initial term of the board member plus two consecutive three-year terms. At least one of the board members shall be engaged in either the lodging business or a major tourist attraction within the unincorporated area. Any additional board members representing the unincorporated area of the tourism promotion and development district that may be appointed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection shall have a background and experience in a tourist-related industry or attraction, in the field of marketing, advertising, or public relations, or other field or industry directly related to the purposes for which the authority is created and established.
(3) Board members whose terms have expired shall continue to serve until either replaced or reappointed by the appropriate governing body.
(4) The members of the board shall serve without compensation, but they may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties for the authority.
Last modified: May 3, 2021