There shall be established and constituted in accordance with the terms of this section a park and recreation board for the city. The planning of a park system, administration, improvement, development, conduct, and supervision of the parks, park areas, park boulevards, playgrounds, recreational centers, and other recreational activities of the city shall be vested in the park and recreation board of the city, which shall be composed of five members or commissioners, who shall be residents of the city, and four of whom shall not be members of the governing body of the city. Each commissioner of the board shall receive an expense allowance in the amount of seventy-five dollars ($75) per meeting attended. The board members shall not be paid the expense allowance for more than two meetings in any month. The president of the board shall receive an expense allowance of one hundred dollars ($100) per meeting and the president shall not be paid the expense allowance for more than two meetings in any month. No commissioner who is also a member of the governing body of the city may receive this expense allowance. No accounting shall be required for the expense allowance. This expense allowance shall not be deemed to be compensation. This expense allowance shall qualify as per diem amount under Article 16, commencing with Section 10A-20-16.01, Chapter 20, Title 10A. This expense allowance shall not reduce or limit the ability of the commissioners and president to receive reimbursement for further actual expense as approved by the board. All commissioners shall be chosen solely because of their character and fitness. One member of the governing body of the city selected by the governing body shall at all times be a commissioner of the park and recreation board, provided that if there be in the city a member of the governing body whose department of the city government has the supervision of the parks of the city, the member by virtue of his or her office shall be a commissioner of the park and recreation board. Each of the other four commissioners of the park and recreation board first selected shall be chosen by the governing body of the city. The term of office of each commissioner of the board other than one who is a member thereof by virtue of this membership in the governing body of the city shall be four years. As vacancies occur in the membership of the board by reason of the expiration of the terms of either of the four commissioners, or for any other reason, the vacancies shall be filled by nominations upon a majority vote of the governing body of the city, the nomination receiving the majority vote shall be certified to the park and recreation board as a member of the board.
Last modified: May 3, 2021