Merced Municipal Code Ch. 2.31 Regional Airport Authority

There is created the city regional airport authority, referred to in this chapter as "airport authority."

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The airport authority is created for the purpose of the provision and maintenance of public airports and landing places for aerial traffic for the use of the public.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The airport authority shall consist of seven (7) members.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The members of the airport authority shall be appointed by motion of the city council adopted by at least four (4) affirmative votes.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The members of the airport authority shall meet as soon as practicable after their appointment and classify themselves by lot into two (2) classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, and the terms of office of the class having the greater number shall be four (4) years and the terms of office of the class having the lesser number shall be two (2) years. On the expiration of such respective terms, all members of the airport authority shall serve a term of four (4) years, and until their successors are appointed and qualified.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The members of the airport authority shall not be eligible to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. At any time after the expiration of two (2) years following such two (2) consecutive terms, a former member of the airport authority may again be appointed to serve thereon, subject to the limitations of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The members of the airport authority shall be subject to removal by motion of the city council adopted by at least five (5) affirmative votes.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

Any vacancy in the membership of the airport authority shall be filled by an appointment by the city council. Upon a vacancy occurring which leaves an unexpired portion of a term, any appointment to fill such vacancy shall be for the unexpired portion of such term.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The members of the airport authority shall serve without compensation for their services as such, but may receive reimbursement for budgeted necessary travel and other expenses incurred on official duty.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

As soon as is practicable following the first day of July of each year, the airport authority shall organize by electing one (1) of its members to serve as chair and another member to serve as vice-chair of the authority both at the pleasure of the airport authority. The airport manager or designee thereof shall serve as the secretary of the authority for the purpose of recording of minutes, and keeping a record of its proceedings and transactions. The airport authority shall prescribe its own administrative rules and regulations, and copies thereof shall be maintained on file in the office of the city clerk for public inspection.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The airport authority shall meet not less than monthly in such place as shall be provided by its own administrative rules and regulations. The affirmative or negative vote of a majority of the entire membership of the airport authority shall be necessary for it to take action. All proceedings of the airport authority shall be open to the public.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The airport authority shall have, subject to the review and approval of the city council, the power and duty to:

A. Acquire by purchase, lease, donation, or otherwise, and hold, in the name of the City of Merced, in the trust for the airport authority, real or personal property necessary or convenient for such purpose;

B. Maintain, manage, control, operate, use, extend, construct, improve, and furnish works and property necessary or convenient for such purpose;

C. Dispose of by sale, lease, or otherwise, real and personal property provided, however, that real property shall not be disposed of without the prior consent of the city council;

D. Prescribe, revise, and collect charges for the services and facilities provided pursuant hereto;

E. Make and enter into contracts;

F. Sue and be sued in its own name;

G. Adopt and use a seal, alterable at its pleasure;

H. Have access to all services and facilities of the city; and,

I. Exercise any powers incidental to the foregoing.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The airport authority shall annually prepare and submit for approval by the city council a proposed budget of its revenues and expenses which may be prepared in the same manner and by the same persons as the budget expenses and revenue estimates for the city.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The city manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the airport authority, and shall be responsible for the administration of its affairs. The finance officer of the city shall be ex officio the finance officer of the airport authority, and the city attorney shall be ex officio the attorney for the airport authority.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

Real and personal property heretofore held by the city for the purpose of the provision and maintenance of public airports and landing places for aerial traffic for the use of the public shall hereafter be held for such purpose by the city in trust for the airport authority.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The airport authority shall have control of all charges received for, and all other income and receipts derived from the services and facilities provided pursuant hereto. Such money shall be deposited in the city treasury to the credit of a special fund, to be known as the airport fund and money so deposited shall be kept separate and apart from other money of the city, and shall be drawn from such fund to meet the expenses of the airport authority in substantially the same manner as money is drawn by other agencies, commissions and departments of the city. The money in such airport fund shall be expended solely for the carrying out of the powers and duties provided in this chapter to the airport authority.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

The airport authority shall cause to be prepared an annual audit of its transactions by a certified public accountant. In lieu thereof, the annual audit may be prepared in the same manner and by the same persons as the annual audit of transactions of the city.

The city council may from time to time contribute money to defray the expenses and obligations of the airport authority, and such money shall be deposited in the airport fund.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

Debts, liabilities, or obligations incurred by the airport authority, or otherwise imposed on the airport authority or its properties, shall constitute debts, liabilities, or obligations of the airport authority, its properties and the special fund created in this chapter, and shall not constitute a debt, liability, or obligations of the city.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)

Nothing contained in this chapter shall be in derogation of the provisions of the Charter pertaining to civil service and retirement, and rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

(Ord. No. 2410, § 1, 7-1-2013)