11-702. Board of directors; conflict of interest prohibited; violation; classification; powers and duties

A. The authority shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of fifteen members. In counties having a population of over one million five hundred thousand persons according to the most recent United States decennial census, the board of supervisors shall appoint five members, the president of a state university within the county shall appoint one member and the mayors of the seven most populous cities in that county shall each appoint one member, except that the mayor of the most populous city shall appoint three members. In counties having a population of one million five hundred thousand persons or less according to the most recent United States decennial census, the board of supervisors shall appoint the fifteen members. Directors must be qualified electors of the county. In counties having a population of one million five hundred thousand persons or less according to the most recent United States decennial census, the board of supervisors shall appoint eight members of the initial board of directors to terms of two years and seven members to terms of four years. In counties having a population of over one million five hundred thousand persons according to the most recent United States decennial census, the board of supervisors shall appoint five members of the initial board of directors to terms of four years, the mayor of the most populous city shall appoint three members of the initial board of directors to terms of four years, the president of a state university within the county shall appoint one member of the initial board of directors to a term of two years and the remainder of the appointing cities shall appoint one member of the initial board to a term of two years. All subsequent members shall be appointed to terms of four years. A director may not be appointed to more than two consecutive terms.

B. Members of the board of directors shall not have any direct or indirect financial interest in, or be employed in any capacity by, an entity with which the authority has a contractual or lessor-lessee relationship other than the Arizona board of regents or an institution under the jurisdiction of the board of regents. A violation of this section is a class 1 misdemeanor.

C. The board of directors may on behalf of the authority:

1. Adopt and use a corporate seal.

2. Sue and be sued.

3. Enter into contracts, including intergovernmental agreements under chapter 7, article 3 of this title as necessary to carry out the purposes and requirements of this chapter.

4. Adopt administrative rules as necessary to administer and operate the authority and any facility under its jurisdiction.

5. Employ an executive director and administrative and clerical employees and prescribe the terms and conditions of their employment as necessary to carry out the purposes of the authority.

6. Acquire by any lawful means, except by eminent domain, and operate, maintain, encumber and dispose of real and personal property and interests in property.

7. Administer trusts declared or established for the authority, receive and hold in trust or otherwise property located in or out of this state and, if not otherwise provided, dispose of the property for the benefit of the authority.

8. Promote events in the public interest that are approved and listed in the budget under section 11-705, subsection A, paragraph 3, subdivision (d).

9. Accept gifts.

D. The board of directors shall:

1. Appoint from among its members a chairman, secretary and treasurer and such other officers as may be necessary to conduct its business.

2. Keep and maintain a complete and accurate record of all of its proceedings. All proceedings and records of the board shall be open to the public as required by title 38, chapter 3, article 3.1 and title 39, chapter 1.

3. Actively promote the use of the authority's property and lease or sublease the property for professional and amateur sports events and for other suitable activities for the benefit of the public.

4. Provide for the maintenance and operation of the properties, facilities, franchises and interests controlled by the authority.