403.15 Agency created.

1. There is hereby created in each municipality a public body corporate and politic to be known as the “urban renewal agency” of the municipality. An urban renewal agency shall not transact any business or exercise its powers hereunder until or unless the local governing body has made the finding prescribed in section 403.4, and has elected to have the urban renewal project powers exercised by an urban renewal agency as provided in section 403.14.

2. If the urban renewal agency is authorized to transact business and exercise powers pursuant to this chapter, the mayor or chairperson of the board, as applicable, by and with the advice and consent of the local governing body, shall appoint a board of commissioners of the urban renewal agency, which board shall consist of five commissioners. In cities having a population of more than one hundred thousand, the city council may establish, by ordinance, the number of commissioners at not less than five. The term of office of each such commissioner shall be one year.

3. A commissioner shall receive no compensation for services, but shall be entitled to the necessary expenses, including traveling expenses, incurred in the discharge of the commissioner’s duties. Each commissioner shall hold office until a successor has been appointed and has qualified. A certificate of the appointment or reappointment of any commissioner shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality, and such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of such commissioner.

4. The powers of an urban renewal agency shall be exercised by the commissioners thereof. A majority of the commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business and exercising the powers of the agency, and for all other purposes. Action may be taken by the agency upon a vote of a majority of the commissioners present, unless in any case the bylaws shall require a larger number. Any persons may be appointed as commissioners if they reside within the area of operation of the agency, which area shall be conterminous with the area of operation of the municipality, and if they are otherwise eligible for such appointments under this chapter.

5. The mayor or chairperson of the board, as applicable, shall designate a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the commissioners. An agency may employ an executive director, technical experts and such other agents and employees, permanent and temporary, as it may require, and the agency may determine their qualifications, duties, and compensation. For such legal service as it may require, an agency may employ or retain its own counsel and legal staff. An agency authorized to transact business and exercise powers under this chapter shall file, with the local governing body, on or before September 30 of each year, a report of its activities for the preceding fiscal year, which report shall include a complete financial statement setting forth its assets, liabilities, income and operating expense as of the end of such fiscal year. At the time of filing the report, the agency shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or county, as applicable, a notice to the effect that such report has been filed with the municipality, and that the report is available for inspection during business hours in the office of the city clerk or county auditor, as applicable, and in the office of the agency.

6. For inefficiency, or neglect of duty, or misconduct in office, a commissioner may be removed only after a hearing, and after the commissioner shall have been given a copy of the charges at least ten days prior to such hearing, and after the commissioner shall have had an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel.

[C58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §403.15]

91 Acts, ch 214, §1; 95 Acts, ch 114, §4; 2015 Acts, ch 30, §114

Referred to in §403.17