GENERAL REGULATIONS

The following regulations apply to all persons appointed to City boards, commissions and committees (in the text below, the term "boards" applies to "boards, commissions and committees"):

• Members must be legally registered to vote.
• No one may serve more than three consecutive terms on a single board except when:
  • appointed to a partial term that is less than 1/2 of the normal term for that board
  • the city manager waives the requirement for members of regulatory boards where special circumstances warrant extending the appointment
  • when serving on a pension board
• No one may serve on more than two boards at the same time, except that:
  • no one may serve on more than one pension board
  • no one serving on a regulatory board may serve on any other board
• No member of the immediate family of a city commissioner may serve on a city board.
• No member of the immediate family of a municipal officer (city manager, city clerk or department head) may serve on a board which relates to the area of responsibility of that municipal officer.
• A member who is absent from three consecutive meetings will automatically be dismissd from the board unless the other board members have excused the absence by a motion duly passed and recorded in the official minutes.
• No board member who is present at a meeting may abstain from voting in regard to any official decision, ruling or other act taken by the membership unless that member is prohibited from voting on a measure which will financially benefit him or his employer. In such cases of voting conflict, the member must file a Memorandum of Voting Conflict (Form 8b) and publicly state the nature of his interest prior to the vote.
• A board member must file a Statement of Financial Interests for every year in which he serves on a board unless the Florida Commission on Ethics has determined that the board is solely advisory in nature.
• A member retiring from a board must provide written notice to the City Clerk.
• A member retiring from a board must return copies of city codes and other official materials to the city clerk.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

All persons appointed to serve on city boards, commissions and committees must comply with general regulations listed above. In addition, persons appointed by city commissioners must comply with the residency requirements listed below:

• Members must reside in the city.
  • Airport Authority (at least 4 members must reside in the city)
  • Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (at least 5 regular members and 2 alternate members must reside in the city)
  • Board of Zoning Adjustments and Appeals
  • Code Enforcement Board
  • Depot Commission (at least 6 members must reside in the city)
  • Enterprise Zone Board of Commissioners (at least 6 commissioners must reside in the city)
  • Lakes Advisory Commission (at least 6 members must reside in the city)
  • Parks & Community Appearance Advisory Board (at least 5 members must reside in the city)
  • Recreation Commission (at least 5 regular members and 3 alternate members must reside in the city)
  • Retirement Boards - Police & Firefighter
• Members must reside in the city, own property in the city or hold a current business tax receipt issued by the city.
  • Christmas Decoration Committee
  • Historic Preservation Board (in addition, at least 4 members must reside in the city)
  • Housing Authority (in addition, 1 member must reside in a housing project or receive a subsidy through a program administered by the Authority)
  • Investment Committee
  • Library Board (at least 4 members must meet these criteria; 1 member may be a resident of the unincorporated Greater Lake Wales area)
  • Planning & Zoning Board
  • Retirement Board - General Employees
• Members must reside within the geographic area served.
  • Airport Authority (no more than 3 members may reside outside the city)
  • Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (no more than 2 regular members and 1 alternate member may reside outside the city)
  • Depot Commission (no more than 4 members may reside outside the city)
  • Enterprise Zone Board of Commissioners (no more than 2 commissioners may reside outside the city)
  • Historic Preservation Board (no more than 4 members may reside outside the city, but they must own property in the city or hold a current business tax receipt issued by the city)
  • Lakes Advisory Commission (no more than 1 member may reside outside the city)
  • Library Board (no more than 1 member may reside outside the city and must have a Lake Wales mailing address)
  • Recreation Commission (no more than 2 regular members and 2 alternate members may reside outside the city)

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The opportunity for appointment to city boards, commissions and committees occurs from time to time as resignations take place and annually as regular terms expire. Details on regular terms of office are provided on this page for each board, commission and committee. Members who seek reappointment are also required to submit new applications. Notices are published in the local newspapers when applications are sought for expiring terms or other vacancies.

Applications for appointment may be obtained at any time during the year on the city's web site, by contacting the City Clerk's Office at 678-4182 ext. 228 or by inquiring in the City Clerk's Office in the Municipal Administration Building. Completed applications should be forwarded to the City Clerk.

All applicants seeking appointment to a regulatory board such as Planning & Zoning Board, Board of Appeals, Code Enforcement Board and the like, must be interviewed by the board chairman and the head of the relevant department to ensure that the applicants understand the duties and responsibilities of the board, are capable of performing such duties and responsibilities and are willing to fulfill the requirements of serving on the board.

Applications are forwarded to the City Commission for review and consideration as terms expire or other vacancies occur. The City Manager may delay the forwarding of applications to the City Commission until there are a sufficient number of applicants to fill all vacant positions on a particular board, commission or committee.

Appointments are made during the course of a regularly scheduled Commission meeting. Appointees are notified in writing by the City Clerk within a week of appointment. Applications of persons not appointed to a board, commission or committee are kept on file for 6 months for consideration if a vacancy occurs at a later date.

ORIENTATION

Specific city departments or employees are designated as supporting staff for boards, commissions and committees. Supporting staff will provide appointees with copies of city codes or other necessary materials. Prior to the first official meeting of the new appointee's term, supporting staff will arrange an appointment to discuss the duties and responsibilities of board members and to answer any questions which the new appointee might have.

MEETING LOCATION

• Library Board - meets at the Library, 290 Cypress Gardens Lane
• Depot Commission - meets at the Depot Museum, 325 S. Scenic Hwy.
• Housing Authority - meets at the Housing Authority, 10 W. Sessoms Ave.

DUTIES & TERMS