Section 1. - Creation of Jacksonville Aviation Authority.

(1) The charter provisions concerning the airport operations of the former Jacksonville Port Authority established pursuant to Chapter 2001-319, Laws of Florida, as amended, are hereby amended and restated in their entirety to read as follows: There is hereby created and established as of October 1, 2001, a separate body politic and corporate to be known as the Jacksonville Aviation Authority and hereinafter referred to singly as the "authority," which is created as an agency and political subdivision of the State of Florida in the nature of counties and not municipalities. This authority is authorized to exercise its jurisdiction, powers, and duties within the geographic area defined by the boundary lines of Duval County as established by section 7.16, Florida Statutes, which boundary lines also define the geographic area of the City of Jacksonville, and outside such boundary lines as hereinafter provided. The Jacksonville Aviation Authority shall operate, manage, and control all of the publicly owned airports and ancillary facilities located within Duval County and outside such boundary lines as hereinafter provided. The authority was separated from the former Jacksonville Port Authority pursuant to 2001-319, Laws of Florida, as amended, and this separation shall be reviewed for performance and efficiency after a period of 4 years from October 1, 2001. (2) The governing body for the Jacksonville Aviation Authority shall consist of seven members, three of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor of the City of Jacksonville with the confirmation of the council of the City of Jacksonville, and four of whom shall be appointed by the Governor of Florida with the confirmation of the Senate. Members shall serve for terms of 4 years commencing on October 1 of the year of the appointment or for the unexpired portion of a term deemed to have commenced on October 1. Members of the authority, during their terms, shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor or Governor, whoever appointed the member. Members shall continue to serve on the authority until their death, resignation, removal, or until their respective successors are appointed and confirmed. A vacancy occurring during the term of an appointed member on the authority shall be filled only for the balance of the unexpired term. Any member appointed to the authority for two consecutive full terms shall not be eligible for appointment to the authority for the next succeeding term. Provided, however, notwithstanding the above, members initially appointed to the authority shall serve in staggered terms to provide continuity of experience to the authority with two gubernatorial appointments and two mayoral appointments being for initial 2-year terms, which shall count as a full term for purposes of term limits provided herein. (3) The authority shall elect a chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer from its members, and such other officers it deems proper, not necessarily from its members, to perform such duties as the authority may direct. Four members of the authority shall constitute a quorum for the authority, but at least four members of the authority must approve any action to be taken by the authority. Resolutions adopted by the vote of at least four members of the authority shall become effective without further action by the authority. Each member of the authority shall have one vote. The yeas and nays shall be called and entered upon the minutes of each meeting upon the passage of every resolution or other action of the authority. The authority may meet at such times and places designated by it but shall hold regular meetings as necessary and generally once a month. Special meetings of the authority may be called upon the call of its chair or any three members of the authority. The members of the authority shall not be entitled to compensation, but members and employees of the authority shall be entitled to payment of reasonable expenses as provided by the council of the City of Jacksonville. (4) The authority shall employ and fix the compensation of a managing director who shall manage the affairs of the authority under the supervision and control of the authority. Such managing director may be given any title suitable to the authority. The authority may employ such engineers, certified public accountants, consultants, and employees as it may require, and fix and pay their compensation. The authority may use any of the services available to governmental units through the Finance and Administration Department, Information Technology Division of the City of Jacksonville, but is not required by law to do so. However, the authority shall be required to use the legal services of the City of Jacksonville, except in those cases when the chief legal officer of the city determines that the city legal staff cannot provide legal services in the required legal area. Such use of city services, including, but not limited to, legal services, shall be on contractual basis and the authority is authorized to pay the city reasonable and fair compensation for such services so furnished by the city and used by the authority. The use by the authority of any such services furnished by the city shall not obligate the authority, except to the extent it contracts with the city, or otherwise subject the authority to any rules, regulations, or ordinances of said city not otherwise applicable to the authority under this act and the charter of said city. The authority may delegate to one or more of its agents or employees such of its powers as it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, subject always to the supervision and control of the authority, and may do any and all things necessary to accomplish the purposes of this act. (5) The provisions of section 286.012, Florida Statutes, requiring any member of the authority present at a meeting to vote unless there is a possible conflict of interest, and the provisions of sections 112.311-112.3175, Florida Statutes, and as the same may be amended in the future, relating to financial disclosure and conflicts of interest, shall apply to each member of the authority. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 2004-464, § 1; Laws of Fla., Ch. 2005-328, § 1; Ord. 2011-732-E; Ord. 2016-140-E , § 16) Editor's note— Ordinance 2007-839-E, § 18, authorized updated department/division names pursuant to reorganization.