A CHARTER ORIDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY OF AUBURN, KANSAS THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS THEREOF; PRESCRIBING THE TERMS OF MEMBERS AND DEFINING DUTIES AND POWERS OF SAID COMMISSION; PROVIDING FOR FUNDING FROM THE CITY AND OTHER SOURCES; AND EXEMPTING THE CITY OF AUBURN, KANSAS, FROM THE PROVISIONS OF K.S.A. §12-1922 THROUGH §12-1934 AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RECREATION SYSTEMS WITHIN A CITY AND REPEALING CHARTER ORDINANCE NO. 5.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, KANSAS:

SECTION 1. Creation of a Parks Advisory Committee. There is hereby created a Parks Advisory Committee for the City of Auburn, Kansas which shall be known as the “Auburn Parks Advisory Committee.”

SECTION 2. Appointment of Members and Terms. The Auburn Parks Advisory Committee shall consist of three (3) members, whom shall be residents within the City of Auburn, to be appointed as follows: All three (3) members shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council with the first appointee to serve four (4) years, the second appointee to serve three (3) years and the third appointee to serve two (2) years. Thereafter members of said Committee shall be four (4) years. In the case of an appointment to fill a vacancy in an - unexpired term the appointment shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term. The initial appointment shall be made at the first City Council meeting subsequent to the passage of this ordinance. Succeeding Committee member shall be appointed at the meeting of the governing body of the City as terms expire.

SECTION 3. Committee Powers. The Auburn Parks Advisory Committee in an advisory capacity direct and advise the City on direction, property acquisition and maintenance of all parks. The Committee is empowered to receive any gift or donation from any private source and has the power to apply, receive, accept and administer any money appropriated or granted from private source. The Committee is bound by funds budgeted for the use of the public recreation system for the City of Auburn and may not take action that exceeds the budgeted funds. The Committee is not empowered to incur debt or otherwise bind the City of Auburn to any monetary obligation, lease or contract without the prior approval of the City. The Committee shall be subject to audit by agents of the city and the city’s discretion. The budget of the Committee shall be part of the City’s annual budget process and is hereby excepted from the process outlined in K.S.A. §12-1927.

SECTION 4. Funding. Funding of expenses of operation of the Auburn Parks Advisory Committee shall be derived as necessary from the general fund of the City of Auburn as a normal city government function. The City is also authorized to receive and utilize applied funds, such as government grants (i.e. Kansas Department of Transportation, Community Development Block Grants) for the purpose of maintaining, upgrading, or acquiring properties. The City is further authorized to work with the Committee to accept and utilize funds and in-kind contributions for park improvements or recreation purposes from organizations and individuals withing the community.

SECTION 5. Parks Committee Duties. Recreational activities shall not be limited to residents of the City of Auburn and may include residents of other cities or other counties and rural residents within Shawnee County and other counties. Participation fees, if established by the Committee shall, insofar as the residence of the participant is concerned, be uniform among all participants. The Committee may work with other community organizations to meet the needs of the community populations. The Committee shall meet on call and as frequently as deemed necessary to adequately respond to its duties and responsibilities. Minutes shall be kept of all meetings by the secretary of the Committee, and a copy shall be filled and maintained in the office of the City Clerk.

SECTION 6. Officers and City Council Communication. The Committee members shall appoint a chairperson and secretary each year. The Chairperson or Secretary shall report attendance of members for each regularly scheduled and special meeting. A member of the City Council will be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the Council to meet with the Committee to facilitate communications between the City and the committee.

SECTION 7. Exemption from K.S.A. §12-1922 through §12-1934. The City hereby exempts itself from the provisions of K.S.A §12-1922 through K.S.A §12-1934 and as the same may be amended.

SECTION 8. Repeal. At the date this charter ordinance is effective pursuant to Section 9, below, Charter Ordinance No. 5 is hereby repealed.

(11-03-2025)