A. The control and management of the affairs of the district shall be vested in a board of commissioners that is hereby created. The board shall consist of fourteen members charged with administering the business and recreational and cultural events and programs undertaken by the district. Except for the executive director of the St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission, all members of the commission shall be qualified voters and residents of Ward Eight or Ward Nine of St. Tammany Parish. The board shall be composed as follows:

            (1) One member appointed by the mayor of the city of Slidell.

            (2) Three members appointed by the city council of the city of Slidell, one of which is recommended for appointment by the St. Tammany Hotel-Motel Association and is an owner or operator of a hotel, motel, or a campground located in Ward Eight or Ward Nine of St. Tammany Parish.

            (3) One member appointed by the board of aldermen of the town of Pearl River.

            (4) One member appointed by the St. Tammany Parish Council, who shall be a resident of the Eighth Ward of said parish.

            (5) One member appointed by the St. Tammany Parish Council, who shall be a resident of the Ninth Ward of said parish.

            (6) One member appointed by the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce.

            (7) One member appointed by the state representative for District 90.

            (8) One member appointed by the state representative for District 76.

            (9) One member appointed by the state representative for District 74.

            (10) One member appointed by the East St. Tammany Business Alliance.

            (11) One member who is the executive director of the St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission.

            (12) One member appointed by the state senator for District 1.

            B. The members of the commission shall be appointed for terms of four years, except for those initially appointed. Of those initially appointed, five members shall be appointed for two years, five members for three years, and five members for four years; the length of the term for each individual appointed shall be determined by lot at the initial meeting of the board. The members shall serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified. The commissioners shall elect from their number a chairman, vice chairman, and secretary-treasurer. The commissioners shall serve without compensation. No elected public official shall be eligible for appointment to the commission.

            C. All vacancies occurring on the commission shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment. In the event any member is elected to any public office or removes his residence from the ward from which he was appointed, his membership shall be immediately vacated and a successor shall be immediately appointed. Beginning July 1, 1998, no board member shall serve more than three consecutive four-year terms, except for the executive director of the St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission whose term on the board shall run concurrent with their tenure as the executive director of the St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission.

            D. A majority of the membership of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. No contracts shall be approved for financial obligations incurred by less than a majority of the board of commissioners.

            Acts 1986, No. 685, §1, eff. July 8, 1986; Acts 1991, No. 378, §1, eff. July 6, 1991; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 11, §1, eff. May 1, 1996; Acts 1997, No. 1166, §1, eff. July 14, 1997; Acts 2006, No. 537, §1; Acts 2020, No. 207, §1, eff. June 11, 2020.