Section 67.1603 - Home equity program - creation by petition or ordinance contingent on approval by voters, appointment of commissioners if approved, certain municipalities and counties eligible1. In a municipality with more than five hundred and less than three hundred thousand inhabitants the question of creating a home equity program entirely within the municipality shall be initiated by ordinance of the governing body of the municipality or by a petition signed by not less than five percent of the total number of registered voters of the municipality who voted in the last gubernatorial election, the registered voters of which are eligible to sign the petition. It shall be the duty of the election authority having jurisdiction over such municipality to submit the question of creating a home equity program to the voters within the municipality at the regular election specified in the ordinance or petition initiating the question.2. In a municipality with greater than three hundred thousand inhabitants, the question of creating a home equity program within a portion of a municipality described as a district shall be initiated by ordinance of the governing body of the municipality or by a petition signed by not less than five percent of the total number of registered voters of the municipality who voted in the last gubernatorial election, the registered voters of which are eligible to sign the petition. It shall be the duty of the election authority having jurisdiction over such municipality to submit the question of creating a home equity program to the voters within the municipality at the regular election specified in the ordinance or petition initiating the question. If the question is initiated by petition and if the requisite number of signatures is not obtained in any district included within the area described in the petition, then the petition shall be valid as to the area encompassed by those districts for which the requisite number of signatures is obtained and any such district for which the requisite number of signatures is not obtained shall be excluded from the area.3. In a county of the first classification with a population greater than nine hundred thousand, the question of creating a home equity program within a contiguous unincorporated area included entirely within any such county shall be initiated by ordinance of the governing body of the county, or by a petition signed by not less than five percent of the total number of registered voters within each district to be served who voted in the last gubernatorial election, the registered voters of which are eligible to sign the petition. It shall be the duty of the election authority having jurisdiction over such county to submit the question of creating a home equity program to the voters within the area to be served at the regular election specified in the ordinance or the petition initiating the question. If the question is initiated by petition and if the requisite number of signatures is not obtained in any district included within the area described in the petition, then the petition shall be valid as to the area encompassed by those districts for which the requisite number of signatures is obtained and any such district for which the requisite number of signatures is not obtained shall be excluded from the area.4. A petition initiating a question described in this section shall be filed with the election authority having jurisdiction over the municipality or county. The petition shall be filed in the manner provided in the general election law. An ordinance or petition initiating a question described in this section shall specify the election at which the question is to be submitted. The election on such question shall be held in accordance with general election law. Such question, and the ordinance or petition initiating the question, shall include a description of the area, the name of the proposed home equity program and the maximum rate at which the home equity program shall be able to levy such property tax. All of that area within the geographic boundaries of the area described in such question shall be included in the program, and no area outside the geographic boundaries of the area described in such question shall be included in the program. If the election authority determines that the description cannot be included within the space limitations of the ballot, the election authority shall prepare large printed copies of a notice of the question, which shall be prominently displayed in the polling place of each district in which the question is to be submitted. No new program shall be established by petition unless the area to be served by the program contains five hundred or more residential properties.5. Whenever a majority of the voters on such public question approve the creation of a home equity program as certified by the proper election authorities, the governing body of any such municipality or county shall appoint nine individuals, to be known as commissioners, to serve as the governing body of the home equity program. The governing body shall choose seven of the nine individuals to be appointed to the governing commission from nominees submitted by real property owners or community organizations as defined in sections 67.1600 to 67.1663. A community organization may recommend up to twenty individuals to serve on a governing commission. No fewer than five commissioners serving at any one time shall reside within the area of the program. In a municipality with more than five hundred and less than three hundred thousand inhabitants, the governing body of the municipality may serve as the governing body of the home equity program or, in the alternative, the governing body may appoint a five-member governing commission to govern the home equity program. The mayor of any municipality whose governing body serves as the governing body of the home equity program may appoint a five-member advisory board to make recommendations to the governing body of the municipality in relation to the home equity program. Board members shall serve without compensation except for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of duties as a board member. The governing body of the municipality shall establish the terms of office of the governing commission or advisory board members, and no member shall serve more than three consecutive terms.6. Upon creation of a governing commission in a municipality with three hundred thousand or more inhabitants the terms of the initial commissioners shall be as follows: three shall serve for one year, three shall serve for two years, and three shall serve for three years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. All succeeding terms shall be for three years, or until a successor is appointed or qualified, and no commissioner may serve more than two consecutive terms. Commissioners shall serve without compensation except for reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of duties as a commissioner. A vacancy in the office of a member of a commission shall be filled in like manner as an original appointment. All proceedings and meetings of the governing commission shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 610.