ORS 273.554: South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Commission; powers; rules; fees.

(1) For the purpose of providing for the administration of the estuarine research reserve management area in a manner consistent with the provisions of ORS 273.553, there is created the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Commission. The commission shall have the authority, in accordance with the policies formulated by the State Land Board, to: (a) Conduct the day-to-day operation and management of the reserve management area with the administrative support of the Department of State Lands; (b) Appoint a manager and other staff necessary to carry out this section; and (c) Apply for, receive and expend moneys from the federal government and from this state or any agency thereof for the purpose of carrying out this section. (2) In accordance with applicable provisions of ORS chapter 183, the commission may adopt rules necessary to: (a) Carry out the commission’s responsibilities pursuant to ORS 273.553; and (b) Implement a system of fees to recover the costs of carrying out the management established in ORS 273.553, including fees for use of facilities at the reserve management area, fees for research activities conducted at the reserve management area, visitor activities fees and parking fees. (3) The commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the Governor as follows: (a) A representative of common schools in the area of the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve; (b) One authorized representative of the Coos County Board of Commissioners; (c) One authorized representative of the governing body of the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay; (d) The Director of the Department of State Lands or a designee thereof; (e) One authorized representative of the federal Office for Coastal Management; (f) Two representatives with an interest in marine science, one from the University of Oregon Institute of Marine Biology at Charleston and one from Oregon State University; (g) One member selected from the general public at large; and (h) One representative of Oregon Indian tribes appointed after consultation with the Commission on Indian Services. (4) The members appointed by the Governor under subsection (3)(a), (f), (g) and (h) of this section shall serve for terms of four years and members appointed under subsection (3)(b) and (c) of this section shall serve for terms of two years. The Director of the Department of State Lands or the designee of the director, if appointed in place of the director, shall serve as the permanent chairperson of the commission. The commission shall select one of its members as vice chairperson. The chairperson and vice chairperson shall have duties and powers necessary for the performance of the functions of such offices as the commission determines. The vice chairperson shall act as the chairperson of the commission in the absence of the chairperson. The vice chairperson shall serve for a term of one year, subject to reelection by the commission. (5) Each member of the commission shall have one vote, except that the member who is the authorized representative of the federal Office for Coastal Management shall be a nonvoting member. A majority of the commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. (6) Members of the commission are not entitled to compensation, but in the discretion of the State Land Board may be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred by them in the performance of their official duties, subject to laws regulating travel and other expenses of state officers and employees. [1977 c.496 §2; 1983 c.485 §1; 2003 c.14 §135; 2005 c.146 §1; 2005 c.528 §1; 2013 c.1 §25; 2021 c.139 §2]