CHAPTER 15C
WORLD TRADE CENTER

  15C.1  Declaration of policy and purpose for state involvement in Iowa world trade center.
  It is found and declared that there exists a need to promote, develop, maintain, and expand export and trade opportunities for agricultural, commercial, and manufactured products and services and any other products and services of the state in order to protect and advance the welfare and interests of residents of the state; that such export and trade opportunities with other nations can be promoted, developed, maintained, and expanded by the Iowa world trade center; that jobs can be maintained and created in the state as a result of increased export and trade opportunities; and that such economic results will benefit all residents of the state.
  It is further found and declared that the promotion, development, maintenance, and expansion of exports and trade opportunities are public purposes and uses for which public moneys may be expended, advanced, loaned, or granted; that such activities serve a public purpose in improving export and trade opportunities or otherwise benefiting the people of this state; and that the state’s purchase, operation and marketing of a building or facility as part of a world trade center will aid in accomplishing these purposes.
85 Acts, ch 33, §501
CS85, §18C.1
C93, §15C.1

  15C.2  Creation of selection advisory committee.
  1.  There is created an Iowa world trade center selection advisory committee, hereafter referred to as “the committee”. The committee shall be comprised of five members with one member appointed by the governor, one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives, one member appointed by the majority leader of the senate, and one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate. No two members shall be from the same congressional district. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the appointment of the original members. Members shall not be compensated for their services.
  2.  The committee shall elect from among its members a chairperson. Meetings shall be held at the call of the chairperson or whenever two committee members request it. Three members shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of three members shall be necessary for any action taken by the committee.
85 Acts, ch 33, §502
CS85, §18C.2
C93, §15C.2
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  15C.3  Duties of the committee.
  1.  It shall be the duty of the Iowa world trade center selection advisory committee to accept and review proposals from private groups to organize, construct, operate, and market the Iowa world trade center. In submitting a proposal, the private group shall also submit a study outlining the feasibility of its proposal. A private group submitting a proposal must include among its investors a significant number of Iowa-based companies and individuals. The committee is empowered to contract for an independent analysis of a proposal submitted. The committee is empowered to recommend for ratification by the executive council a proposal to obligate, but not in excess of thirty million dollars, the state in the construction of the Iowa world trade center under the recommended proposal. However, a proposal shall not be recommended unless the proposal provides that the private group shall provide moneys at least equal to the amount which the committee has recommended for obligation by the state. The proposal recommended by the committee must include an agreement from the private group that construction of the Iowa world trade center will begin no later than December 15, 1985, and that a nonprofit corporation will be created by the private group pursuant to section 15C.4 to facilitate the state’s involvement in the construction, operation, and marketing of the Iowa world trade center. In approving a proposal of a private group, the committee may employ other selection criteria that are consistent with the above standards. Once the committee has recommended a contract proposal, it shall be submitted for ratification to the executive council. The committee shall present a proposal by August 1, 1985 for ratification by the executive council.
  2.  The committee shall cease to exist upon ratification of the contract submitted to the executive council.
  3.  The members of the committee, upon ratification of the contract by the executive council, shall automatically become the state’s representatives on the board of directors of the nonprofit corporation organized to facilitate the state’s involvement in the Iowa world trade center pursuant to section 15C.4.
85 Acts, ch 33, §503
CS85, §18C.3
C93, §15C.3

  15C.4  State participation in the world trade center.
  1.  The state recognizes the nonprofit corporation organized pursuant to the contract ratified by the executive council as the entity that will facilitate the state’s involvement in the construction, operation and marketing of the Iowa world trade center. The board of directors of the nonprofit corporation shall consist of nine members.
  2.  State representation on the nonprofit corporation’s board of directors shall consist of five directors serving six-year terms. The initial directors shall be the five members appointed to the committee pursuant to section 15C.2. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the appointment of the original directors.
  3.  Private representation on the nonprofit corporation’s board of directors shall consist of four directors chosen pursuant to the corporation’s articles of incorporation.
  4.  Amendments to the nonprofit corporation’s articles of incorporation relating to the governance of the corporation shall not be made without all of the following:
  a.  A majority approval of the entire board of directors.
  b.  A majority approval of the five directors appointed to represent the state interests.
  c.  A majority approval by the four directors appointed to represent the private interests.
  5.  The nonprofit corporation shall:
  a.  Provide for the management, operation, and marketing of the state-owned portion of the Iowa world trade center. A fee may be negotiated which will be paid by the state for necessary services provided to or for the state-owned portion. The management, operation, and marketing may be done by entering into a service agreement with a management firm. If such an agreement is entered into, the board of directors shall require periodic reports from the firm on the operation, marketing, costs, and revenues of the state-owned portion.
  b.  Provide for the leasing of space in the state-owned portion to the extent space is available and the leasing of it will fulfill the purposes of the state’s involvement in the Iowa world trade center.
  c.  Use, operate, and market the state-owned portion for the purposes of promoting, developing, maintaining, and expanding export and trade opportunities for agricultural, commercial, and manufactured products and services and other products and services of the state in order to protect and advance the welfare and interests of residents of the state.
  6.  The nonprofit corporation organized pursuant to the contract ratified by the executive council as the entity that will facilitate the state’s involvement in the construction, operation, and marketing of the Iowa world trade center shall not be construed to be a state agency, board, commission, department, or other administrative unit of the state.
85 Acts, ch 33, §504
CS85, §18C.4
C93, §15C.4
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