(1) Sue and be sued;

(2) Have a seal and alter the same at pleasure;

(3) Make and execute contracts and all other instruments necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and functions under this chapter;

(4) Make and alter bylaws for its organization and internal management;

(5) Adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 with respect to its projects, operations, properties, and facilities;

(6) Through its executive director appoint officers, agents, and employees, prescribe their duties and qualifications, and fix their salaries, without regard to chapters 76 and 77;

(7) Review and approve the convention center development plan proposed by a developer, for the convention center district; inspect and approve development within the convention center district for compliance with convention center development plans and rules; and upon construction of the convention center facility, manage, operate, and maintain or enter into contracts for the professional management, operation, and maintenance of the convention center facility;

(8) Cause a developer to prepare plans, specifications, and designs for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, alteration, or repair of any project, and from time to time, to modify such plans, specifications, or designs; provided that the plans, specifications, or designs shall be subject to review and approval by the authority;

(9) Procure insurance against any loss and any liability in connection with the convention center and other related assets and operations in such amounts and from such insurers as it deems desirable;

(10) Contract for and accept gifts or grants in any form from any public agency, or any other source;

(11) Upon the request of the authority and the approval of the governor, condemn any real property interests as the authority deems necessary for the development of a convention center pursuant to chapter 101; provided that the valuation of any such property acquired pursuant to the exercise of the authority's power under this subsection shall be done without regard to any increase or decrease in the value of the property resulting from the application of this chapter. Property acquired by condemnation shall not be subject to chapter 171;

(12) Negotiate with the developer for contribution by the developer to defray costs relating to the relocation of persons displaced because of the development;

(13) On behalf of the State, accept the authority to operate, manage, and maintain the convention center facility upon completion or acquisition of such facility;

(14) Issue revenue bonds, subject to the approval of the legislature. All revenue bonds shall be issued pursuant to part III of chapter 39, except as provided in this chapter. All revenue bonds shall be issued in the name of the authority and not in the name of the State. The final maturity date of the revenue bonds may be any date not exceeding thirty years from the date of issuance;

(15) Pledge or assign all or any part of the receipts and revenues of the authority;

(16) Set and collect rents, fees, charges, or other payments for the lease, use, occupancy, or disposition of the convention center facility acquired, constructed, or reconstructed by the authority pursuant to this chapter; provided that the authority may waive or substantially discount any rent, fee, charge, or other payment at an open public meeting subject to the requirement of chapter 92 for a specific event whenever the authority determines that the waiver or discount is in the best interest of the convention center facility or the State by attracting new tourist markets or conventioneers;

(17) Acquire, lease as lessee or lessor, own, rent, hold, and dispose of real and personal property in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this chapter;

(18) Acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise, and develop, construct, operate, own, manage, repair, reconstruct, enlarge, or otherwise effectuate, either directly or through developers, a convention center;

(19) Reimburse the state general fund for debt service on general obligation bonds or reimbursable general obligation bonds issued by the State for purposes of the convention center in accordance with a schedule determined by the director of finance, with the approval of the governor, as may be in the best interest of the State;

(20) Do any and all things necessary to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers given and granted in this chapter; and

(21) By itself, or in combination or association with qualified persons, by any form of request for proposals, as determined by the authority, any law to the contrary notwithstanding, solicit, accept, review, reject, modify, or approve proposals, and thereafter enter into agreements, for a convention center development plan, and for the initiation, undertaking, supervision and regulation of the design, development, financing, operation and maintenance of a convention center facility and any related developments. [L 1988, c 96, pt of §1; am L 1992, c 159, §5; am L Sp 1993, c 7, §16; am L 1999, c 98, §4]