(1) The Niobrara Council is created. The council membership shall include:

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(a) A commissioner from each of the county boards of Brown, Cherry, Keya Paha, and Rock counties chosen by the county board of the respective county;

(b) A representative of the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District and the Lower Niobrara Natural Resources District chosen by the board of the respective district;

(c) The secretary of the Game and Parks Commission or his or her designee;

(d) The regional director for the National Park Service or his or her designee and the regional director for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or his or her designee. The members under this subdivision shall be nonvoting members unless and until the agencies represented by these members formally authorize such members to vote on all matters before the council by notifying the council and the Governor in writing;

(e) An individual from each of Brown, Cherry, Keya Paha, and Rock counties who resides in the Niobrara River drainage area and owns land in the Niobrara scenic river corridor chosen by the Governor from a list of at least three individuals, or fewer if there are not at least three qualified individuals, from each county submitted by the county board members on the council;

(f) A representative from a recreational business operating within the Niobrara scenic river corridor chosen by the Governor from a list of at least three individuals, or fewer if there are not at least three qualified individuals, submitted by the county board members on the council;

(g) A timber industry representative operating within the Niobrara scenic river corridor chosen by the Governor from a list of at least three individuals, or fewer if there are not at least three qualified individuals, submitted by the county board members on the council; and

(h) A representative of a recognized, nonprofit environmental, conservation, or wildlife organization chosen by the Governor from a list of at least three individuals, or fewer if there are not at least three qualified individuals, submitted by the county board members on the council.

The council members shall hold office for three-year terms and until a successor is appointed and qualified. The council members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing board or the Governor.

(2) The council shall elect a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, a secretary, and a treasurer who shall jointly serve as the executive committee for the council. The council shall meet on a regular basis with a minimum of six meetings per year. Special meetings may be called by any member of the executive committee or at the request of a simple majority of the members of the council.

(3) A quorum shall be present at a meeting before any action may be taken by the council. A quorum shall be a majority of the members who are selected and serving and who vote on issues before the council. All actions of the council require a majority vote of the quorum present at any meeting, except that any vote to reject or adopt any zoning regulation or variance under section 72-2010 requires a vote of two-thirds of all the council members who are selected and serving and who vote on issues before the council.

(4) Members shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in carrying out their duties on the council as provided in sections 81-1174 to 81-1177.