The county legislative authority of every county with a population of forty thousand or more shall, and the legislative authority of every other county may, within ninety days of July 1, 1975, and as often thereafter as it deems necessary, and upon thirty days prior written notice addressed to the legislative body of each city within the county and with thirty days public notice, convene a public transportation improvement conference to be attended by an elected representative selected by the legislative body of each city, within such county, and by the county legislative authority. Such conference shall be for the purpose of evaluating the need for and the desirability of the creation of a public transportation benefit area within certain incorporated and unincorporated portions of the county to provide public transportation services within such area. In those counties where county officials believe the need for public transportation service extends across county boundaries so as to provide public transportation service in a metropolitan area, the county legislative bodies of two or more neighboring counties may elect to convene a multi-county conference. In addition, countywide conferences may be convened by resolution of the legislative bodies of two or more cities within the county, not to exceed one in any twelve-month period, or a petition signed by at least ten percent of the registered voters in the last general election of the city, county or city/county areas of a proposed benefit area. The chair of the conference shall be elected from the members at large.