Title
An Ordinance to Amend Section 1:237 of Chapter 8 (Organization of Boards and Commissions) of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Ordinance No. ORD-14-16)
Memorandum
This amendment revises Section 1:237 - Environmental Commission. The amendment:
(1) clarifies that the Councilmembers currently serving on the Environmental Commission nominate persons for "at-large" appointments, which are then approved by Council resolution;
(2) clarifies that the Planning Commission, Park Advisory Commission, and Energy each designate a representative to the Environmental Commission without Council approval and for a one-year term;
(3) clarifies that the 3-year terms should be equally staggered;
(4) removes references to the Leslie Science Center Advisory Board, which no longer exists;
(5) requires the City Administrator or the designated support staff of the Environmental Commission to notify Council of vacancies - previously this was delegated to the Clerk's Office, which does not always have immediate knowledge of vacancies;
(6) contains a few minor, non-substantive corrections and clarifications
Staff
Prepared by: Christopher Frost, Assistant City Attorney
Sponsored by: Councilmember Briere
Body
ORDINANCE NO. ORD-14-16
First Reading: July 7, 2014 Approved: July 21, 2014
Public Hearing: July 21, 2014 Published: July 31, 2014
Effective: July 21, 2014
ORGANIZATION OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 1:237 OF CHAPTER 8 (ORGANIZATION OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ANN ARBOR
The City of Ann Arbor Ordains:
Section 1. Section 1:237 of Chapter 8 of Title I of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor is amended to read as follows:
1:237. Environmental Commission.
(1) Intent. The establishment of the Environmental Commission is to develop comprehensive, integrated environmental policies for implementation by the city to protect and enhance our air, water, land, and public health. It shall help to set goals and policies for the city and community to continuously improve the natural and built environment. The commission will only act as an advisory group, and does not have any regulatory authority. It shall not involve itself in individual site development reviews, unless its opinion is requested by City Council through a Council resolution. The creation of this commission shall in no way be interpreted as diminishing the role, responsibilities, or charge of any currently existing board, commission, task force, or committee including, but not limited to, the Planning Commission, Energy Commission, and Park Advisory Commission, and the Leslie Science Center Advisory Board.
(2) General.
(a) The Environmental Commission shall consist of 13 voting members. nominated and approved by the City Council for 3-year terms. Two members so appointed shall be members of the City Council appointed by resolution of the City Council. for one-year terms. A City Councilmember shall cease to be a member of the Environmental Commission if she/he ceases to be a member of the City Council. Eight members shall be nominated by the City Councilmembers currently serving on the Environmental Commission and appointed by resolution of the City Council for three-year terms. In making appointments of members of the Environmental Commission, tThe City Council shall appoint persons who, insofar as possible, have an interest in protecting and enhancing the well-being of the environment and public health of the community. The terms of office of the first Environmental Commission appointed hereunder shall be fixed by the City Council so that the terms of 5 members will be for 1 year, 3 members will be for 2 years, and 3 will be for 3 years. After the initial commission is formed, all members, except the City Councilmembers, thereafter will be appointed for 3 years. The City Councilmembers shall be appointed for a 1-year term. A City Councilmember shall cease to be a member of the Environmental Commission if she/he ceases to be a member of the City Council. To help coordinate an integrated environmental policy, 3 members of the Environmental Commission shall be appointed to the commission from the following city committees or commissions: the Planning Commission, Parks Advisory Commission, or and Energy Commission shall each appoint one of their members to the Environmental Commission for one-year terms, which shall not require the approval of the City Council. The terms of the members appointed for three-year terms shall be staggered so that approximately one third expire each year.
(b) The City Administrator, or her/his designee, shall be a non-voting ex-officio member of the commission and shall provided adequate support staffing to the commission.
(c) The Environmental Commission shall submit to City Council an annual work plan for the Council's review.
(3) Powers and duties. The Environmental Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) To advise and make recommendations to the City Council and City Administrator on environmental policy, environmental issues and environmental implications of all city programs and proposals on the air, water, land and public health.
(b) To work collaboratively with other city commissions and committees which have responsibilities for specific issues, including but not limited to: Planning Commission; Energy Commission; and Parks Advisory Commission; and the Leslie Science Center Advisory Board.
(c) To advise the City Council and City Administrator on environmental aspects of transportation issues, including implementation of city transportation plans, alternative transportation issues, alternative fuel vehicles, bicycling improvements, Clean City Program initiatives, parking issues and related transportation issues.
(d) To advise the City Council and City Administrator on all solid waste policy and management issues including the reduction, reuse, recycling and proper disposal of solid waste.
(e) To advise the City Council and City Administrator on environmental risk and pollution issues, including community right-to-know, emergency planning, pesticide and herbicide use and policies, pollution prevention, air and water pollution, indoor air quality, worker health and safety, environmental remediation and restoration, and environmental impact of city procurement policies.
(f) To advise the City Council and City Administrator on drinking water, sewer, water quality, flooding, and stormwater management issues, including water treatment plant issues, wastewater treatment plant issues, Huron River water quality, protection, restoration and improvement of Huron River tributaries.
(g) To advise the City Council and City Administrator on all matters related to sustainable development, clean production, and environmental technologies.
(h) To hold public hearings on environmental issues and concerns.
(i) To publish and present an annual report on the city's "State of the Environment," using, whenever possible, measurable performance indicators to monitor long term trends.
(j) To advise the City Council and City Administrator concerning effective advocacy for the city in regional, state and federal environmental matters.
(k) To advise the City Council and City Administrator on enhancing the awareness, understanding, commitment, and active involvement of local citizens in ensuring wise stewardship of the city's natural resources, now and in the future, through education, volunteerism, public/private partnerships, and incentive programs.
(l) To meet with and advise the city's Environmental Management Team and any other city personnel involved in environmental matters.
(m) To meet with commissions, in other jurisdictions, and other environmental organizations to address regional and state environmental matters.
(n) To create committees to help conduct the work of the Environmental Commission, provided that a member of the Environmental Commission chairs each committee, the Environmental Commission appoints additional committee members for a time certain, and the names and qualifications of committee members appointed by the Environmental Commission are forwarded to City Council.
(o) To have all other powers and duties granted by the City Council by resolution.
(4) Other. The Environmental Commission is explicitly exempt from sections 1:171(2) and (6) of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor.
(a) Notice of appointment. The City Clerk Administrator, or designated support staff for the Environmental Commission, shall notify City Council at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of the term of office of any person serving a three-year term on a board orthe commission. The City Councilmembers serving on the Environmental Commission shall place on the table the names of all reappointments no later than 60 days after the expiration date of the term of office.
(b) Tenure of office. No member of any board or commission shall be allowed to hold over for more than 60 days beyond the term of office fixed by ordinance whether or not a successor has been appointed, except that Council may extend the term for periods of 90 days upon the vote of at least 6 members of Council.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect immediately.