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-20-01)
Memorandum
This amendment revises Section 1:237 of City Code to add two youth voting members (aged 14 to 25) to the Environmental Commission with one-year terms. The Commission passed a resolution recommending this change at its June 27, 2019 meeting. The amendment also contains formatting and other non-substantive corrections and clarifications. (*Council amendments on January 21, 2020 changed the age of youth to 16 - 25.)
Staff supports the proposal to add two new youth commissioners with one-year terms to the Environmental Commission. This commission and the Energy Commission in particular need the voice of youth since young people will be disproportionately impacted by energy and environmental decisions and processes that impact air, water, land, and overall quality of life in the future, both in Ann Arbor and the wider world. The whole of the community benefits when there is greater civic participation by future leaders that are knowledgeable about policy and issues of concern to the City.
Staff supports giving full voting power to these new Commissioners. Having the new youth commissioners occupy only advisory roles would diminish the impact of their involvement.
Staff
Reviewed by: Christopher Frost, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Body
ORDINANCE NO. ORD-20-01
First Reading: January 21, 2020 Approved: February 3, 2020
Public Hearing: February 3, 2020 Published: February 6, 2020
Effective: February 6, 2020
CHAPTER 8
(ORGANIZATION OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS)
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 1:237 OF CHAPTER 8 (ORGANIZATION OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS) OF TITLE I OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ANN ARBOR
The City of Ann Arbor ordains:
Section 1. That Section 1:237 of Chapter 8 (Organization of Boards and Commissions) of Title I of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor be amended 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 City to protect and enhance our air, water, land, and public health. It shall help to set goals and policies for the city 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.
(2) General.
(a) The Environmental Commission shall consist of 1315 voting members, as follows:.
(i) Two members shall be members of the City Council appointed by resolution of the City Council for 1-year terms. A City Council member shall cease to be a member of the Environmental Commission if she/hethey ceases to be a member of the City Council.
(ii) Eight members shall be nominated by the City Council members currently serving on the Environmental Commission and appointed by resolution of the City Council for 3-year terms. The 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 the members appointed for 3-year terms shall be staggered so that approximately 1/3 expire each year.
(iii) Two youth members between the ages of 16 and 25 nominated by the City Council members serving on the Environmental Commission and appointed by resolution of the City Council for 1-year terms. The City Council shall appoint youth members who, insofar as possible, have an interest in protecting and enhancing the well-being of the environment and public health of the community.
(iv) To help coordinate an integrated environmental policy, the Planning Commission, Park Advisory Commission, and Energy Commission shall each appoint 1 of their members to the Environmental Commission for 1-year terms, which shall not require the approval of the City Council. The terms of the members appointed for 3-year terms shall be staggered so that approximately 1/3 expire each year.
(b) The City Administrator, or her/his designee, shall be a non-voting ex-officio member of the commission and shall provide adequate support staffing to the commission.
(c) The Environmental Commission shall submit to City Council an annual work plan for the City 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 City programs and proposals on the air, water, land, and public health.
(b) To work collaboratively with other city City commissions and committees which have responsibilities for specific issues, including but not limited to: the Planning Commission,; Energy Commission;, and Park Advisory Commission.
(c) To advise the City Council and City Administrator on environmental aspects of transportation issues, including implementation of city 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 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 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 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 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 City’s Environmental Management Team and any other city 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 Sections 1:171(2) and (6) of theis Code of the City of Ann Arbor, and the following provisions shall apply instead:.
(a) Notice of appointment. The City 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 3-year term on the commission. The City Council members 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 City Council may extend the term for periods of 90 days upon the vote of at least 6 members of City Council.
Section 2. That this ordinance shall take effect immediately upon legal publication.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Smith and Bannister
As Amended by Ann Arbor City Council at First Reading on January 21, 2020
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing ordinance was adopted by the Council of the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan at its regular session of February 3, 2020.
(Date)
Jacqueline Beaudry, Ann Arbor City Clerk
Christopher Taylor, Mayor
I hereby certify that the foregoing ordinance received legal publication on the City Clerk’s webpage on February 6, 2020.
Jacqueline Beaudry, Ann Arbor City Clerk