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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04. Green Task Force Bylaws AGENDA MEMO DATE: July 12, 2011 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Office of the City Manager By: Shannon DeLong, Assistant to the City Manager SUBJECT: GREEN TASK FORCE – RATIFICATION OF BYLAWS RECOMMENDATION That the City Council ratify the Bylaws for the Green Task Force. BACKGROUND On September 28, 2010, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 10-1265 which amended Article II – Administration – of the Downey Municipal Code by adding a new Part 8 entitled “Green Task Force.” The first meeting of the Green Task Force was April 28, 2011. At that meeting, Lars Clutterham was elected Chair and Sean Ashton was elected Vice-Chair. Since then, the Task Force has met in April, May and June and has set its regular meeting date and time at 4:00 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the second floor training room in City Hall. DISCUSSION: The draft Bylaws and proposed revisions were discussed at the May 26, 2011 Task Force meeting, and the Bylaws were adopted at the June 22, 2011 meeting. The attached Green Task Force Bylaws have been reviewed by the City Attorney and are now submitted to the City Council for approval. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with the ratification of the Green Task Foce Bylaws. Attachment: Green Task Force Bylaws CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA BYLAWS OF CITY OF DOWNEY GREEN TASK FORCE [As approved by Green Task Force 6/22/11] ARTICLE I NAME The name of this committee shall be the City of Downey Green Task Force. ARTICLE II MISSION AND GOALS The mission of the Green Task Force shall be to educate and inform the City of Downey in order to foster greater environmental awareness and to ensure the continued implementation of sustainable practices throughout the City. The goals of the Green Task Force shall be to: • Improve public and business community knowledge of environmental issues and priorities • Encourage more sustainable practices to protect the environment, the City, and public health • Address community environmental concerns and advise City Council on potential courses of action • Focus on both short-term and long-term approaches to greater sustainability in the Downey community ARTICLE III DUTIES Section 1. The duties of the Green Task Force shall be advisory in nature, including review and making recommendations to the City Council regarding Energy Conservation & Production, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Green Building, Green Space: Landscaping and Nature, Transportation, Environmental Health, Water Conservation, and any other matters specifically requested to be reviewed by the City Council. Section 2. The Green Task Force shall also be responsible for maintaining the “Green Task Force” page on the city’s website. ARTICLE IV MEMBERS Section 1. The Green Task Force shall consist of ten members who shall be qualified electors of the City, two nominated by each Councilmember, subject to the approval of the entire City Council. Section 2. Members shall receive no compensation. Section 3. Members shall serve a term of four years or until a respective successor is appointed. The terms of the first Green Task Force appointees shall coincide with the term of the Councilmember making the initial appointments. Section 4. Membership shall be terminated automatically upon missing three consecutive meetings from unexcused absences. Whether a member’s absence is excused or unexcused shall be determined by a majority vote of the remaining Green Task Force members. Prior notification of an upcoming absence from an individual member shall normally be regarded as an excused absence. Section 5. Resignation: A member of the Green Task Force may resign at any time by giving 30-day written notice to the Councilmember who appointed that member. The Councilmember shall then inform City Council and move forward to appoint a replacement. ARTICLE V OFFICERS The Green Task Force shall elect a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson from its appointed members for a term of one year. ARTICLE VI MEETINGS Section 1. Meeting Times: The Green Task Force shall meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. A. In the event of a holiday or other special circumstances, the Green Task Force may agree upon a one-time alternate or additional meeting date in coordination with appropriate City staff, provided such date meets the requirements of the Brown Act. B. The Green Task Force may change the time of its regular meeting through a majority vote of the membership in coordination with appropriate City staff without requiring a revision of the Bylaws, as long as public notification is provided according to the Brown Act. Section 2. Agenda: A written agenda shall be provided for every meeting in accordance with the Brown Act, utilizing the following format: AGENDA GREEN TASK FORCE MEETING 4:00 p.m. Wednesday [Date] [Location] 11121 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA 90241 I. CALL TO ORDER: II. CONSENT CALENDAR: 1. Approval of Minutes from . . . III. OLD BUSINESS: NEW BUSINESS: IV. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS VI. GREEN TASK FORCE COMMUNICATIONS VII. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS VIII. ADJOURNMENT: to 4:00 p.m. [Date] – [Location] Section 3. Quorum: A quorum shall consist of six of the ten members. In the absence of a quorum, the Chairperson shall reschedule the meeting to a later date and time in coordination with the other members of the Green Task Force and with City staff, and in accordance with public notifications as required by the Brown Act. Section 4. Meeting Procedure: Meetings shall be conducted by consensus, except in the case of business requiring formal approval, such as meeting minutes. In those cases, in any direct communication with City Council, and upon the specific request of an individual member, actions and recommendations shall be approved by a majority vote of the membership in accordance with Rosenberg’s Rules of Order. ARTICLE VII RECORDKEEPING AND COMMUNICATIONS Section 1. Minutes shall be kept of all regular and special meetings of the Green Task Force by an individual member on a freely rotating volunteer basis. All minutes shall be transmitted to each City Councilmember after approval by the Green Task Force. Section 2. The Green Task Force shall communicate any actions, reviews, and recommendations directly to each member of City Council on a timely basis, as they are completed. Section 3. In addition to any other communication between the Green Task Force and City Council, one or more members of the Green Task Force shall make a brief summary presentation to City Council at a regular City Council meeting in January, April, July, and October of each year. ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the Green Task Force, subject to the approval of City Council. ARTICLE IX PRIMACY OF CITY ORDINANCE 10-1265 AND OF THE BROWN ACT Section 1. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed to impede or to bypass the intentions of City of Downey Ordinance No. 10-1265, which establishes the goals and parameters of the City of Downey Green Task Force as further developed in the above Bylaws. Section 2. In any instance in which the above Bylaws do not directly address the conduct of business of the Green Task Force, business shall be carried out in accordance with the Brown Act.