(a) Establishment, membership, organization. There is hereby established the Urban Forestry Advisory Board. The board shall consist of 13 members. The following shall serve ex officio as members: Chief Sustainability Officer, or successor position; Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy, or its successor; General Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Park District; Deputy Commissioner for Forestry, Department of Streets and Sanitation; Commissioner of the Department of Transportation; Commissioner of the Department of Water Management; Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development. Subject to approval by the City Council, the Mayor shall appoint representatives from two nongovernmental organizations that participate in the Chicago Region Trees Initiative; a nongovernmental community organization; two tree service businesses or contractors; and the academic arborist community. The Mayor shall designate a chairperson and vice-chairperson.
Members shall not be compensated for their service on the board. The six nongovernmental appointees shall be appointed and hold office as follows: three to be appointed for two years and three to be appointed for four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Members thereafter appointed shall serve for four years, except that in case of vacancy appointments shall be made for the unexpired term. The terms of members from governmental entities shall coincide with their terms of public service.
The board shall meet at least quarterly. Additional meetings may be called by a majority of the board. A majority of members of the board shall constitute a quorum.
(b) Powers and duties. The board shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Develop and annually update the Urban Forestry Management Plan containing analysis and recommendations to be delivered to the Mayor and City Council;
(2) Review, assess, and advise on City plans, policies, procedures, guidance documents, and expenditures, as well as other issues identified and determined by the board to be important to urban forestry;
(3) Recommend to the City Council legislation regarding urban forestry;
(4) Facilitate public education of urban forestry;
(5) Establish a Heritage Tree program.
(Added Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 31515, § 3)