(a) There is hereby created an environmental commission of the city, which shall be composed of 15 voting members of the general public and eight non-voting technical expert members. Each city council member shall appoint one voting member to the commission. The mayor shall appoint the commission chair; and the full council shall appoint the vice-chair. The non-voting technical experts shall be appointed by the full council from each sector of the comprehensive environmental and climate action plan ("CECAP"). Two of the general public members must have public health experience. All other general public members must have a minimum of two years environmental experience or a minimum of two years of neighborhood environmental advocacy.
(1) Public health experience may be demonstrated through documented experience which meets the Center for Disease Control's definition of public health that includes promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing, and responding to infectious diseases. This qualification may include employment with a health-related entity such as a hospital, clinic, a public health organization, or a non-profit focused on improving local public health.
(2) Environmental experience may be demonstrated through documented education, professional registrations or certifications, or expertise in one or more areas of the CECAP. This qualification may include, but is not limited to, citizen-science certifications, or a bachelor of science or arts in related engineering, environmental sciences, environmental management systems, natural sciences, architecture, landscape architecture, agriculture, and other documented backgrounds related to local, state, and federal laws, or environmental regulations.
(3) Neighborhood environmental advocacy may be demonstrated through documented residency in neighborhoods negatively impacted by environmental issues, with related experience with local neighborhood issues including, but not limited to, transportation, water and waste management, zoning and land use issues, or experience relevant to one or more sections of the CECAP.
(b) A quorum exists when there are physically present a simple majority of the number of members officially appointed to the environmental commission, regardless of the total number of members actually provided for the environmental commission, except that a quorum may not be fewer than six members. Issues are decided by a simple majority of the members present. Each member who is present and entitled to vote must vote in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Dallas City Code.
(c) The environmental commission shall advise on the CECAP implementation and environmental issues which arise in the city.
(d) All members shall be appointed for an initial term to expire on June 14, 2023. Subsequent appointments shall be made in September of each odd-numbered year for a two-year term beginning October 1. All members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. A vacancy for the unexpired term of any members shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. The members shall serve without compensation.
(e) The commission, unless there is no business for the commission to consider, must meet at least once per month and may hold additional meetings at the call of the chair. The commission shall receive public comment at every meeting of the commission, standing committees, and ad hoc committees.
(f) The commission shall adopt, subject to approval of city council, rules, not inconsistent with state law or city ordinances, governing its proceedings and establishing committees of the commission.