(A) Purpose. The city deems it in the public interest to establish the City Environmental Sustainability Commission in order that said Commission may assist the city as follows:
(1) Promote environmental sustainability and conservation of natural resources in the city for the public good;
(2) Inform and advise the Common Council, the Mayor and the city government on matters relating to environmental sustainability and conservation of natural resources;
(3) Coordinate public and private efforts within the city towards sustainability, environmental health and conservation of natural resources;
(4) Help the city and its departments and committees strive toward operating in a manner that is sustainable to the environment.
(5) Help assess potential environmental liabilities and potential costs of government policies and practices in the city;
(6) Coordinate and promote grant and funding opportunities for the city related to sustainability, environment and conservation;
(7) Promote environmental resources and quality of life in the city, in order to attract and retain businesses and economic investment and reinforce the civic pride and identity of the city; and
(8) Facilitate environmental education, for both the city government and general public.
(B) Establishment and organization of the City Environmental Sustainability Commission.
(1) Creation. Pursuant to I.C. 36-1-3-1 et seq. (Home Rule), there is hereby established the Environmental Sustainability Commission of the city (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”).
(2) Composition.
(a) The Commission shall consist of nine voting members. The voting members shall be initially appointed by the Mayor of the city, subject to the approval of the Common Council of the city. Subsequent appointment of voting members as terms become open shall be made by the Mayor, subject to the approval of Common Council of the city. The members of the Commission should include persons knowledgeable and engaged in matters of sustainability, conservation and environment and involved and committed to promoting such matters in the city.
(b) As environmental concerns cannot be contained within a political subdivision, membership of individuals residing outside of the city limits is allowed; however, no more than three of the Commission members may live outside the city and it is recommended that any non-resident members be residents of the county or residents of counties adjacent to the county.
(c) To ensure that the Commission represents a wide range of interested constituencies and stakeholders, as necessary for its advisory and coordinating role, the Commission should include representatives actively associated with the following constituencies:
1. Non-profit organizations;
2. Business/industry;
3. City governance;
4. Education; and
5. Utilities.
(d) To represent a constituency, a member of the Commission should either be fully employed within the designated area, or hold a significant public office in that area (as in the case of members of the EDC, school boards and the like). No member of the Commission can represent more than one of these constituencies on the Commission at any given time. Not all members on the Commission are required to be associated with one of these specific constituencies. The Commission should include members from all major political parties active in the city (i.e., parties whose candidates regularly appear on the city election ballot for city positions), to make its recommendations non-partisan. Commission members shall serve without compensation.
(3) Term. Members shall serve for a term of two calendar years; however, in order for the terms to be staggered, the initial terms of members shall be as follows:
(a) Four shall expire December 31, 2013; five shall expire December 31, 2014; and
(b) A vacancy shall be filled by nomination and vote of existing Commission members (requiring at least two-thirds approval), subject to the approval of the Mayor and Common Council of the city, within 90 days from the time of vacancy. The new member shall serve for the unexpired duration of the term of the member who is being replaced. There is no limit to the number of terms or consecutive terms that a member may serve.
(4) Council liaison. One member of the Common Council of the city may be designated as an official liaison to the Commission and charged with informing the Commission on issues and pending and upcoming resolutions before the Council with special important for the environment, conservation of natural resources and sustainability, for the Commission to take up and advise the Council.
(5) Relation with Mayor. The Commission shall maintain an active working relationship with the Mayor, who will inform it of current and potential policies and procedures of the city government with special important for the environment, conservation of natural resources and sustainability, for the Commission to take up and advise the Mayor.
(6) Officers. The Commission shall elect from its membership a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary who shall each serve for one year and who may be reelected.
(7) Rules. The Commission shall adopt procedural rules consistent with this section for the transaction of its business. The rules must include the time and place of regular meetings and a procedure for the calling of special meetings.
(8) Meetings. Commission meetings must be open to the public and a public record shall be kept of the Commission’s resolutions, proceedings and actions in accordance with I.C. 5-14-1.5-1 et seq. (state’s Open Door Law). The Commission shall hold regular meetings, at least monthly, except when it has no business pending. Special meetings may be called in a manner determined by the Commission and its rules provided that all public notice requirements pursuant to I.C. 5-14-1.5-5 are followed.
(C) Powers and duties of the Commission.
(1) The Commission will have the power to make advisory recommendations, in relation to issues of environmental sustainability and conservation of natural resources, to the Common Council of the city, the Mayor of the city, the City Advisory Plan Commission, and city departments and offices. These recommendations may be made either at the request of the Common Council or Mayor of the city, or on the initiative of the Commission. The Commission will offer these recommendations in an advisory role only, and its recommendations are not binding in any way on decisions made by the Common Council, Mayor, Advisory Plan Commission or other government employees or officials of the city.
(2) The Commission will take into account in its recommendations the overall economic, social and cultural well-being of the general public of the city, but its purpose will be primarily to advise on matters of environmental sustainability and conservation of natural resources, and these elements will be its main concern in making recommendations, allowing other groups and officials to determine and weigh other relevant issues affecting decisions.
(3) The Commission will attempt to share information and coordinate efforts, to the best of its ability, among all public groups and private citizens in the city who are interested in promoting the goals of environmental sustainability and conservation of natural resources. This may include, but not be limited to, assisting as necessary with the publicizing of local environmental activities, compiling and providing a list of all environmental speakers to all interested persons, schools and groups, promoting the development of environmental curricula in local schools, encouraging and organizing workshops, seminars, films, slide shows and speaking programs on environmental concerns.
(4) The Commission will research and apply for grants or other funds or gifts from public or private agencies, to improve environmental sustainability and resource conservation in the city.
(5) The Commission will seek to publicize and celebrate successes in the city pertaining to environmental sustainability and conservation of natural resources, in order to attract and retain businesses and investments and bolster civic pride and identity. This goal may include seeking and maintaining official environmental or sustainability designations for the city, such as its current CLEAN Community Status through the State Department of Environmental Management.
(6) The Commission will seek to facilitate and coordinate environmental education in the city. As part of these efforts, the Commission may also promote cleanup, anti-litter and beautification projects that serve to develop civic pride in improving the environmental aesthetics of the community.
(7) The Commission will gather, coordinate and share data on environmental sustainability and natural resource conservation within the city, in ways that are useful and important to its other functions, listed above.
(Prior Code, § 32.80) (Ord. 17-2012, passed - -; Ord. 5-2018, passed - -)