(A) As an incident to the enactment of this subchapter, the County Council has made the following legislative findings:
(1) Council is empowered under the provisions of S.C. Code § 4-9-30(6) to establish commissions and positions in the county as may be necessary and proper to provide services of local concern for public purposes; to prescribe the functions thereof; and to regulate, modify, merge or abolish any commissions;
(2) Council is authorized to provide for land use and to promulgate regulations pursuant thereto under S.C. Code Title 6, Chapter 7;
(3) Council is empowered to enact ordinances for the implementation and enforcement of powers granted to Council and to exercise other powers as may be authorized for counties by the general law under S.C. Code § 4-9-30(14) and (17). The statutory powers conferred upon Council include the authority to enact regulations and ordinances as may appear to Council necessary and proper for the security, general welfare and convenience of counties, or for preserving health, peace, order and good government in them;
(4) Council finds that a new commission to be known as the York County Forever Commission should be created to promote the conservation of natural resources; to identify and promote the development and preservation of historical resources; to promote outdoor nature-based recreation; to encourage and promote tourism emphasizing natural, cultural and historical resources in the county; to assist in coordinating activities of volunteers, organizations and business and governmental agencies interested in the conservation of natural, cultural and historical resources; to encourage activities as may be necessary or advisable to acquire, preserve, develop and promote natural, cultural and historical resources in the county; to coordinate planning and activities with the Culture and Heritage Commission and other agencies, entities, organizations or groups to identify, list, develop and preserve natural, cultural and historical resources in the county; to prepare and submit to the County Council for consideration a proposed list of significant natural, cultural and historical resources to be protected through a new York County Forever Fund to be established for the identification, protection, preservation and development of natural, cultural and historical resources; to recommend to the County Council resources and properties which should be identified, acquired, leased, preserved, protected or developed; to promote the preservation of open space, areas of natural beauty, and views of open space and areas of natural beauty; to promote awareness of environmental problems; to enhance public awareness and the problems associated with littering; to promote education and research relating to natural, historical, cultural and environmental resources; to preserve farm land; to protect by identifying and developing natural, historical, cultural and environmental resources; and to investigate, coordinate and undertake the other projects as may be assigned to the commission by the County Council from time to time.
(B) There is hereby created a commission to be known as the York County Forever Commission which shall have the structure, organization, composition, purposes, powers, duties and functions established herein.
(Ord. 4998, passed 8-17-98; Am. Ord. 3403, passed 11-3-03)