[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Easton 5-14-2008 by Ord. No. 5087. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Planning Commission — See Ch. 119.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 520.
An advisory council to be known as the City of Easton Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) is hereby created and shall continue to function until this chapter is revoked.
The Environmental Advisory Council shall be composed of seven residents of this City.
Environmental Advisory Council members shall be appointed in accordance with the following procedures:
A. 
All EAC members shall be appointed by the Mayor with approval of Easton City Council.
B. 
EAC members' terms of office shall expire on the first Monday in January following the last year of their term in office.
C. 
Duly appointed EAC members shall serve a term of three years, except that initial appointments shall be so staggered that the terms of approximately 1/3 of the membership shall expire each year. During the initial creation of the EAC, three members will be given three-year terms, three members will be given two-year terms, and one member will be given a one-year term by order of appointment. Terms thereafter will be for a period of three years.
D. 
One member of the Easton Planning Commission will also be one of the seven voting members of the EAC.
EAC members shall receive no compensation for their services.
The EAC is to be advisory to, and shall coordinate its activities with, the elected officials, Planning Commission and other such local governmental agencies.
The Easton City Council shall designate the Chairperson of the EAC.
The EAC shall have the following powers:
A. 
Identify environmental issues, research solutions, and make recommendations to Easton City Council and City of Easton departments and administration.
B. 
Recommend plans and programs to the appropriate agencies for the promotion and conservation of the City's natural resources and for the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment within the City of Easton and its territorial limits.
C. 
Make recommendations as to the possible use of open land areas and/or environmentally sensitive lands within the City of Easton and its territorial limits, including providing testimony to same when deemed necessary.
D. 
Promote community environmental programs and educate the public regarding the urban forest by planning and promoting city-wide cleanup activities, Arbor Day; by maintaining the City's status as a Tree City, USA; recycling programs and recyclable materials, and other events and/or programs.
E. 
Provide input for all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including, but not limited to, flood-prone areas, swamps, wetlands, and other unique natural areas.
F. 
Advise the appropriate local governmental agencies within the City of Easton and its territorial limits in the acquisition of both real and personal property by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, easement, devise or lease, in matters dealing with the purposes of this chapter.
G. 
Review subdivision and land development plans as requested by the City.
H. 
Advise Easton City Council and City of Easton departments and administration upon issues of energy conservation including sources of alternative energy.
I. 
To undertake such environmental tasks as requested by Easton City Council and City of Easton departments and administration.
The EAC shall keep records of its own meetings and activities and shall make an annual report which shall be printed in the annual municipal report (if applicable) or otherwise be made known and available. This report shall state the EAC's goals and achievements for the past year as well as goals for the upcoming year. Minutes of each meeting shall be forwarded to Easton City Council.
The City of Easton may appropriate funds for the expenses incurred by the EAC. Appropriations may be expended for those administrative, clerical, printing and legal services as may be required and as shall be within the limit of funds appropriated to the EAC. The whole or any part of the funds so appropriated in any year may be placed in a conservation fund and allowed to accumulate from year to year or may be expended in any year.
Three years from the date of enactment of this chapter, a review shall be conducted by Easton City Council as to the work of the Environmental Advisory Council and a determination shall be made concerning continuation of the EAC.