[Adopted 4-17-2006 by Ord. No. 06-002]
This article shall be known, identified, and
cited as the "Commission on Environment and Water Quality" and herein
be referred to as the "Commission."
A.
The Commission shall provide advice and make recommendations
to the City Council and the City Manager in regard to stewardship
of the land and water resources within, or contiguous to, the City
of Monroe. The Commission shall also take direction from the City
Council and the City Manager on issues and projects that may affect
the quality of land and water resources within, or contiguous to,
the City of Monroe.
B.
The Commission shall function in an advisory capacity
only and shall have no authority to adopt, amend, modify, alter or
rescind any policy, rule, regulation or ordinance that governs the
stewardship, use of, or management of the land and water resources
within, or contiguous to, the City of Monroe.
[Amended 12-21-2009 by Ord. No. 09-014]
The Commission shall have the following responsibilities:
A.
To study and recommend to City Council on a variety of matters pertaining
to environmental protection and public education.
B.
To advise and recommend as well as to create and implement legislation
and programs that support objectives and requirements of Phase Two
of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Water Act.
C.
To create and implement public outreach and environmental education
programs that create an awareness of the need to protect the environment.
D.
To suggest and recommend to City Council policies and legislation
necessary to implement programs for protection of the environment.
E.
To make studies of existing and proposed programs related to the
environment and assist in the development of new programs designed
to protect the environment.
F.
To develop collaborative relationships with other governmental entities
and nonprofit environmental organizations, subject to Council's oversight
authority.
G.
The River Raisin Remedial Action Plan Public Advisory Council (RAP-PAC)
shall be nested under the Commission where RAP-PAC membership shall
be volunteers (residents of the City) and appointed by the Commissioners.
Such appointment shall be made by the Commissioners each year.
[Amended 12-21-2009 by Ord. No. 09-014]
A.
The Commission shall be comprised of nine Commissioners appointed
by the Mayor and approved by City Council through resolution. The
Commission's membership shall consist of the following: one Commissioner
who represents business/industry; one Commissioner who represents
education; one Commissioner who either has professional expertise
(or expertise beyond an ordinary lay background) in science, engineering
or a similar science-related or environmental discipline; five Commissioners
who shall be from a cross-section of the community; and one Commissioner
who shall be a member of City Council and who shall serve as liaison
to City Council. At least five of the Commissioners shall be residents
of the City, and all Commissioners shall be residents of Monroe County.
B.
The term of appointment for each Commissioner shall be three years
and shall expire on the second Monday of January.
C.
Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Commission shall be
filled by the appointing authority, i.e., appointed by the Mayor and
approved by City Council, for the remainder of the unexpired term.
D.
Commissioners shall serve at the pleasure of City Council. Nonattendance
or unexcused absences at three regularly scheduled consecutive Commission
meetings will hereby be determined to constitute neglect of the Commissioner's
responsibilities and shall automatically create a vacancy without
further action. However, a Commissioner may request from the Commission
a leave of absence, not to exceed 120 days. Such a leave of absence
may be granted upon the majority vote of the Commission.
A.
The Commission shall meet at least once quarterly.
A majority of the Commissioners shall constitute a quorum.
B.
All Commission meetings shall be open to the public
and all business shall be conducted in public session. All meetings
shall be posted and conducted in conformity with the Michigan Open
Meetings Act.[1] At each meeting, there shall be an opportunity for the
public to speak.
[1]
Editor's Note: See MCLA § 15.261
et seq.
C.
The Commission shall keep minutes of all meetings
it conducts, and such minutes shall contain a record of all proceedings,
resolutions, and actions taken by the Commission. Such minutes shall
be open to public inspection.
D.
All Commission meetings shall be conducted in accordance
with Robert's Rules of Order.
The Commission shall have assigned to it City
staff as designated by the City Manager who shall be secretary to
the Commission and who shall have the responsibility to: record the
meetings on audiotape; keep, prepare, and distribute meeting minutes;
and prepare and distribute materials to be considered in the business
of the Commission; and act as a resource to the Commissioners.
