[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City
of Easton 5-14-2008 by Ord. No. 5087. Amendments noted where applicable.]
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.
