City of Monroe, MI Article IX Commission on Environment and Water Quality

[Adopted 4-17-2006 by Ord. No. 06-002]

§ 22-29 Title.

This article shall be known, identified, and cited as the "Commission on Environment and Water Quality" and herein be referred to as the "Commission."

§ 22-30 Purpose.

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.

§ 22-31 Responsibilities.

[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.

§ 22-32 Membership; terms of office; vacancies; removal; residency.

[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.

§ 22-33 Meetings, open meetings, records and parliamentary procedure.

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.

§ 22-34 Staff resource.

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.