[Adopted 11-20-2007 by Ord. No. 52-07]
There is hereby established a five-member Allegheny County Countywide Riverfront Park Commission. The Commission generally shall be empowered to assist in the implementation of land acquisition and development plans, as well as to control revenues appropriated by Allegheny County Council for the Commission's use in acquiring or improving land for a Countywide Riverfront Park.
A. 
The President of Allegheny County Council shall appoint each of the five regular members of the Riverfront Park Commission no later than February 15, 2008. The caucus of the party occupying the majority of the seats on Council shall approve three of the Commission members, while the caucus of the party occupying the minority of the seats on Council shall approve two of the Commission members. The President of Council shall designate a Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission after the fifth appointment is approved. The terms of office shall begin with the appointment of the fifth regular member, and all regular members shall serve terms of four years. Any regular member may be removed by the President of Allegheny County Council at will.
B. 
The Allegheny County Chief Executive shall sit on the Countywide Riverfront Park Commission as a nonvoting ex officio member.
Members of the Countywide Riverfront Park Commission shall be residents of the County at the time of appointment and throughout their service. No more than one regular member of the panel may be a County officer or employee at the time of appointment. Members of the Commission shall receive no compensation for the performance of their duties.
Four regular members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The Commission shall conduct no business except in the presence of a quorum. The Chairman of the Commission shall ensure that appropriate measures are taken to keep minutes of the Commission's proceedings. Such records shall be kept and preserved in accordance with applicable law. The Council shall furnish to the Commission such clerical assistance and supplies as may be deemed reasonable by the President.
In the case of a vacancy, the President of Allegheny County Council shall, within 30 days of the vacancy, make an appointment to fill the unexpired term.
A. 
Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held, at a minimum, four times a year at a time and place to be determined by the Commission. Meetings shall be open to the public and shall be held within Allegheny County.
B. 
Notice of all meetings and agendas shall be made available to the public prior to the meeting date. The Commission will set the agenda.
C. 
The Commission may promulgate such rules and regulations for its conduct as it deems necessary. Robert's Rules of Order shall prevail in matters which are not addressed in such rules and regulations, or until such rules and regulations are implemented.
The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
A. 
Enhance citizen involvement in policymaking issues by advising the Director of Parks and Recreation regarding the budget, fees and charges, personnel recruitment and training, and general operation of the Allegheny Countywide Riverfront Park (the "Park").
B. 
Subject to the terms of § 215-20, conduct periodic public meetings to report to the community and to receive input on various issues pertaining to the Park from citizens.
C. 
Recommend to the County Executive and the County Council plans for beautification and maintenance of the Park and its recreational areas and amenities.
D. 
Investigate the acquisition or abandonment of lands, lakes, waterways, trails, utility rights-of-way, greenways, buildings or other facilities for the purpose of constructing or improving the Park.
E. 
Investigate, recommend and implement construction of the Park in such a manner so as to maximize its value and use to existing riverfront communities and, specifically, to enhance the quality of life and increase property values in existing riverfront communities.
F. 
Work with public and private sector partners to connect the riverfront park to existing greenways and open space, and with local municipalities to preserve valuable open space lands adjacent to the Park.
G. 
Review and recommend to the Director of Parks and Recreation plans for the construction or improvement of buildings or other facilities within the Park.
H. 
Recommend fees and charges for Park services to the Director of Parks and Recreation for consideration, subject to the review and approval by Council and the Chief Executive.
I. 
Assist the Law Department, the Parks Department and the Department of Economic Development in the implementation of land acquisition and development plans.
J. 
Subject to the terms of §§ 215-22 and 215-23, authorize expenditures of County revenue appropriated by Council to the Commission for the purposes of land acquisition for or development of the Park.
A. 
Subject to applicable law, including provisions of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County pertaining to the procurement process and securing professional services,[1] the Commission shall select one or more entities to create a preliminary design for the proposed Countywide Riverfront Park, including linear pathways, bridge connections, and amenities. The entity or entities creating the preliminary design shall be selected no more than 180 days from the date of approval of a County budget in which sufficient funding for such preliminary design is appropriated for the Commission's use. The preliminary design authorized by this subsection shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) 
Proposed design standards for continuous and contiguous walkways, running paths and bikeways throughout the Park; and
(2) 
Recommendations for amenity types, construction, and location; and
(3) 
Proposed design standards for bridge connections and recommendations regarding which bridges within the County should serve as Riverfront Park connectors.
[1]
Editor's Note: For additional information regarding County procurement processes, see Charter Art. VIII, Competitive Procurement; and Administrative Code Part 9, Competitive Procurement and Contracting.
B. 
The preliminary design authorized in Subsection A shall, upon completion, be presented to Council and the Chief Executive, together with recommendations for future appropriations for the development of the Riverfront Park. The Commission shall, no less than once each year thereafter, submit additional and/or amended recommendations for appropriations for the development of the Riverfront Park.
C. 
In any fiscal year after the presentation of the preliminary design authorized in this section and in accordance with the terms of § 215-21K, the Commission may by majority vote authorize the expenditure of any revenues appropriated by Council for the Commission's use in acquiring property for or developing the Riverfront Park.
D. 
For the purposes of this section, the term "amenity" shall be deemed to include any improvement to existing property within the boundaries of the Park, such as parks, parklets, playgrounds, fishing or boating facilities, park shelters or picnic groves, rowing facilities, equipment rental facilities and any other recreational facilities.
The Countywide Riverfront Park Commission shall be required to obtain a binding resolution from the County of Allegheny authorizing the request, application, or acceptance of any state or federal funds requiring a County match from the operating or capital budgets of the County prior to any such request, application, or acceptance of funds.
The Countywide Riverfront Park Commission shall be deemed subject to the audit requirements contained within § 5-205.02 of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County in any calendar year(s) in which County revenue was appropriated for its use.