[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Commission of the City of Royal Oak 9-28-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-11. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as and may be cited as the "Royal Oak Environmental Advisory Board Ordinance."
This is a chapter to establish the Royal Oak Environmental Advisory Board. The purpose of the Environmental Advisory Board shall be to advise and assist the environmental sustainability efforts of all City staff, boards, and commissions and community members. The Environmental Advisory Board shall make recommendations to the City Commission on all issues concerning City environmental sustainability efforts.
For the purpose of the provisions of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall be construed to have the meanings herein set forth, unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended:
Any policies, programs, projects, initiatives, or events related to the energy waste reduction, climate, air quality, water, waste, resilience, and/or other sustainability issues that improve quality of life and protect the environment.
In order to encourage and support environmental sustainability efforts in the City of Royal Oak, there is hereby created the Environmental Advisory Board.
The Board shall consist of 12 voting members who have experience or interest in environmental sustainability efforts. One of the 12 voting members shall be a member of the City Commission. The Department of Public Service and Recreation Director or his/her designee shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member of the Board. All voting Board members shall be residents of the City.
Board members shall be appointed by the City Commission for terms of three years. The initial Board shall be made up of those serving on the existing Environmental Advisory Committee as of the effective date of this chapter, with members' original appointment terms intact. Members of the Board shall be eligible for reappointment. Term limits, appointments, reappointments, appointment terminations, and vacancy rules are subject to applicable ordinance provisions. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the City Commission.
A.
It shall be the duty of the Board to advise and assist on environmental policies, programs, projects, initiatives, and events that help fulfill established sustainability goals of the City Commission.
B.
It shall be the duty of the Board to assist staff in developing and implementing the sustainability plan and associated action goals that serve to progress the strategy for supporting environmental sustainability efforts in the City of Royal Oak. It shall be the duty of the Board to assist staff in developing an annual report that includes updates and reports progress on any previously established goals. In December of each year, the report shall be submitted to the City Commission for approval.
C.
The Board shall have the authority to raise funds for environmental sustainability efforts through the application of grants, private sponsorships, donations, and other fund-raising strategies, including the authority to interact with donors on behalf of the City of Royal Oak. Funds raised and held by the Board are public funds and shall be reserved for the purposes of this chapter.
D.
The Board shall promote the public awareness of environmental sustainability policies, programs, projects, initiatives, and events in Royal Oak.
E.
The Board shall work with local, state, and national organizations, nonprofits, and businesses to encourage and support environmental sustainability efforts in Royal Oak.
A.
The Board shall elect a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and any other officers deemed necessary at the beginning of the first meeting of each year. The Chair shall preside over meetings and will serve as a voting member of the Board. The Vice Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair in his/her absence. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of the Board.
B.
At least seven members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the approval of motions and transaction of its business. An affirmative vote requires at least 51% of the quorum voting in favor. The Board shall adopt rules for the transaction of its business which shall provide for the time and place of holding meetings.
C.
The Board shall meet at least eight times per year on a day and time to be established by the Board.
E.
The Board shall keep a record of its proceedings and actions. A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the Board or subcommittees of the Board in the performance of an official function shall be made available to the public in compliance with the State of Michigan Freedom of Information Act.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See MCLA § 15.231 et seq.
If any section, subsection, clause, phrase or portion of this chapter is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent portion of this chapter, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter.
All proceedings pending and all rights and liabilities existing, acquired or incurred at the time this chapter takes effect are saved and may be consummated according to the law in force when they are commenced.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed only to the extent necessary to give this chapter full force and effect.
This chapter shall take effect 10 days after the final passage thereof.
