[Adopted 10-22-2002 by Ord. No. 54-02]
There is hereby created an advisory council in each of the County parks: Boyce Park, Deer Lakes Park, Harrison Hills Park, Hartwood Acres Park, North Park, Round Hill Park, Settler's Cabin Park, South Park and White Oak Park. Each council shall be designated as the "Council of Friends" of the respective park. Each council shall be a County agency as defined in the Administrative Code, and shall be subject to all provisions within the Administrative Code relating to agencies.
Unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context, the following terms, as used in this article, shall be defined as follows:
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Parks and Recreation.
DIRECTOR
The Director of Parks and Recreation.
FRIENDS COUNCIL
The Council of Friends for any or all parks.
MEMBERS
The members of the Council of Friends.
[Amended 2-4-2003 by Ord. No. 03-03; 4-16-2013 by Ord. No. 11-13]
A. 
Each Friends Council shall be comprised of a minimum of seven members per county park. Appointments to each Friends Council shall be made as designated in this article and presented to County Council for confirmation. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner for an unexpired term. The appointment process will begin with the confirmation of the Commission.
B. 
County Council members that represent a district in which a park is located shall make seven appointments for each park located within their district. If a member has more than one park in his or her district, there shall be seven selections per park. The Council members shall present their appointments to the full Council for confirmation.
C. 
County Council members that represent a district in which there is no park shall make three appointments each and shall designate to which Friends Council those appointments are being made. The at-large members of County Council shall also make three appointments each and shall designate to which Friends Council those appointments are being made. The Council members shall present their appointments to the full Council for confirmation.
D. 
The members of the Friends Council must reside in the County at the time of their appointment and must maintain residence within the County at all times during their service on the Friends Council.
E. 
The terms of office shall be two years for each member of the Friends Council. Members may be reappointed after their initial term. The term of office shall begin with the appointment of the Director of Parks and Recreation by the County Executive. The terms shall terminate when members' successors are appointed and qualified.
F. 
The members of the Friends Councils shall receive no compensation for the performance of their official duties.
G. 
The members of the Friends Councils shall include, to the extent possible, representation from the labor, the disability community, education, environmental advocates, sports and athletic programs landscape architecture and historic preservation. Consideration shall also be given to geographic diversity among members.
H. 
Members of the Friends Councils may be removed by the appointing official at will.
A. 
Each Friends Council shall have at least two officers, Chair and Vice Chair.
B. 
All officers shall be elected by the members for a term of two years, and no officer shall serve more than two successive terms in that office.
[Amended 3-4-2014 by Ord. No. 04-14]
C. 
The officers of the Friends Council shall perform such duties as are customarily assigned to such officers.
Each Friends Council shall have the following powers and duties:
A. 
Streamline communications with all existing "friends" groups within their respective park by sharing information on park plans that impact their specific interest areas.
B. 
Conduct periodic public meetings to report to the community and to receive input on various issues from the citizens.
C. 
Communicate information from the public meetings to the Director and the Parks and Recreation Commission, including initiatives undertaken by special interest groups and suggestions for changes or attention to park facilities.
D. 
Maximize the effectiveness of efforts by the various "friends" groups within the park by sharing information at public meetings and coordinating events and initiatives.
E. 
Work in conjunction with the County Council members representing the district in which the park is located to address issues of concern or interest.
F. 
Make reports to the community and special interest groups in existence on Department plans for the parks.
G. 
Work closely with the Director and staff to educate park users about changes in governance and the positive impacts for their interest areas.
A. 
Regular meetings of the Friends Councils shall be held, at a minimum, twice a year at a time and place to be determined by each respective Friends Council. Meetings shall be open to the public and shall be held within Allegheny County.
B. 
Notice of the meeting and its agenda shall be given to the public prior to meeting and shall also be communicated to the County Executive, County Council and the Director. The agenda shall be at the discretion of the Friends Council.
C. 
A majority of all the members in attendance at the meeting of a Friends Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A motion shall carry upon the affirmative vote of the majority of the members present at any meeting.
D. 
Summaries of each meeting shall be kept and filed with the County Clerk who shall, in turn, provide copies to the County Executive and County Council.
E. 
Robert's Rules of Order shall prevail.