[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:
The Department of Parks and Recreation.
The Director of Parks and Recreation.
The Council of Friends for any or all parks.
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.
