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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-07-2019 Climate Action CommissionIowa City Climate Action Commission Monday, October 7, 2019, 3:30— 5:00 p.m. MPO Conference Room Iowa City City Hall 410 E. Washington Street Meeting Agenda: 1. Call to Order 2. Introductions of new member(s) 3. Overview of final Council resolution forming the Commission 4. Process and timeline for adding new members 5. Draft bylaws a. Review draft provided i. Purpose of Commission ii. Duties iii. Membership iv. Meetings v. Amendments 6. Next Steps a. Identify resources for new members 7. Public Comment 8. Administrative Tasks a. Next meeting: Monday, November 4 at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall b. Big Grove Climate Event, Thurs. Nov. 211` Doors open 5:30, event begins 6:00 p.m. c. Upcoming trainings for commission members d. Other 9. Adjourn —S:OOp.m. If you will need disability -related accommodations in order to participate in this meeting, please contact Brenda Nations, Sustainability Coordinator, at 319-356-6161 or at brenda-nations@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. Prepared by: Brenda Nations, Sustainability Coordinator, 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240 (319)887-6161 Resolution No. 19-251 Resolution establishing a Climate Action Commission Whereas, in Resolution No. 17-96 the Iowa City City Council authorized the creation of a Climate Action Steering Committee for the purpose of creating the Climate Action and Adaption Plan to achieve greenhouse gas emissions targets of 26-28% from 2005 levels by 2025 and 80% by 2050; and Whereas, the Steering Committee convened Adaptation Plan, adopted in September 2018, continue as a self -governed advisory board; and during the creation of the Climate Action and and dissolved from an official City capacity to Whereas, after one year, members of the self -governed committee recommended a formal City Commission to address the City's climate action and sustainability objectives; and Whereas, in July 2019, City Council declared a Climate Crisis and increased new greenhouse gas emissions targets of 45% by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050 as recommended in October 2018 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in response to this crisis; and Whereas, creation of a Climate Action Commission will enhance and enable further community efforts to achieve the City's ambitious climate goals; and Whereas, a created Climate Action Commission will operate as an advisory body to the City Council and shall advise, research, analyze, promote, and with approval, implement initiatives that support the City's climate and sustainability goals, including the Climate Action Plan and any related or updated plan hereafter; and Whereas, the composition of the Climate Action Commission shall include eleven members with backgrounds, knowledge, and expertise offering representation across the community which could effectively guide implementation of climate objectives. MidAmerican Energy and the University of Iowa will each have a standing representative on the Commission. Nine at -large seats, representing other key stakeholders, will be appointed by the City Council. Key stakeholders may include, but are not limited to, the Iowa City Community School District, area commercial businesses, local industry, design and construction professionals, non -profits, and the general public; Whereas, residents of Iowa City should be given preference, but members are not required to have Iowa City residency; and Whereas, the self-governing climate advisory board is a direct successor to the Steering Committee which developed the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Active members of this board have expressed interest in continuing in a formalized role and it is appropriate to appoint these members initially, without regard to gender balance; and Whereas, Commission member terms should be three years, with a two -term limit, and the initial terms will be staggered in length, with all members appointed for three years. The two standing members, MidAmerican Energy and the University of Iowa, will assign their representatives and not be subject to term limits; and Whereas, the Commission should be guided by principles of equity, and ensure through diverse and representative Commission membership and through its actions, to consider equity impacts of proposed climate initiatives; and 19J � Resolution No. 13=251 Page 2 Whereas, the Commission may form working groups or subcommittees on specific topics and issues to achieve substantive progress on action areas of the plan. Working groups and subcommittees may include members from outside the Commission; and Whereas, the newly created Commission will create greater credibility, influence, awareness, and capacity in interactions with City elected and appointed leadership, and throughout the community. Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Iowa City City Council hereby establishes a Climate Action Commission in order to assist the City in the implementation of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan in order to reach the new Climate Crisis emissions targets by 2030 and 2050 as follows: The Commission shall have eleven total members consisting of nine at -large members appointed by the City Council, one from MidAmerican Energy, and one from the University of Iowa. 2. Members shall have backgrounds, knowledge, and expertise offering representation across the community which will effectively guide implementation of climate objectives, and may include representation from the Iowa City Community School District, area commercial businesses, local industry, design and construction industry, non -profits, and the general public. 3. Any active member of the climate advisory board who is interested in serving on the Commission is appointed as an initial member, even if not gender balanced. 4. City residency is preferred, but members are not required to be Iowa City residents as long as they are residents of Johnson County and meet the requirements of knowledge and expertise for guiding climate objectives, as set forth in Paragraph 2. 5. Member terms shall be three years, with a two -term limit except for the three members initially appointed for a one-year term. The initial terms shall be staggered in length as follows: a. Three members appointed for three years with terms ending December 31, 2022. b. Three members appointed for two years with terms ending December 31, 2021. c. Three members appointed for one year with terms ending December 31, 2020. These three members may be appointed for two additional three-year terms. Accordingly, the new terms for three members shall commence January 1, 2023, for three members on January 1, 2022, and three members on January 1, 2021. Representative members from MidAmerican Energy and from the University of Iowa will govern their own appointments and not be subject to term limits. 6. The Commission may form working groups and/or subcommittees on specific topics and issues to achieve substantive progress on action areas of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Resolution No. Page 3 7. The Climate Action Commission shall: a) advise the City Council on climate issues. b) research, analyze, and promote climate actions, with particular attention to equity. c) educate and engage with the public on climate action and the City's climate and sustainability goals. d) assist City staff, City Council, and members of the community with implementing approved initiatives that support the City's climate and sustainability goals, including the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and any related or updated plan hereafter. e) recommend to City Council updates to the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. 8. The Climate Action Commission shall prepare bylaws, which it deems necessary and advisable for the conduct of business of the Commission, and present the bylaws to the Rules Committee and City Council for approval. Passed and approved this day ofoctoher 2019. //Cro. i Mayor ATTEST: . CITY CLERK &proved City Attorney's Office Resolution No. 19-251 Page 4 It was moved by Mims and seconded by Teague Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: Cole Mims Salih Taylor Teague Thomas Throgmorton the DRAFT BY-LAWS IOWA CITY CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION ARTICLE 1 THE COMMISSION Section A. The name of the Commission is the Climate Action Commission of Iowa City, Iowa, as established by Resolution No. 19-251 of the City Council of Iowa City, Iowa. ARTICLE 2 PURPOSE Section A. The purpose of the Commission is to enhance and enable further community efforts to achieve the City's ambitious climate goals. ARTICLE 3 DUTIES Section A. Duties of the Commission shall include: I) advise the City Council on climate issues; 2) research, analyze, and promote climate actions, with particular attention to equity; 3) educate and engage with the public on climate action and the City's climate and sustainability goals; 4) assist City staff, City Council, and members of the community with implementing approved initiatives that support the City's climate and sustainability goals, including the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and any related or updated plan hereafter; 5) recommend to the City Council updates to the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. ARTICLE 4 MEMBERSHIP Section A. Members The Climate Action Commission, shall consist of eleven (11) members with backgrounds; knowledge, and expertise offering representation across the community which could effectively guide implementation of climate objectives. MidAmerican Energy and the University of Iowa will each have a standing representative on the Commission. Section B. Appointment Nine at -large seats, representing key stakeholders, will be appointed by the City Council of Iowa City. Key stakeholders may include, but are not limited to, the Iowa City Community School District, area commercial businesses, local industry, design and construction professionals, non- profits and the general public. Section C. Residency Whereas, residents of Iowa City should be given preference, members are not required to have Iowa City residency. Section D. Terms Member terms shall be three (3) years, with a two -term limit. Section E. Officers The Chairperson and Vice -Chairperson will be elected annually (in December) from the Commission membership. The Chairperson shall, when present, preside at all meetings, appoint sub -committees with the approval of the Commission, call special meetings and in general perform all duties included in the office of a Chairperson and such other duties as may be prescribed by the members from time to time. The Vice -Chairperson shall take over the above duties of the Chairperson in the event of the Chairperson's absence. Section F. Compensation and Expenses Commissioners shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred or travel outside of Johnson County on designated Commission business. Such expenses shall have prior approval by the City Manager of Iowa City upon the request of the Sustainability Coordinator. Receipts for all such expenses shall be stipulated to the City Manager of Iowa City through the Sustainability Coordinator prior to reimbursement for such expenses. Section G. Orientation of new Members Prior to the first regular meeting following their appointment, new Commissioners shall be provided with copies of the By -Laws and other documentation that would be useful to Commission members in carrying out their duties. They may also be given an orientation briefing by members of the staff, the Commission and others as may be deemed appropriate. Section I -I. Absences Three (3) consecutive, unexplained absences of a member from regular meetings will result in a recommendation to the City Council from the Commission to discharge said member and appoint a new member. Section I. Resignations If any member is unable to continue carrying out the duties of membership for any reason, the member, if appointed by the City Council, shall send a letter of resignation to the City Council with a copy to the Commission. Section K. Unexpired Terms If a position becomes vacant by reason of resignation or otherwise and results in an unexpired term the Council may choose to 'fill the unexpired term in such a manner that the appointee shall continue in the position not only through the unexpired term but also through a subsequent regular term. ARTICLE 5 MEETINGS Section A, Meetings of this Commission shall be on a regular monthly basis. A meeting date and time will be established by the Commission. A regular meeting may be cancelled if no urgent business requires a meeting. Section B. Special meetings of the Commission may be, called by the Chairperson and shall be called by the Chairperson at the request of a majority of the membership. Section C. Meetings shall be held in an accessible, public meeting place. Notices of meetings (agenda) for all regular and special meetings shall be posted and distributed to membersand the media at least 24 hours before any meeting is held. All provisions of the State Open Meeting Law shall be followed. The Chairperson or a designated representative, together with appropriate members of the City staff shall prepare an agenda for all meetings. Agendas shall be sent to Commission members at least three (3) days prior to the regular meetings. Section D. A majority of the members of the Commission (six or more) shall constitute a quorum of any meeting and the majority of votes cast at any meeting, at which a quorum is present, shall be decisive of any motion or election. Section E. There shall be no vote by proxy. Section F. Time shall be made available during all regular meetings for open public discussion. Section G. Minutes of all meetings shall be prepared and distributed to the City Council within three (3) weeks of the meeting in the manner prescribed by the Council. Minutes of all regular and special meetings will be e-mailed to all the Commission members during the week prior to the next meeting. Specific recommendations for the Council shall be set off from the main body of the minutes. ARTICLE 6 AMENDMENTS Section A. The By -Laws of the Commission shall be amended only with the approval of at least a majority of the Commission (at least six votes) at a regular meeting or a special meeting, Section B. Policy changes or By -Law changes may be adopted at the meeting following the meeting at which open discussion was conducted on the specific changes.