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.