1b Environmental Commission, Changing Meeting Date and Time
CITY OF
CHANHASSEN
7700 Market Boulevard
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Administration
Phone 952.227.1100
Fax 952.227.1110
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Phone 952.227.1180
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2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone: 952.227.1400
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Natural Resources
Phone 952.227.1130
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1591 Park Road
Phone 952.227.1300
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Senior Center
Phone 952.227.1125
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Web Site
wwwci.chanhassen.mn.us
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MEMORANDUM
TO:
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
FROM:
Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist
D~
DATE:
November 28, 2005
SUBJ:
Change to monthly meeting date and time for Environmental
Commission
REQUESTED ACTION (Simple majority vote of the City Council)
Authorize the monthly meeting date and time for the Environmental Commission.
The Commission will meet the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm.
DISCUSSION
The Environmental Commission recently voted and approved a change to their
monthly meeting dates. Their regular date and time was the 2nd Wednesday of
the month starting at 7 pm. They would like to move their meetings to the 2nd
Tuesday of the month starting at 6:30 pm. The change is to accommodate the
different schedules of all the commissioners. The Environmental Commission
by-laws have been modified to reflect the change.
RECOMMENDA TION
Staff recommends approval of the change to the monthly meeting date and time
for the Environmental Commission to the 2nd Tuesday of the month, starting at
6:30 pm.
The City of Chanhassen . A growing community with clean lakes, quality schools, a charming downtown, thriving businesses, winding trails, and beautiful parks. A great place to live, work, and play.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
CITY OF CHANHASSEN
BY-LAWS
The following by-laws are adopted by the Chanhassen Environmental Commission to
facilitate the performances of its duties and the exercising of its functions as a Commission
established by the City Council pursuant to the provision of Subdivision 1, Section 462.354,
Minnesota State Statutes annotated.
Section 1 - Duties and Responsibilities
1.1 The Environmental Commission has the purpose and responsibility to provide the residents
of Chanhassen with opportunities to improve the quality of their environment, address
issues that affect the city's natural resources, provide environmental education to the public,
bring a comprehensive perspective to environmental issues, and advocate the benefits and
necessity of Chanhassen's natural resources.
1.2 The Environmental Commission shall serve as an advisory body to the City Council and
Planning Commission in addressing the needs of the environment as directed by the City
Council. All final decisions are to be made by the City Council.
1.3 The Environmental Commission will consider and make recommendations at the direction
of the City Council regarding environmental issues.
1.4 The Environmental Commission will make recommendations at the direction of the City
Council regarding funding for environmental projects.
1.5 The Environmental Commission may propose studies to the City Council and make
recommendations according to the results.
1.6 The Environmental Commission will coordinate services with other governmental and
private agencies for related issues
1.7 Establishment of Sub-Committees. The Environmental Commission may, as they deem
appropriate, establish special sub-committees comprised solely of their own members.
Section 2 - Meetings
2.1 Time and Place. Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held on the second
\VedResday Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 7700 Market Boulevard,
unless otherwise directed by the Chairperson, in which case, at least 24 hours notice will be
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given to all members. Regular meetings shall have a curfew of 9:00 p.m. which may be
waived at the discretion of the Chairperson. All unfinished business will be carried over to
the next regular meeting. When the regular meeting day falls on a legal holiday, there shall
be no meeting. In such an event, the monthly meeting shall be rescheduled by consensus.
2.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings shall be held upon call by consensus of the
Commission and with at least 48 hours of notice to all members.
2.3 Attendance. The Environmental Commission members shall attend not less than 75% of all
regular and special meetings held during a given calendar year and shall not be absent from
three consecutive meetings. Failure to meet this minimum attendance requirement will
result in removal from the commission.
Section 3 - Commission Composition - Terms and Vacancies
3.1 Composition. The Environmental Commission shall consist of seven voting members.
Seven members shall be appointed by the City Council and may be removed by the Council.
The City Council may appoint one of their members to serve as a liaison to the
Commission.
3.2 Terms and Vacancies. The City Council shall appoint seven members to the commission
for terms of three years. Vacancies during the term shall be filled by the Council for the
unexpired portion of the term. All members shall serve without compensation.
3.3 Member Requirements. All members of the Environmental Commission shall be in
compliance with all local, state, and federal environmental regulations at their homes and
owned businesses. Members will be allowed six months to correct any violations.
Violations existing after that time will be reasonable cause for removal from the
Commission by action of the City Council.
3.4 Quorum. Four Environmental Commission members shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Whenever a quorum is not present, no final or official action shall
be taken at such meeting.
Section 4 - Organization
4.1 Election of Officers. The first meeting in April of each year, the Environmental
Commission shall hold an organizational meeting. At this meeting, the Commission shall
elect from its membership a chairperson and vice-chairperson. This shall be done by voice
vote. Vice-Chairperson shall be elected from the remaining members by the same
proceeding. If the Chairperson retires from the Environmental Commission before the next
regular organizational meeting, the Vice-Chairperson shall be Chairperson. If both
Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson retire, new officers shall be elected at the next regular
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meeting. If both Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are absent from a meeting, the
Commission shall elect a temporary Chairperson by voice vote.
4.2 Duties of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. The Chairperson, or in his/her absence, the
Vice Chairperson, shall conduct the meeting so as to keep it moving as rapidly and
efficiently as possible and shall remind members, witnesses and petitioners to preserve
order and decorum and to keep comments to the subject at hand. The Chairperson shall not
move for action but may second motions.
Section 5 - Procedure
5.1 Procedure. When appropriate, parliamentary procedure governed by Robert's Rules of
Order Revised shall be followed.
Section 6 - Informational Meetings
6.1 Purpose of Informational Meetings. The purpose of an informational meeting is to collect
information and facts in order for the Commission to develop a rational environmental issue
recommendation for the City Council.
6.2 Meeting Procedure. At informational meetings, the following procedures shall be followed
in each case:
a. The Chairperson shall state the purpose of the meeting.
b. Interested persons may address the Commission, giving information regarding the
particular proposal.
Section 7 - Miscellaneous
7.1 Environmental Commission Discussion. Matters for discussion which do not appear on the
agenda may not be considered and discussed by the Commission until the end of the
agenda.
7.2 Suspension of Rules. The Commission may suspend any of these rules by unanimous vote
of the members present.
7.3 Amendments. Amendments of these by-laws may be made at any regular or special
meeting of the Environmental Commission but only if scheduled on the meeting agenda in
advance of the meeting.
7.4 Review. At the first meeting in April of each year, these by-laws shall be read and adopted
by the Environmental Commission.
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November, 2005.
, Chairperson
, Mayor
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