§ 2-285. Environmental affairs board.

(a)

Established. There is hereby established a city environmental affairs board (EAB) under authority of the Charter and G.S. 160A-146.

The environmental affairs board shall consist of seven voting members who represent a broad spectrum of vocations and professions from throughout the city. The members shall be appointed by the city council. Three members will be appointed to serve two-year terms. Four members will be appointed to serve three-year terms. Thereafter, all appointments or reappointments will be for three-year terms. Members may be reappointed at the discretion of the city council.

In addition to the seven voting members, the city manager or his designee shall serve as ex-officio member of the environmental affairs board.

(b)

Officers. The offices of the environmental affairs board shall consist of a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary. These officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the membership of the environmental affairs board at its first meeting following the appointment of new members each year. The secretary may be a city staff person assigned by the city manager or his designee, to take minutes and facilitate meetings of the EAB as noted below.

The chairman shall preside over all regular and special meetings. In the absence or disability of the chairman, the vice-chairman shall preside and exercise all the powers of the chairman.

(c)

Meetings. The environmental affairs board shall meet as needed. The board shall meet at the call of the chairman or at the written request of three members. Meetings may be held anywhere within the city. Written notice of each meeting, specifying date, time, and place shall be given to each member of the environmental affairs board not less than five days prior to the meeting unless an emergency or other special situation exists making it impossible or impractical to give five days prior notice; in which event, notice may be given by a reasonable means prior to the meeting. All meetings shall be open to the public.

(d)

Attendance. Participation by the membership of the environmental affairs board is critical to its success. In order to ensure a quorum at scheduled meetings, members should notify staff when unable to attend a scheduled meeting. Inactive members may be replaced for the remainder of an unexpired term at the discretion of the appointing board.

(e)

Quorum and voting. A quorum shall consist of four voting members of the environmental affairs board. All actions shall be decided by a majority vote of the members in attendance where a quorum was established.

(f)

Purpose. The general purpose of the environmental affairs board is to maintain and improve the quality of the environment in the city.

(g)

Topics. The environmental affairs board shall consider any and all topics related to the quality of the city environment. Topics include, but are not limited to: environmental protection; mining, energy, and horizontal drilling; nuclear power impacts; natural gas, coal and other energy source development; hazardous and radioactive materials management and disposal; watershed protection; groundwater and surface water protection; erosion control; water quality; air quality; energy conservation; incineration; sedimentation control; storm water management; wastewater management; open space protection; pollution prevention; waste management; recycling; landfill; hydraulic fracturing; and soil contamination. The environmental affairs board should use the widest latitude in determining what topics to address.

(h)

Duties. The specific duties of the commission shall be as follows:

(1)

Advising the local government of the city on environmental policy;

(2)

Educating the public and local officials about environmental issues;

(3)

Performing special studies and projects on environmental questions;

(4)

Facilitating citizen participation;

(5)

Remaining informed about changes in environmental laws and regulations affecting the city (and informing the public and local officials about such changes); and

(6)

Promoting state/city, county/city and public/private cooperation and coordination.

This list is not exhaustive, and the environmental affairs board should construe its duties broadly.

The environmental affairs board shall not have the authority to enforce any regulations, rules, ordinances, or laws.

(i)

Committees. The environmental affairs board may approve the establishment of such committees as it deems necessary, either standing or temporary. The composition of said committee shall be determined by the board with the committees selecting their own chairman.

(j)

Staff. The department of inspections and planning for the city will provide staff for the environmental affairs board. Staff shall be responsible for preparing notices of the meetings and agendas for the meeting after consultation with the chairman and any other board member who may want a specific item on the agenda. Staff shall also be responsible for keeping a record of members' attendance, of its resolutions, discussions, findings and recommendations, which shall be public record. At the discretion of the city manager, staff may be assigned to the environmental affairs board to provide assistance as needed.

(Ord. No. 2013-06, 3-5-2013)