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HomeMy WebLinkAbout60A - ETAC REVIEWREQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: MAY 19, 2015 TITLE: RECOMMENDED ACTION CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: ❑ As Recommended © As Amended 171 Ordinance on 1" Reading lI Ordinance on 2nd Reading 0 Implementing Resolution 0 Set Public Hearing For CONTINUED TO FILE NUMBER 1. Review the roles and responsibilities recommended by staff of the Environmental and Transportation Advisory Committee. 2. Direct staff to coordinate with the City Attorney's Office the development of appropriate legal codes to ensure the Environmental and Transportation Advisory Committee role is clear and follows the direction provided by the City Council. DISCUSSION The City's Environmental and Transportation Advisory Committee (ETAC) has served the City Council as an advisory body on issues related to trees in the public right -of -way, as well as transportation, solid waste, and water resources. The responsibilities were formed and updated by Council resolutions over the last four decades, Recently, however, the City Attorney's Office informed Public Works staff that a 1999 ordinance limited ETAC duties to acting in an advisory capacity relative to street tree removal and planting only, After informing ETAC on the limitations of their responsibilities, the Public Works Director and City Engineer held meetings in recent months with an ETAC ad -hoc committee to discuss redefining ETAC roles. The ad -hoc committee agreed to send City staff its suggestions (Exhibit 1). The roles suggested by the ad -hoc committee are similar to and a little more expansive than the traditional roles described in Resolution 91 -112, prior to the 1999 Ordinance referenced above. Because some of these issues have become highly regulated and complex, including intricate solid waste, water resources and environmental matters, staff recommends ETAC roles and responsibilities be focused on street tree related matters and major transportation issues. The relatively recent establishment of the City Council committees and their routine and frequent 60A -1 Roles and Responsibilities Environmental and Transportation Advisory Committee May 19, 2015 Page 2 involvement on a wide variety of matters also plays a role In the staff recommendation, since there are now regular and recurrent opportunities for staff to receive feedback from the City Council on policy matters impacting transportation, solid waste, water resources, and the environment. Staff recognizes the benefit of ETAC to staff and to the community, delivering opportunities for the public to be heard on routine street tree matters and parkway landscaping, and to provide comments and input on major transportation projects such as general circulation, complete streets, and Pavement Management Programs. Therefore in order to clarify, simplify, and streamline ETAC input and to avoid duplicating the efforts of the City Council committees, staff recommends consideration be given to ETAC serving in an advisory capacity directly to the Public Works Agency. Staff recommends that ETAC would benefit the Santa Ana community the most by taking on the following roles. 0 City Street Trees — this largely would remain unchanged — Advisory role to approve /deny street tree removals. • Involvement should continue to be city street trees located in the public right -of -way • Review and make recommendations regarding public requests for removal of city street trees by property owners, neighborhood associations, or developers • Make recommendations on designated species for specific streets and neighborhoods • Make recommendations on special tree disposition projects, such as Cabrillo Park Drive Q Major surface transportation programs — Review, general input, and receive / file reports on: • Circulation Element • Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans • Citywide Complete Streets (Toolbox and Traffic Calming Plans Overview) • Neighborhood Traffic Management Plans O Evaluate special transportation projects as requested by Council. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT Approval of this Item supports the City's efforts to meet Goal #5 Community Health, Livability, Engagement & Sustainability, Objective #1 (establish a comprehensive community engagement initiative to expand access to information and create opportunities for stakeholders to play an active role In discussing public policy and setting priorities), 60A -2 Roles and Responsibilities Environmental and Transportation Advisory Committee May 19, 2095 Page 3 ENVIRQNMENTA„L IMPACT There is no environmental impact associated with this action, FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. Pro Mousavlpour Executive Director Public Works Agency FM(EWG Exhibit; I. Suggested ETAC Roles by ETAC Ad -Hoc Committee 60A -3 60A -4 Suggested ETAC Roles By ETAC Ad -Hoc ENVIRONMENTAL AND TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE BYLAWS ARTICLE I - PURPOSE The Environmental and Transportation Advisory Committee, Herinafter referred to as the Committee, was established by City Council in its resolution 91.112, The duties of the Committee shall consist of acting in an advisory capacity to the City Council in the review and development of systems, facilities, plans, policies, prioritiec,and programs related to all forme of transportation, solid waste, water resources, urban forest, and other environmental issues; receiving input from citizens, businessmen and other groups and interests with the city; and preparing, with the assistance of city staff personnel, recommendations to the city council for approval and implementation. AKI ICLL 11 - POWL''RS AN1) DUTIES The Colmnittee shall have the power and be required to: 1. Consider environmental and transportation matters that may be referred to it by the City Council, the City Manager, the Executive Director of the Public Works Agency, or by Committee members, and render such counsel and advice in regard thereto; 2. Review and develop systems, facilities, plans, policies, priorities and programs related to transportation. solid waste and other environmental issues; and 3. Receive input from citizens, busplesspeople, and other groups and interests with the City; and prepare, with the assistance of city staff, recommendations to the City Council for review and approval. ARTICLE III - OPTICERS 1. The officers shall be a Chair and a Vice - Chair, elected by the members at the January meeting of the Conlmittee. 2. A Secretary and Legal Counsel shall be appointed from staff. 3. Nominations shall be made in person by members of the Conunittee. 4. Officers shall serve a term of one year froin the humaly meeting at which they are elected or until their successors are duly elected. 5. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Committee, authorize calls for any special meetings, appoint all subcommittees, and execute all doclunents authorized by the Committee. Exhibit 1 60A -5 6. The Secretary shall keep a true and accurate record of all meetings of the Committee, shall issue notice of all regular and special meetings, and shall perform such duties as are generally associated with that office. ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS 1. The regular meeting shall be held each month, the date and hour to be set by the Committee. 2. Special meetings may be called at the direction of the Chair, or at the request of five members, for the transaction of business as stated in the call for the meeting. 3. A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting shall consist of a majority of currently appointed board members. 4. An affirmative vote of the majority of members present shall be necessary to approve any action before the Committee. 5. No member of the Committee shall abstain from any vote unless disqualified. If a member of the Committee feels that he /she is disqualified from voting, to the extent permitted by law, the member shall openly state the Fact and the nature of the disqualification prior to discussion, and then leave the room during the debate and the vote on the issue. If there is a doubt, the matter shall be resolved by Legal Counsel. 6. The Secretary will automatically record an abstention on the minutes for any member that was absent at the previous meeting. 7. Excused absences shall be defined as any absence received by the Executive Director, Secretary, or the Chair before commencement of the meeting. 8. In as much as it is the desire of this Committee to have a full commitment from each member, the Committee shall review, on a case by case basis, instances of three consecutive absences (whether or not excused) or four total absences during a calendar year. ARTICLE V - SUBCOMMITTEES 1. The Chair shall appoint a subcommittee of one or more members each for such specific purposes as the business of the Committee may require from time to time. The subcommittee shall be considered to be discharged upon the completion of the purpose for which it was appointed and after the final report is made to the Committee. 2. All subcommittees shall make a progress report to the Committee as needed. 3. All subcommittees will have advisory powers only. . 1 M ARTICLE VI -PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY The current edition of Robert's Rides of Order Newly Revised shall be the authority on all questions of parliamentary law unless in conflict with these bylaws or with the laws of the State of California. ARTICLE VII - ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS These Bylaws shall be adopted and amended from time to time, by a 66% affirmative vote of the Committee, with approval of the City Council. ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE: September 11, 2003 60A -7 .1 m