Los Banos Municipal Code Art. 3 entitled "Los Banos Tree Commission," consisting of Sections 2-2.301…

There is hereby established the Los Banos Tree Commission (hereinafter referred to in this article as Commission).

(§ 30, Ord. 1113, eff. January 1, 2014)

The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To develop and maintain an effective City forestry program;

(b) To develop and maintain an updated street tree list;

(c) To develop an effective maintenance and replacement program for trees;

(d) To develop a historical tree list;

(e) To develop an educational program whereby community residents understand the nature and value of trees and learn the best ways to take care of them;

(f) To develop and maintain a commercial tree canopy program that provides the required shade canopy;

(g) To recognize businesses and individuals who have been instrumental in promoting the City's urban forest;

(h) To promote the planting of trees in the community as part of the City's commitment to being designated a Tree City USA;

(i) To make recommendations to the Los Banos Parks and Recreation Commission on items regarding the City's urban forest; and

(j) To perform other related duties as directed by the City Council.

(§ 30, Ord. 1113, eff. January 1, 2014)

The Commission shall consist of five members. Candidate(s) for appointment shall be recommended to the City Council by the Mayor, with input from a Council member, selected by the City Council on a rotating basis, and the Public Works Director, who shall form an ad hoc committee to review applications, interview applicants, and evaluate the candidates for recommendation by the Mayor to the City Council. At the time of appointment to the Commission and throughout his or her term each Commission member shall be a resident of the City of Los Banos and a registered qualified elector of the City.

(§ 30, Ord. 1113, eff. January 1, 2014)

Each Commission member shall serve a term of two years. Terms of office shall be staggered and not more than three Commission members shall have terms that end in the same year. A member's term of office shall expire on December 31st of the second year of his or her respective term.

(§ 30, Ord. 1113, eff. January 1, 2014)

(a) If a Commission member ceases to reside in the City of Los Banos such commissioner's position shall be declared vacant.

(b) If a member of the Commission is absent without cause from three successive regular meetings of the Commission, the Commission or the City Manager may request the City Council declare the position vacant. A member is not absent without cause if his or her absence is due to illness, or is unavoidable and the member gives notice to City staff before the meeting that he or she will be absent and the reason for the absence.

(c) A member of the Commission shall not automatically be reappointed to a successive term of office. A member desiring reappointment shall be required to make formal application. If a vacancy shall occur otherwise than by the expiration of a term, the vacancy shall be filled as set forth in Section 2-2.303, for the portion of the unexpired term.

(§ 30, Ord. 1113, eff. January 1, 2014)

Any appointive member of the Commission may be removed from the Commission by a majority vote of the City Council.

(§ 30, Ord. 1113, eff. January 1, 2014)

A member of the Commission may resign from the Commission by filing a written statement with the City Clerk stating that he or she resigns from the Commission. The resignation shall become effective at the time of filing such written statement, and such member shall thereupon cease to be a member of the Commission, and a vacancy shall exist.

(§ 30, Ord. 1113, eff. January 1, 2014)

Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.

(§ 30, Ord. 1113, eff. January 1, 2014)

The meeting in February of each year shall be the organization meeting of the Commission. Immediately after appointment and qualification, the Commission shall organize by electing one of its members as chairperson, who shall be charged with the orderly conduct of the Commission meetings, and one as vice-chairperson, to assume such duties in the absence of the chairperson, who both shall serve for one year.

(§ 30, Ord. 1113, eff. January 1, 2014)

Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held on the second Wednesday in February, May, August, and November at 5:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 520 J Street in the City. If any regular meeting day falls on a City holiday, the meeting shall be held on the following regular City business day at 5:00 p.m.

(§ 30, Ord. 1113, eff. January 1, 2014)

Three members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lesser number may adjourn from time to time.

(§ 30, Ord. 1113, eff. January 1, 2014)

The Public Works Director, or designee, shall serve as secretary to the Commission.

(§ 30, Ord. 1113, eff. January 1, 2014)