Chapter 2.44 — GREEN VERNON COMMISSION

The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby establishes the Green Vernon Commission. For the purposes of this chapter, the Green Vernon Commission shall be referred to as the Commission.

(Prior code § 2.145)

• A. The Commission shall be comprised of seven members appointed by the City Council. The Commission members shall include:

  1. Three representatives from Vernon's business community;

  2. Two labor representatives; and

  3. Two representatives engaged in the advancement of environmental/sustainability issues.

• B. No member of the Commission shall have, at any time within the five years preceding appointment: (1) been an employee or a consultant of the City; or (2) a financial interest in any contract, other than the lease of his or her residence or the provision of municipal services available to the public generally, to which the City is a party.

• C. No member of the Commission may at any time be a member of the City Council. (Prior code § 2.146)

• A. Commission members shall serve for a term of four years and may be reappointed. Terms of office for each seat shall begin on July 1 at 12:00 a.m. and end on June 30 at 11:59 p.m. four years thereafter. No person shall serve more than two consecutive full four-year terms.

• B. Unscheduled vacancies due to resignation, no longer meeting criteria, removal or inability to serve for any reason the position shall be considered vacant and the unscheduled vacancy shall be posted and filled pursuant to Government Code Section 54974.

• C. A Commission member shall be considered to have vacated his or her position on the Commission if he or she misses four or more consecutive meetings without a valid excuse as determined by the Commission.

• (Prior code § 2.147)

A Commission member may be removed by a majority vote of the City Council at a properly noticed regular meeting of the City Council for any reason or no reason. (Prior code § 2.147.1)

• A. The Commission shall have a chairperson and vice chairperson, who shall be from different appointing categories pursuant to Section 2.44.020(A).

• B. The Commission members shall elect the chairperson and vice chairperson annually. No Commission member may serve as chairperson for more than two consecutive terms. The chairperson shall preside over all Commission meetings and shall have the power to appoint subcommittees and the presiding chairs of those subcommittees. The vice chairperson shall, in the absence of the chairperson, perform the duties of the chairperson.

• C. The officers of the Commission shall be the Secretary, Commission Counsel, and Commission Director.

  1. The Secretary shall keep and maintain the records of the Commission and the minutes of the Commission meetings and also shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary of the Commission. The City Clerk, or qualified designee, shall hold the position of Secretary of the Commission.

  2. The Commission Counsel shall be in charge of the legal affairs of the Commission and shall advise the Commission on matters within its jurisdiction, as well as with respect to compliance with the California Political Reform Act (Government Code Section 81000 et seq.) and Government Code Section 1090 et seq. The City Attorney, or qualified designee, shall hold the position of Commission Counsel.

  3. The Commission Director is charged with the administration, management, and general supervision of the business and affairs of the Commission. The Director of Health and Environmental Control of the City, or qualified designee, shall hold the position of Commission Director.

  4. Any officer may designate someone other than himself or herself to act on his or her behalf.

(Prior code § 2.148)

Within the limitations provided by law, the Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

• A. Periodically review the "Sustainability Action Plan" for the City of Vernon, which should, among other things: (1) outline goals for the City's sustainability infrastructure; (2) describe the regulatory framework and industry standard-setting bodies that will govern the City's infrastructure; (3) identify specific areas in which the City can become more sustainable and energy efficient; and (4) identify types of "green" businesses the City should attract. As appropriate, make recommendations regarding amendments to the Sustainability Action Plan to the City Council for approval.

• B. Prepare an annual work plan and request for budget authorization for review and approval by the City Council. The work plan and request for budget authorization shall be submitted each year before the start of the fiscal year. The work plan shall outline the goals and focus of the Commission for the upcoming year. The Commission's annual budget shall be managed by the City Treasurer.

• C. Submit to the City Council for adoption sustainability and energy-efficiency policies, guidelines, and/or requirements for City staff to incorporate into their review, reports, and recommendations to the City Council regarding applications for conditional use permits and variances.

• D. Provide a forum for addressing public concerns related to sustainability policies and practices.

• E. Work on sustainability-related projects as directed by the City Council.

• F. Advise, assist, and make recommendations to the City Council regarding:

  1. Sustainability and energy-efficiency standards to incorporate into the zoning or community development chapters of the Code;

  2. Efforts to educate citizens of ways to make the City more sustainable;

  3. Policies and plans to enhance the sustainability of the City, including, but not limited to, water and energy efficiency, renewable resources, climate change strategies, air quality, waste management and recycling, water resources, building and infrastructure, transportation, and natural resource conservation.

G. Perform such other duties as the City Council may assign or designate. (Prior code § 2.149)

• A. The Commission shall have regular meetings at least twice per year, on dates and at times established by a resolution of the Commission. The Commission may schedule additional meetings as necessary or appropriate.

• B. Commission meetings shall be noticed and conducted in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code Section 54950 et seq.). All meetings shall be open to the public and regular minutes of each meeting shall be maintained by the Secretary to the Commission. A majority of Commission members shall constitute a quorum. Once a quorum is established, action may be taken by the Commission only upon a favorable vote of a majority of the Commission members present and voting.

• (Prior code § 2.150)

The Director of Health and Environmental Control, as Commission Director, shall be the primary staff liaison to the Commission and shall provide the Commission with reasonable staff and support services.

(Prior code § 2.151)

Each of the seven appointed members of the Commission shall receive $100.00 per meeting, up to a maximum of $200.00 in any calendar month, as well as their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties. Travel expenses for travel outside the County of Los Angeles shall not be reimbursed without prior approval of the City Council. The Secretary, Commission Counsel, and Commission Director shall receive no compensation as Commission officers, other than compensation received from their primary employment with the City.

(Prior code § 2.152)

As a commission of a public entity, the Green Vernon Commission shall comply with all applicable open meeting and ethics laws, including, but not limited to, the Ralph M. Brown Act, the Political Reform Act, the Public Records Act, and Government Code Section 1090. (Prior code § 2.153)