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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2 - Election of WRAB officers and review of WRAB bylaws CITYOFBOULDER WATER RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM MEETING DATE: April 19, 2010 AGENDA TITLE: Welcome new WRAB member, election of WRAB officers, and review of WRAB bylaws PRESENTER: Ned Williams, Director of Public Works for Utilities EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: With the appointment of Kate Ryan as the new board member, several activities must be completed at the beginning of the April 19, 2010 WRAB meeting: • nomination and election of new board officers • review of bylaws for changes or revisions; and REQUESTED ACTION FROM WRAB: 1. Election of Board Officers WRAB needs to elect a Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary. All remaining members shall serve as Assistant Secretaries. 2. Minutes - Weekly Information Packet (WIP) Timing The written Summary Minutes provide a general summary of the meeting and all verbatim motions and actions by the Board. An audio recording of the full meeting is available on the WRAB web page and may be used to review specific agenda items, comments or statements. Currently, WRAB waits until the subsequent meeting to approve minutes from the previous month in order to garner input from all board members. After final approval by the board, the minutes are sent to the city manager's office for distribution to the city council. Does the board want to consider another schedule or process? 3. Review of Bylaws WRAB should review its bylaws and suggest any modifications. The most recent version, from May 18, 2009, is attached to this memo as Attachment A. AGENDA ITEM, Page 1 BOULDER REVISED CODE (CITY CODE) PROVISIONS - WRAB: This section clarifies WRAB's responsibilities as stated in the Boulder Revised Code (BRC), Section 2-3-15. Water Resources Advisory Board (a) The City of Boulder Water Resources Advisory Board consists of five members appointed by city council for five year terms. (b) The responsibilities of the board are: (1) To review all environmental assessments and capital improvements conducted or proposed by the utilities division. (2) To review, monitor, and propose changes to the city's raw water, treated water, wastewater and flood control master plans. (3) To review and provide recommendations to the city manager concerning policy issues on operating programs, including, without limitation, water conservation, water treatment plant residuals, wastewater treatment plant biosolids disposal, and water quality. (c) The board shall not involve itself in any review under the land use regulation, Title 9, "Land Use Code," B.R.C. 1981, unless its opinion is requested by the city council. (d) Prior to making any recommendation, the board shall hold a public hearing. (e) The board is not authorized to issue subpoenas. BOARD AND COMMISSION ORIENTATION SESSION: The City Manager's Office has scheduled the annual Boards and Commissions' Orientation Session for all B&C members for Thursday, April 29, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m, in the lobby of the Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway. At that meeting, the Mayor, City Manager and City Attorney will review and discuss expectations of the B&C members, review topics that may periodically tend to trip up a B&C, such as Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, public meetings and Open Records, and answer questions. STUDY SESSION: The City Council has scheduled a study session on August 31, 2010 to discuss Boards and Commissions. All B&C members were asked to respond to a list of questions by March 31. That information will be compiled and discussed by council. Staff will provide an update on the study session as the date approaches. 2010 CITY COUNCIL GOALS: At the January 2010 retreat, council members developed their 2010 goals, as reflected in Attachment B. AGENDA ITEM, Page 2 GUIDING PRINCIPLES - ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS Interaction with city council and city staff Council realized a need to articulate some basic principles to guide interaction among boards and commissions, staff and council and created these guidelines in response to that need: Council • Council establishes city policies; the role of boards and commissions is advisory to council except in limited circumstances (often charter-based). • Council sees the boards and commissions as the first step for gathering community feedback on difficult and controversial issues as a means for creating viable policy options • Council issues all policy expressions on national, international, statewide and county matters; boards and commissions may only suggest that council take up such policy matters and not independently issue them • Council members should not discuss any quasi-judicial issues coming before boards and commissions; for non-quasi-judicial matters, Council may discuss a point-of-view with board members but should clarify that the perspective may not represent Council's position as a whole • Board and commission members wishing to explain or advocate positions to council should identify themselves as board members and clarify whether they are speaking for a personal position or on behalf of the board's minority or majority position. • When members of a board or commission disagree about a given issue or policy, Council expects to be apprised of the disagreements and reasoning underlying the various perspectives. City Staff • Staff takes direction from the city manager, except as authorized by the Charter. Boards may request research or other work of staff, but if the work requires more than what staff deems is reasonably necessary, the board, supported by a relevant majority of members at a meeting, must make a direct request of council. • City staff is ultimately responsible for supporting council. Council expects staff to provide the best professional judgment on issues and policies, whether or not boards agree with those professional judgments. Staff should inform council when a board disagrees with the staff's position, and when possible, explain the basis of that disagreement. • When several boards and commissions review elements of a given proposal or issue, staff reports to council should reflect the perspectives of all reviewing boards and commissions. Attachments: A - Water Resources Advisory Board Bylaws, May 18, 2009 B - 2010 City Council Goals AGENDA ITEM, Page 3 Attachment A BYLAWS CITY OF BOULDER WATER RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD ARTICLE I GENERAL MATTERS Section 1.1 Board Composition. The Board shall comprise the five (5) members appointed by the City Council pursuant to the City Charter and applicable ordinance. Section 1.2 Board Officers. The members of the Board shall have officers elected from its members. The officers shall consist of Chair, Vice Chair, and a Secretary. Remaining Board members shall serve as Assistant Secretaries. Recording secretary shall be a City employee, but shall not be considered a Board officer. Section 1.3 Board Elections. The officers shall be elected by the Board at its first regular meeting after annual appointments have been made by the City Council. Terms of office shall be for one year or until replacements have been qualified. If, at any time an officer of the Board resigns, or by reason of disability becomes unable to serve as an officer of the Board, then the vacancy caused thereby, shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining Board members. Any vacancy appointment shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term. Section 1.4 Board Responsibilities. The Board shall exercise those functions specified by City Charter, and applicable ordinances. Specifically included responsibilities include advising the City Manager, Planning Board, and City Council on the following utilities matters: 1. To review all city utilities environmental assessments and capital improvements. 2. To review, monitor and propose changes to the city's raw water, treated water, wastewater, and flood control master plans. 3. To review and provide recommendations to the city manager concerning policy issues on operating programs, including without limitation water conservation, water treatment plant residuals, wastewater treatment plant biosolids disposal, and water quality. Section 1.5 Regular Board Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such time and date as determined by the majority of the Board at a location as the Board shall from time to time designate. The Board has scheduled regular meetings at 7:00 pm on the third Monday of each month, at a location to be duly noticed. AGENDA ITEM, Page 4 Section 1.6 Special Board Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by any member of the Board by informing the other members and Utilities Division staff liaison of the time and place of such meeting and obtaining consent of a Board quorum for the special meeting. Section 1.7 Meeting Notices. Notices of regular meetings and special meetings shall be published in a manner similar to notices of other City boards and commissions as prescribed by City Council. Notices of all regular and special meetings shall be posted in conformance with applicable law. Board members shall have no less than twenty four hours notice of any meeting. ARTICLE II BOARD MEETING ORDER OF BUSINESS Section 2.1 Order of Business. At all regular meetings of the Board, the following shall be the order of business: A) Call to Order B) Approval of minutes C) Public Comment D) Matters from City Staff E) Matters from Board Members F) Agenda Items G) Discussion of next meeting agenda H) Adj ournment The above order of business may be amended upon motion passed by the majority of the members of the Board in attendance at any meeting. ARTICLE III CONDUCT OF BOARD MEETINGS Section 3.1 Board Business. All business of the Board shall be conducted only during properly constituted regular or special meetings and all such meetings shall be open to the public except as is otherwise provided by law. These Bylaws have been adopted in substitution of Roberts Rules of Order. Roberts Rules of Order may be invoked at the discretion of a majority of the quorum present, where not inconsistent with these bylaws, but shall not automatically apply at meetings of the Board. Three members of the Board in attendance at all meetings shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. No action of the Board shall be valid without an affirmative vote of three members. Section 3.2 Agenda Management. The Chair shall manage each regular and special meeting in a manner appropriate to complete the Board's business scheduled for the meeting to the extent possible. In the absence of objection by a majority of the quorum present, the Chair may limit the length of discussion on any agenda item by Board members and members of the public. For AGENDA ITEM, Page 5 agenda items for which no formal hearing is required, public comment may be permitted by the Chair at the beginning of discussion on the particular agenda item. Once interested members of the public have commented, the Chair shall restrict subsequent discussion on the agenda item to Board members and staff, unless a majority of the quorum present votes to open discussion to other persons present. Section 3.3 Hearing Management. The Chair shall manage all hearings in a manner to provide each citizen meaningful participation in the hearing process, without partiality. The Chair may limit the length of public comments for purposes of allowing all interested speakers an equal opportunity to comment within the time frame set aside for the hearing. Unless otherwise specified at the hearing, individual public comment shall be limited to not more than three minutes. Public testimony at hearings shall follow staff presentation of the proposal under consideration. Board members may ask questions of witnesses to seek clarification of the witness' position, but are discouraged from engaging in substantive debate with witnesses. Board discussion and deliberations shall follow public testimony. Hearings may be continued by majority vote of the Board. ARTICLE IV MINUTES/INFORMATIONAL PACKAGES Section 4.1 Summary Form Minutes. Copies of summary form minutes of regular and special meetings shall be distributed by Utilities Division staff to City Council within 10 days after each meeting is held to the extent possible. Summary form minutes shall be produced by Utilities Division staff with Board review, and shall be considered as the formal record of proceedings of the Board. Summary form minutes shall be furnished to each Board member prior to the next regular Board meeting, as specified in section 4.2 of these Bylaws. Section 4.2 Board Informational Packages. Prior to each regular meeting and each special meeting scheduled sufficiently in advance, Utilities Division staff shall assemble and disseminate to Board members an informational package consisting of summary minutes to be approved at the next meeting, other information that the Utilities Division staff liaison deems appropriate for Board consideration at the next meeting, and information otherwise useful to the Board and reasonably requested by the Board. Delivery of the package to the Board shall be calculated to provide a reasonable time to review the material prior to the next Board meeting. ARTICLE V DUTIES OF OFFICERS Section 5.1 Chair's Duties. It shall be the duty of the Chair to (a) preside over all meetings of the Board; (b) sign all minutes, resolutions and other documents on behalf of the Board; (c) coordinate with the Utilities Division liaison on agenda items; and (d) subject to the advice, order or ratification by the Board, discharge such other duties as may be required of the Chair by City Council and City staff, pursuant to the City Charter and applicable ordinance. AGENDA ITEM, Page 6 Section 5.2 Vice Chair Duties. It shall be the duty of the Vice Chair to (a) perform all such duties and functions of the Chair in the absence of the Chair, (b) to assist the Chair in the performance of his/her duties. Section 5.3 Secretary Duties. The Secretary shall attest to the signature of the Chair on all documents signed by the Chair. Any document signed by the Chair, attested to by the Secretary shall be deemed an official document of the Board. The Secretary has no added responsibility for production of summary form as those functions shall be performed by designated Utilities Division staff. Section 5.4 Assistant Secretary Duties. An Assistant Secretary shall perform the function of the Secretary in the absence of the Secretary. The Chair or Vice Chair acting as Chair may not attest his/her own signature. ARTICLE VI PUBLIC INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS Section 6.1 Inspection of Documents. Records of all Board proceedings, and minutes of all meetings, shall be open to inspection by the general public during reasonable business hours. ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS Section 7.1 Amendments to Bylaws. These Bylaws may be changed, amended or revoked by an affirmative vote of three Board members at any regular meeting of the Board, or at any special meeting called for that purpose. Approved and adopted this 18th day of May, 2009. CITY OF BOULDER WATER RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD Chair ATTEST: By: Secretary AGENDA ITEM, Page 7 Attachment B 2010 CITY COUNCIL GOALS Affordable Housing Obj ectives: Review whole program Create a task force to evaluate goals and approach, including: a. Funding options b. Benchmarks c. Outcomes d. Recommendations e. Open to public f. COB staff to coordinate g. Manageable effort and work plan h. Evaluate models, including Downtown Alliance Continue other current work program efforts (e.g. inclusionary housing) Climate Action Plan Objectives: Continue with implementation of adopted plan Measure progress toward Kyoto greenhouse gas reduction goal Focus on success of projects and programs already underway: a. Host semi-annual Community Climate Summits in April, October b. Launch residential "Two Techs and a Truck" energy efficiency program c. Develop energy efficiency requirements for existing rental housing for Council consideration d. Launch new commercial programs (variation of Two Techs model) e. Create new financing packages for residents and businesses f. Develop energy efficiency requirements for existing commercial buildings for Council consideration - Develop a successful social mobilization model to shift the norms toward energy efficiency & conservation - Maximize utilization of Xcel's Smart Grid - Develop a strategy for de-carbonization of our electric supply - Continue to fund transportation projects and improvements that reduce greenhouse gas impacts - Integrate the Climate Action Plan with the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan AGENDA ITEM, Page 8 University Hill Revitalization Objectives: - Continue work of the Ownership Group to develop the framework for a comprehensive revitalization strategy- - Bring forward change to FAR in the BMS zone for Council consideration - Change the boundary of the BMS land use designation to coincide with the UHGID boundary through the BVCP Update process. - Support private development and investment in the Hill area. - Partner with CU to consider opportunities for both CU- and city-owned properties in the Hill area. - Return to Council with work program and staffing options as part of the April 27 Study Session on the BVCP Update priorities. - Provide an opportunity to explore big ideas. Transit Village Implementation Objectives: - Focus additional planning work on reconsidering use for the Pollard site - Do not delay the RTD site in order to maintain federal funding - Achieve the goals of the plan while ensuring flexibility in working with developers on connections, housing location and need, rights of way, etc. - Prioritize city actions to facilitate private investment. - Return to Council on March 211d to present proposed work plan based on discussion at the study session and retreat (Council to provide direction) - Provide an opportunity to explore big ideas. Waste Reduction Cost Objectives: Conduct a study session with Council to consider whether to issue an RFP for a single hauler contract. Address Homelessness Obj ectives: - Participate in Ten Year Plan to Address Homelessness - Bring Plan to Council - Assess how other communities address homelessness - Bring HRC recommendations to Council 2°d Q 2010 - Balance short term and long term approaches to address needs - Invest new resources in Housing First model - Schedule Feb Agenda item on homeless issues and an emergency ordinance AGENDA ITEM, Page 9 Sustainable Agriculture/Community Gardens Obj ectives: - OSMP working to identify lands for potential local food production - Research County Agriculture Policy Committee - Macon and others will continue current efforts to 1. Identify constraints of Farmer's Market 2. Determine what City of Boulder can do - Ideas from county gardens - 10 to 15acre parcels - consider coordination of opportunities - Staff to sift through ideas and develop plan Q3 and Q4 - Naropa, CU, as potential partners - Consider opportunities on medians, parks and neighborhoods - Are there Codes that preclude options? - Look into greenhouses for winter agriculture on park lands - Year round Farmers Market - Composting regulations - Additional information to come back to council in master plan Sustainable Streets/Centers Obj ectives: - Collect public input regarding the project's purpose and scope as part of the overall Comp Plan kick-off - Provide work program options to Council in April as part of the BVCP Update study session - Ensure that Boards and Commissions like TAB and others are included in the process Mapleton Early Childhood Center Obj ectives: - Identify funding and resources, including BVSD - Anticipate report to BVSD and City Council in Q2, 2010 AGENDA ITEM, Page 10