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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-029 Establishing Parks, Recreation, and Tree Adcisory boards. Scope of work, membership composition, terms of office, and procedural rulesResolut]on 09-029 Parks, Rec & Tree.4dvisory Board Page 1 of d RESOLUTION 09-029 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON, ESTABLISHING THE PARKS, RECREATION AND TREE ADVISORY BOARD AND PROVIDING SCOPE OF WORK, MEMBERSHIP COMPOSITION, TERMS OF OFFICE, AND PROCEDURAL RULES WHEREAS, on March 19, 2001, the City of Port Townsend Adopted Resolution 01-015 providing for a citizen Park and Recreation a Advisory Board; and on March 29, 2004, the City of Port Townsend Adopted Resolution 04-014 establishing a citizen advisory Tree Committee; and WHEREAS, the two advisory boards have overlapping responsibilities, missions and staffing needs; and WHEREAS, recruiting and retaining a sufficient number of citizens for each advisory board and sufficiently staffing each advisory board has created practical and logistical issues with meeting quorums and accomplishment of advisory board goals and projects; and WHEREAS, the Council determines it appropriate to combine the Park and Recreation Advisory Board and the Tree Committee to provide for a Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board, with the scope of work, membership, terms of office, and term of advisory board as provided in this Resolution; and WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes and affirms the statements in the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Functional Plan (1999), that "parks, open space and recreational opportunities aze fundamental to the quality of life for people, communities and society as a whole," and the "park system is integral to the City's magnetic beauty." Functional Plan, Executive Summary; and WHEREAS, many elements of the Functional Plan have been implemented, including, construction of recreational facilities for youth (skateboazd park); and WHEREAS, many elements of the Functional Plan remain to be implemented, including, master park planning for specific parks, and acquisition of parcels of land to secure and expand Kah Tai lagoon nature park; and WHEREAS, a Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board would serve the valuable function of advising the City Council on a range of issues that are important to maintaining and expanding the City's parks, open spaces and recreational opportunities, including providing review, advice and recommendations on the implementation of the Port Townsend Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, and providing a vehicle fox citizen input to the City Council on matters pertaining to parks, recreation, open space; and Resolution 09-029 Parks, Rec & Tree Advisory Board Page 2 of 4 WHEREAS, in 2004 Port Townsend attained the status of the National Arbor Day Foundation "Tree City USA," by adopting Ordinance 2837. Ordinance 2837 promotes tree conservation and provides for standards for tree clearing and forest practices, and provides for a citizen advisory Tree Committee. Ordinance 2837, codified at PTMC 19.06.010, recognizes the importance of tree conservation, and states: "[The ordinance] promote(s) the preservation and growth of healthy, vigorous trees in the city of Port Townsend. The known benefits associated with trees and tree cover include, but are not limited to, the filtration of groundwater, the reduction of surface water runoff; flood control; the provision offish and wildlife habitat; the maintenance of water quality; the cleansing of the air; the abatement of noise; and the conservation of energy. WHEREAS, street trees are highly regarded by the community. (Parks, Recreation and Open Space Functional Plan, Street Tree Program, VI-36); and WHEREAS, a Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board would serve the valuable function of advising the City Council on a range of issues that are important to maintaining and expanding the City's commitment to tree conservation and street trees, including, providing advice and recommendations on legislation regarding the city's street and park trees, and providing a vehicle for citizen input to the City Council on matters pertaining to trees. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend as follows: SECTION 1. FORMATION A Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board is hereby established, subject to the general provisions in Article 4 of City Council Rules of Procedure pertaining to General Rules Applicable to Citizen Advisory Boards, and this Resolution, including any amendments thereto. SECTION 2 SCOPE OF WORK AND TASK DESCRIPTIONS A. Scope of work and task descriptions. The Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board is authorized to function as directed by the City Council on the following matters: 1. Adopt rules of operation and schedule meetings. Serve as the citizen advisory board to allow Port Townsend to maintain "Tree City USA" designation and perform the following as needed: a. With the assistance. of the public works director, or his or her designee, write and implement an annual community forestry work plan; b. Apply for grants to help fund and implement the annual work plan; c. Gather and maintain information and inventories about the city's trees; Resolulion 09-029 Parks, Rec & Tree Advisory Board Puge 3 of 4 d. Promote through education the proper selection, planting, and care of trees in Port Townsend; e. Promote Arbor Day activities and celebrations; f. Work with other similar community groups in Port Townsend to maintain and enhance the city's trees, parks, and open spaces; g. Upon request of the public works director, make recommendations on matters including, but not limited to: nominations for landmark tree designations, removal or significant pruning of street trees, selection of street or park trees, the development of public education programs, the development of educational materials; h. Participate in, promote and conduct public information, educational and interpretive programs pertaining to the city's urban forestry resources; i. Establish liaison support, communication and cooperation with federal, state and other local government entities to promote urban forestry objectives, including public education, within the city area; Recommend legislation regarding the city's street and park trees. Advise and make recommendations to the City Council regarding public squares, parks and open space of the City and city recreation programs and perform the following as needed: a. Review adequacy of lands used for park purposes and recommend what additional ]ands and grounds should be acquired for this purpose; b. Explore and recommend public/private partnerships where appropriate and feasible; c. Recommend design criteria and evaluate design of park structures to the City Council; d. Make recommendations on updates or amendments to the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Functional Plan, the Parks, Recreation and Open Space elements of the Comprehensive Plan and of the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan. e. Provide advice and recommendations on the implementation of the Port Townsend Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan. Provide a vehicle for citizen input to the City Council on matters pertaining to parks, recreation, open space, and trees. Provide such other functions as directed by City Council. SECTION 3. TERM OF COMMITTEE -SUNSET PROVISION This committee shall constitute a standing advisory board, subject to further City Council resolution. No sunset provision is established. SECTION 4. The Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board shall consist of no less than five and no more than seven members, to be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the City Council from citizens of recognized fitness for such positions, with the following additional provisions: Resolution 09-029 Parks, Rec & T ree 9dvisory Board Page 4 of 4 A. The members of the Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board should include at least twc members of community organizations and civic groups involved in arboriculture, or who act as tree-related professionals such as azborists, tree professionals, landscape architects or and landscape designers. B. All members of the Advisory Board must have demonstrated interest in and/or knowledge of the community's parks and/or recreation facilities. SECTION 5. TERMS OF OFFICE The term of office shall be three years, except that the initial appointments shall be staggered from one to three years so that no more than three members shall have their terms expire in any one year. SECTION 6. DEFNITIONS 1. "Arboriculture" means the art, science, technology, and business of tree care and cultivation. 2. "Tree City U5A" is an organization sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, which provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs. "Urban forestry" means the management of urban vegetation to meet local needs. SECTION 7. TERMINATION OF PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD AND THE TREE COMMITTEE The Park and Recreation Advisory Board, established March 19, 2001 by Resolution 01-015, and the Tree Committee, established March 29, 2004 by Resolution 04-014, are terminated by this Resolution. ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a regular meeting thereof, held this third day of August, 2009. Attest: 2 Pamela Kolacy, MMC City Clerk Michelle Sandoval, Mayor Approved as to form: J John P. Watts City Attorney