ORDINANCE NO. 2007-O-32

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WILMETTE VILLAGE CODE, 1993, AS AMENDED, AMENDING CHAPTER 2, “ADMINISTRATION,” SECTION 2-16, “BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS,” PROVIDING FOR A NEW SUBSECTION 2-16.12, “ENVIRONMENTAL & ENERGY COMMISSION,” WITH FURTHER SUBSECTIONS THEREOF, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF A VILLAGE ENVIRONMENTAL & ENERGY COMMISSION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Wilmette, Cook County, Illinois, an Illinois home rule municipal corporation, find that the Village of Wilmette is a home rule unit of government and pursuant to the authority granted in Article VII, Section 6, of the Constitution of the State of Illinois of 1970, may enact any ordinance relating to its governance and affairs, and this Ordinance is enacted pursuant to such power and authority;

WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees further find that it is necessary, appropriate and otherwise in the public interest to provide for the creation of an Environmental and Energy Commission, said Environmental and Energy Commission to be composed of residents who are professionals in an environmental or energy field or have relevant environmental experience, in order to provide to the Village, and its boards and commissions, advice and education on environmental and energy issues; and,

WHEREAS, the President and Board of Trustees further find that, in order to accomplish the foregoing, it is necessary and appropriate to make amendments to the Wilmette Village Code, 1993, as amended, amending Chapter 2, “Administration,” to provide for said Environmental and Energy Commission as one of the Village’s boards and commissions;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES of the Village of Wilmette, Cook County, Illinois:

SECTION 1: The foregoing recitals and findings, and each of them, are hereby adopted as Section 1 of this Ordinance and are incorporated by reference as if set forth verbatim herein.

SECTION 2: The Wilmette Village Code, 1993, as amended, is further amended in Chapter 2, “Administration,” Section 2-16, “Boards and Commissions,” Subsection 2-16.12, “Reserved,” by deleting the text of said Section 2-16.12, “Reserved,” in the manner and form shown in strikethrough type below, and inserting therein and therefor a new Subsection 2-16.12, “Environmental and Energy Commission,” with further Subsections thereof, so that said Subsection 2-16.12 and each of its further Subsections shall hereafter provide as follows:

2 16.12 RESERVED.

2-16.12 ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY COMMISSION. [NEW]

There is hereby created a Village of Wilmette Environmental and Energy Commission.

2-16.12.1 PURPOSE.

The Environmental and Energy Commission shall be an advisory body to the Village Board and its boards and commissions, and its purpose shall be to provided advice and education on environmental and energy-related issues.

2-16.12.2 MEMBERSHIP; APPOINTMENT; TERM OF OFFICE.

(a) The Environmental and Energy Commission shall be composed of seven (7) members, appointed by the Village President with the advice and consent of the Trustees. The Village President shall designate the chairperson of the Environmental and Energy Commission.

(b) Each of the Environmental and Energy Commission members appointed shall be a resident of the Village, and shall have training or experience in areas such as environmental matters, energy conservation, education, pollution control, engineering, science and public health.

(c) The term of office for each of the seven (7) members of the Environmental and Energy Commission shall be three (3) years. No person shall be appointed to more than two full 3-year terms of office, provided that a person appointed to an initial term of less than three years, or a person appointed to the remaining unexpired term of another member due to a vacancy in that office, shall be eligible for appointment to two three-year terms of office after completion of said initial or unexpired term.

(d) The initial terms of office for the first persons appointed to the Environmental and Energy Commission shall be as follows:

(1) Two (2) members for a term of one (1) year.

(2) Two (2) members for a term of two (2) years.

(3) Three (3) members, each for terms of (3) years.

Thereafter, members of the Environmental and Energy Commission shall be appointed to three (3) year terms of office, or unexpired terms of office, as provided in paragraphs (b) and (e) of this Section.

(e) The attendance of four (4) members of the Environmental and Energy Commission at any meeting shall constitute a quorum to conduct business.

(f) A member of the Environmental and Energy Commission who fails to attend four (4) consecutive meetings of the Commission may be removed from office by the Village President, and a vacancy in said office shall be deemed to have been created.  

(g) A vacancy created during the term of a member of the Environmental and Energy Commission shall be filled for the remaining unexpired portion of vacant member's term of office by the Village President, with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees.

2-16.12.3 DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS.

The duties and functions of the Environmental and Energy Commission shall be:

(a) To engage in such activities, studies, evaluations and educational programs with respect to environmental and energy matters as may be requested by the Village President or the Board of Trustees, which may include:

(1) To develop public awareness on environmental and energy issues through hearings, meetings, newsletters, news media releases and cooperation with environmental education organizations.

(2) To develop policy recommendations on environmental and energy issues for submission to the Village Board, including, when appropriate, suggestions regarding implementation of policy.

(3) To serve as a resource for the Village Board, Village Board standing committees, village boards or commissions, the Village Manager and village departments in addressing environmental and energy issues, providing advice, research or technical assistance, as requested.

(4) To keep itself informed about the activities of other village boards and commissions so far as these relate to environmental and energy matters. The Environmental and Energy Commission may work jointly with other village boards and commissions in addressing environmental and energy issues which are of mutual concern, including, but not limited to, the development of a village energy policy.

(b) To report to the Administration Committee on its own initiative ideas concerning improving energy and the environment in the village.

SECTION 3: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage, approval and publication as required by law.

PASSED by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Wilmette, Illinois, on the ___ day of _______________, 2007.

AYE: ____

NAY: ____

Clerk of the Village of Wilmette, IL

APPROVED by the President of the Village of Wilmette, Illinois, this ___ day of _______________, 2007.

President of the Village of Wilmette, IL

ATTEST:

Clerk of the Village of Wilmette, IL