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Membership Qualifications
Sec. 2-771. - Membership.
The conservation commission shall consist of seven members.
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Powers, Duties and Guidelines
Sec. 2-774. - Powers, duties and guidelines.
In accordance with the provisions of applicable law, the powers, duties and guidelines in this section are hereby established for the conduct of the conservation commission. The commission shall:
(1) Promote the stewardship of natural resources in the city and the protection of watershed resources of the city.
(2) Preserve the best of the city's physical and natural resources, while welcoming well-planned expansion or redevelopment.
(3) Regard land as an extremely important asset, whose use should be consistent with the long-range community values.
(4) Maintain an index and develop land management plans for city conservation lands and open areas to prevent a drastic alteration of natural topography, drainage, and scenery.
(5) Ensure sound commission practices by providing adequate open space, accesses, wooded areas, meadows, swamps, ponds, trails, paths and brooks in keeping with constructive property management.
(6) Conduct research into the city's local land areas and seek to coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes, and may advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary for its work.
(7) Receive gifts of money or property, both real and personal, in the name of the city with the prior approval of the city council. Such gifts are to be managed and controlled by the commission for the purposes of this subsection. The commission may acquire, with the approval of the city council, by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, devise, lease, or otherwise, the fee in such land or water rights, or any lesser interest, development right, easement, covenant, or other contractual right, including conveyances with conditions, limitations or reversions, as may be necessary to acquire, improve, protect, limit the future use of, or otherwise conserve and properly utilize open spaces and other land and water areas within the city, and it shall manage and control such. The city shall not have the right to condemn property for these purposes, except insofar as permitted by other statutes.
(8) Receive appropriations from the city council for establishing and maintaining the conservation commission to promote the development and better utilization of our natural resources. The whole or any part of money appropriated by the city council in any year may be placed in a commission fund and allowed to accumulate with interest, from year to year. All funds of the commission shall be accounted for by the city through the finance director and the trustees of trust funds. Money may be expended from such fund for the purpose of this division by the commission, with the approval of the city council.
(9) Hear citizen comments about the operation of the commission and the matters in the office of the community development director concerned with commission practices.
(10) Advise the city manager, community development director and city council in all matters in accordance with this chapter.
(11) Inform the public about commission programs and areas of concern .
(12) Have charge and general management over the commission functions in the city as far as is consistent with the Charter, this Code, and state statutes.
(13) Assist in developing and stating objectives and goals for community improvement.
(14) Pursue the means for achieving the determined goals for improvement.
(15) Designate a member of the commission to appear before other boards or city council committees to testify on matters of concern to the commission.
(16) Develop active regional cooperation on commission programs.
(17) Support and promote the goals outlined in the city's climate action planning documents and the comprehensive master plan as they relate to land use.
(18) Study and recommend methods of financing proposed improvements in the commission functions of the city.
(19) Advise city council on matters pertaining to the city's interest at the state and federal level in conservation/wetlands law and policy.
(20) Maintain and oversee the monitoring of any city-held conservation easements within the city.
(21) Perform such other related functions as required by the city council or requested by the city manager.
