Item No.
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
VANIAH DE ROJAS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
D ATE: DECEMBER 10, 2024
SUBJECT: SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE DISSOLVING
THE GREEN TASK FORCE AND CONSOLIDATING DUTIES INTO THE
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will consider adopting an ordinance dissolving the Green Task Force. The Green Task Force has not been able to meet due to a lack of quorum. Staff recently reviewed the scope of the Public Works Committee, and the Committee also provides recommendations related to sustainability similar to the Green Task Force. Dissolving the Green Task Force and consolidating the duties into the Public Works Committee will help streamline the work of the advisory body and reduce duplicative efforts by multiple groups and staff.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
Adopt an Ordinance, repealing Part 8 (Green Task Force) of Chapter 4 (Departments, Boards and Commissions of the City) of Article II of the Downey Municipal Code, deleting Section 2959.01 of the Downey Municipal Code, and consolidating duties of the Green Task Force into the Public Works Committee
BACKGROUND
In March 2009, the City Council approved the formation of a volunteer Green Task Force that would collaborate for one year, commencing on Earth Day, April 22, 2009. The Green Task Force was charged with performing a high-level review of City policies, procedures, and practices as they relate to Sustainable Cities principles. In July 2010, the Green Task force provided a report to the City Council outlining 13 recommendations for City Council consideration. One of the recommendations was the establishment of a permanent Green Task Force. In September 2010, the City Council adopted a resolution establishing a permanent Green Task Force. The Green Task Force consists of ten (10) members, two nominated by each Council Member.
The responsibilities of the Green Task Force were to:
•Implement mission and goals related to green initiatives;
ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE DISSOLVING THE GREEN TASK FORCE AND CONSOLIDATING
THE DUTIES INTO THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 10, 2024
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•Maintain a part of the City’s website pertaining to “Green” information; and
•Making sustainability recommendations to the City Council.
AN ALYSIS
For a number of years, the Green Task force has had difficulty obtaining a quorum in order to hold a meeting. Recently, staff reviewed the duties of the Public Works Committee, and it was determined that its duties overlap with the duties of the Green Task Force.
The responsibility of the Public Works Committee is to review and make recommendations to the City Council regarding:
•Parking and traffic;
•Solid waste and recycling;
•Wastewater collection and disposal;
•Air quality;
•Hazardous waste;
•Public utilities;
•Transportation and mobility;
•Water supply;
•Energy consumption and conservation;
•Urban runoff and water quality;
•Urban blight and streetscape; and
•Other matters affecting a healthy and safe environment.
As a result of the two advisory groups roles overlapping, the inability to have a quorum, and to streamline the administrative process, staff is recommending dissolving the Green Task Force and consolidating the duties into the Public Works Committee. Attached is an Ordinance for City Council consideration of the dissolution of the Green Task Force. The Ordinance was introduced at the November 12, 2024 City Council meeting, and is ready for adoption.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Efficiency and Adaptability
Public Engagement
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A – Ordinance No. 24-1515
ORDINANCE NO. 24-1515
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
REPEALING PART 8 (GREEN TASK FORCE) OF CHAPTER 4
(DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OF THE CITY) OF ARTICLE II OF THE DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE, DELETING SECTION 2959.01 OF THE
DOWNEY MUNICIPAL CODE, AND CONSOLIDATING DUTIES OF THE
GREEN TASK FORCE INTO THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, the City of Downey strives to maintain an efficient and effective local government structure; and
WHEREAS, the Public Works Committee, in addition to many Public Works areas, provides recommendations to the City regarding sustainability efforts, including water conservation, energy consumption, waste management and recycling; and WHEREAS, the duties of the Public Works Committee overlap with the duties of the Green Task Force, which was created in 2010 by Ordinance No. 10-1265 and is codified at Part 8 of Chapter 4 of Article II of the Downey Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, the duties of the Green Task Force should be consolidated into the Public Works Committee; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to streamline its committee and advisory body structure and eliminate unnecessary administrative burdens; and WHEREAS, the Green Task Force has become inactive and is no longer needed for its designated purposes, thereby making it appropriate to repeal the Ordinance creating this advisory body.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Part 8 (Green Task Force) of Chapter 4 (Departments, Boards and Commissions of the City) of Article II of the Downey Municipal Code, originally enacted by Ordinance No. 10-1265, is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 2. Section 2959.01 of the Downey Municipal Code (City of Downey – Green Task Force) is hereby deleted and amended to read in its entirety: “reserved.” SECTION 3. The duties of the Green Task Force are hereby consolidated into the Public Works Committee.
SECTION 4. The City Council finds and determines that this Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, as there is no possibility it will have a significant effect on the environment and it is not a "project," as defined in Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
ORDINANCE NO. 24-1515
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SECTION 5. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council of the City of Downey hereby declares that it would have adopted this ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 6. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days after its adoption.
SECTION 7. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published as required by law.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 10th day of December, 2024.
MARIO TRUJILLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CMC
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
JOHN M. FUNK
City Attorney
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance was adopted by the City Council of the City of Downey at a Regular meeting held on the ____ day of _____, 2024, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Council Members:
NOES: Council Members:
ABSENT: Council Members:
ABSTAIN: Council Members:
__________________________
MARIA ALICIA DUARTE, CMC
City Clerk