21632 1 ORDINANCE NO.21,632
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3 AN ORDINANCE TO CREATE THE LITTLE ROCK SUSTAINABILITY
4 COMMISSION; TO SET ITS MISSION; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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6 WHEREAS,Mayor Mark Stodola created the Little Rock Sustainability Commission as a Task Force
7 because sustainability is a fundamental component of a strong community; and,
8 WHEREAS,to strength a community there should be focus on the physical environment, economic
9 prosperity, environmental stewardship, energy consumption, community design, complete streets, food
10 access,and Green Building Standards; and,
11 WHEREAS,the Board of Directors finds that a focus on sustainability promotes the Board's Policy
12 Statements to safeguard citizens and their property,to improve community livability and safety,to promote
13 economic development, and to provide effective City Services and comprehensive public infrastructure;
14 and,
15 WHEREAS,the Board of Directors has the authority to create a Commission and appoint its members
16 pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 14-47-131 (a)(West Supp.Pamph. 2018); and,
17 WHEREAS, the Task Force should be maintained by the City as it proceeds forward with various
18 plans and opportunities.
19 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF
20 LITTLE ROCK,ARKANSAS:
21 Section 1. The Little Rock Sustainability Commission ("the Commission") is hereby created for the
22 purpose of studying sustainability and providing policy and program advice to the governing body of the
23 City as a fundamental component of actions that need to be taken to continue to develop a resilient
24 community.
25 Section 2. Mission. The mission of the Commission is to help research and develop strategies and
26 innovations to promote environmental and economic health and prosperity within the City without creating
27 unnecessary competition between various aspects of development.The types of programs to be considered
28 include, but are not limited to, the preservation and enhancement of green space; the reduction in City
29 energy consumption; the development of community design recommendations and tools;the assurance of
30 access of healthy food sources;and,the construction of green buildings and other infrastructure constructed
31 in such a manner as to provide utilitarian use while minimizing environmental impacts.
32 Section 3. Size of the Commission. The Commission shall consist of fifteen (15) members to be
33 nominated and selected in accordance with Arkansas State Law. Nothing in this ordinance prevents current
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1 members of the Little Rock Sustainability Commission, which functions as a Mayoral Task Force, from
2 receiving the initial appointments to this Commission.
3 Section 4. Powers and Duties. The Commission shall serve as a liaison between the citizens of the
4 City, the Mayor and Members of the Board of Directors and the City Manager, on matters relating to the
5 sustainability of the City; further, to achieve these goals, the Commission shall have the following
6 responsibilities:
7 (a) To hold regular meetings and maintain adequate records of these meetings;
8 (b) To analyze the various services offered by City Departments to the citizens of the City;
9 (c) To analyze the connections between the social, economic, environmental, and quality-of-life
10 issues that confront the City;
11 (d) To provide recommendations to the Mayor and Members of the Board of Directors, and to the
12 City Manager, on Sustainability Policy;
13 (e) To increase public awareness of the existence and value of sustainable efforts in the City;
14 (f) To carry out any other assigned and related duties as deemed appropriate by the Mayor and
15 Members of the Board of Directors,or the City Manager;
16 (g) To create committees to address specific issues deemed important to the Commission;
17 (h) To establish bylaws, and to elect Officers, and to determine the term of such Officer.
18 Section 5. Terms of Commission Members.
19 (a) After the initial staggered terms, as set forth in Subsection (b) below, have been served, a
20 member of the Commission shall serve a three(3)-year term;
21 (b) Initial members, who shall be electors of the City, of the Commission shall be selected as
22 follows:
23 (I) Five(5)members shall be selected to serve a one(1)-year term;
24 (II) Five(5)members shall be selected to serve a two(2)-year term;
25 (III) Five(5)members shall be selected to serve a three(3)-year term;
26 (c) Unless agreed otherwise by a majority of the initial appointees, the initial members of the
27 Commission shall determine whether their initial term is one(1),two(2)or three(3)years by
28 drawing lots;
29 (d) Any initial Commissioner who serves only a one (1)-year term shall be permitted to be
30 appointed to two (2) full three (3)-year terms upon the end of their initial term; provided,
31 further, that after this initial period all members shall be subject to the tenure requirements
32 adopted by the Board of Directors.
33 (e) In addition to these Commissioners, the Mayor is authorized to appoint between five (5) and
34 seven(7)Ex-Officio Members,without a vote,who are not required to live within the corporate
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1 limits of the City, to serve a one (1)-year term and to provide insight on sustainability issues
2 particularly as they relate to the City's Extraterritorial Planning and Zoning Jurisdiction.
3 (f) The City Manager may designate a person to serve as a representative of the Office of the City
4 Manager in a liaison capacity who works closely with the Commission, attends meetings and
5 public hearings, and provide information about planned or potential City projects and
6 programs.
7 Section 6. Meetings of the Commission. The Commission as a commission shall meet at least ten
8 (10)times every year.
9 Section 7. Severability. In the event that any title, section, paragraph, item, sentence, clause, phrase,
10 or word of this ordinance is declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or
11 adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of the ordinance which shall remain in full force and
12 effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional was not originally part of the
13 ordinance.
14 Section 8. Repealer. All ordinances, resolutions, bylaws, and other matters inconsistent with this
15 ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency, provided that this ordinance is not
16 intended,nor shall it be construed as to any part,to repeal any part the levying provisions of the Prior Tax
17 Ordinances referred to above,but only to expand and otherwise clarify them.
18 Section 9. Emergency Clause. The ability to adequately plan for future development, to meet the
19 needs of the community, to protect the environment, and to promote an interdisciplinary consideration of
20 the various issues to provide for a strong community is essential to the public health, safety, and welfare;
21 an emergency, therefore, is declared to exist, and this ordinance shall be effective from and after its
22 passage and approval.
23 PASSED: S ember 18,2018
24 ANI APPROVED:
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27 Susa Lan e , Clerk Mark Stodola, ayor
28 APPRL, I AS TO LEGAL FORM:
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31 Thomas M. Carpenter,City Attorn 1
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