§ 2-25-55. Environmental lands oversight committee.

(a)

Creation of the environmental lands management and acquisition committee. There is hereby established a voluntary advisory board, to be known as the environmental lands management and acquisition committee (ELMAC). Appointments of members of the committee shall be in the manner set forth herein. Notice of openings shall be published, and members shall be appointed by majority vote of the board pursuant to this article. Applicants for committee membership shall follow the procedures set by the board regarding advisory board applications, and shall assure the board of the lack of conflicts and potential conflicts of interest. This committee is advisory only and may be abolished, disbanded or reorganized by amending this article.

(b)

Purposes and duties of the environmental lands management and acquisition committee.

(1)

The general purpose of the environmental lands management and acquisition committee shall be to advise the board on matters related to environmental land acquisition and management, and passive recreational planning and programming for acquired lands. This article shall apply to lands previously acquired by the county that are explicitly designated as governed by this article by the board and to lands and property interests acquired after the adoption of this article whether from funds designated by the board or funds approved by voter referendum. This committee will provide a forum for multiple interests and user groups to express their wishes for management of county-owned lands and passive recreational facilities.

(2)

The specific duties of the environmental lands management and acquisition committee are those provided in this article and otherwise assigned by the board, and may also include:

a.

Identifying and evaluating lands meeting the criteria for acquisition and management as public passive recreation areas;

b.

Developing a countywide inventory of environmental lands;

c.

For purposes of acquisition, devising and updating the methodology by which a priority ranking may be assigned to the county's environmental lands;

d.

Researching and evaluating additional potential acquisition funding mechanisms;

e.

Assisting staff in developing management plans for lands that the county has acquired or is planning to acquire;

f.

Assisting in efforts at the state level to secure sources of state funding for environmental lands purchases and planning;

g.

Researching other jurisdictions' environmental lands acquisition and management programs;

h.

Advising the board on the disposal of any county-owned environmental lands;

i.

Evaluating lands under a priority ranking system utilizing the criteria in section 2-25-61 for which a priority ranking may be assigned to agricultural conservation easements; and

j.

Performing other appropriate tasks that may be assigned by the board in the future.

(3)

Within the unincorporated area of the county, the committee shall also serve as the tree advisory committee. In such capacity, the duties of the committee shall be as follows:

a.

To develop a tree management program for the care of trees on property owned by the county;

b.

To promote awareness of the county's tree canopy through educational programs;

c.

To review grant requirements and to prepare grant proposals for submittal by the county for the purpose of funding tree management programs; and

d.

To coordinate the county's observance of Arbor Day each year.

(c)

Authority of the environmental lands management and acquisition committee.

(1)

The committee shall have the authority to elect officers from its membership to serve the needs of the committee. Officers elected by the committee will be a chairman and vice-chairman.

a.

Chairman. The duties of the chairman will be to preside at all meetings and to see that the work is carried out in a constructive and businesslike manner. The chairman of the committee or his/her appointee will be the liaison to work closely with the county administrator or his/her designee. The chairman will appoint special committees where and when needed to work on any of the aforementioned duties, and will oversee the work of such subcommittee.

b.

Vice-chairman. The vice-chairman will preside in the absence of the chairman and will be available to assist the chairman when requested.

(2)

Further, the committee shall have the authority to set the time and place for its meetings. The committee will meet on a schedule, and at a time and place to be determined by the committee. Meetings may be rescheduled or a special meeting called by the committee at any regular meeting. In addition, the chairman shall have the authority to call a special meeting. Upon a decision to cancel a meeting, committee members and the board shall be notified by phone if the decision is made less than seven (7) days prior to the scheduled meeting; otherwise, notification shall be by letter. Meetings will be advertised as to time and place. Each meeting will have a prepared agenda for distribution, and records will be kept. a majority of currently-appointed committee members will constitute a quorum for the conducting of committee business.

(3)

The committee will carry out its responsibilities in the most cost-effective manner. expenses incurred by the committee or a member thereof, in pursuing its duties, may be paid directly or reimbursed by the board in accordance with applicable laws and policies established by the board, which shall require prior approval and administrative authorization before making any expenditures.

(4)

The committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the board, in open session, at least once annually. Said reports shall only be made by the chairman or vice-chairman of the committee, upon the advice of and consent of a majority of the committee.

(d)

Membership of the committee.

(1)

The committee will be made up of fifteen (15) members. To the extent possible, members shall have expertise in ecology, conservation of natural resources, real estate or land acquisition business and land development, land planning, land management, or environmental education. An applicant shall submit evidence of his or her expertise in any of the above. The board shall appoint committee members from the following groups or with the following affiliations:

a.

A member from the Florida Engineering Society;

b.

A member schooled in a natural science: ecology, biology, botany, etc.;

c.

A member with background or education in active outdoor sports;

d.

A member of a local environmental group;

e.

A member recommended by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce;

f.

Two (2) year-round residents of Manatee County, one of whom shall be a resident of one of the communities on Anna Maria Island or Longboat Key;

g.

An employee of the Manatee County School Board;

h.

A member with background/education in banking, finance, or real estate;

i.

A member engaged in the agricultural business of farming, ranching or commercial horticulture;

j.

A nember who represents Keep Manatee Beautiful, Inc.; and

k.

Four (4) at-large members who are residents of Manatee County.

(2)

All members shall be permanent residents of Manatee County as defined in Section 196.012, Florida Statutes.

(3)

The county administrator or his/her designee is hereby assigned the responsibility of providing clerical and administrative support to the committee. The county attorney's office will be responsible for the legal needs of the committee, but only as specifically directed, from time to time, by the board.

(e)

Terms and eligibility requirements.

(1)

Terms of service on the committee will be for three (3) years, with reappointment at the discretion of the board. Members whose terms have expired may continue serving until the board selects a replacement. Initial appointments may be for one, two (2), or three (3) years to provide a balanced rotation of new members.

(2)

A member missing three (3) consecutive meetings in a calendar year may be removed from the committee by the board upon the recommendation of a majority of the committee. The board may appoint a new member for the remainder of the term.

(3)

Should any member of the committee be unable to complete his or her term of office, the board may appoint other(s) to complete the balance of the term of that position.

(4)

A member appointed as a result of specific affiliation may continue, in the board's discretion, to serve for the remainder of the term even if the affiliation has changed.

(5)

The terms of the chairman and vice-chairman shall be restricted to no more than two (2) consecutive two-year terms in those offices.

(f)

Administrative coordinator. The county administrator or his/her designee shall serve as the staff liaison to the committee and shall establish procedures consistent with county policy concerning committee appointments, development of budgets, expenditures of county funds, providing of clerical services and meeting facilities, and performing other administrative matters which affect the normal operations of the committee.

(Ord. No. 03-62, § 5, 10-7-03; Ord. No. 06-26, § 2, 3-14-06; Ord. No. 09-67, §§ 2, 3, 11-17-09)