2025 EC bylawsCI'I'Y OF CHANHASSEN
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
BYLAWS
The following by-laws are adopted by the chanhassen Environmental commission to
facilitate the performances of its duties and the exercising of its fuuctions as a Commissiou
established by the City Council pursuant to the provision of Subdivision l, Section 462.354.
Minnesota State Statutes annotated.
Section I - Duties and Responsibilities
t.l The Environmental Comnission has the purpose and responsibility to provide the residents
of Chanhasscn with opportunities to improvc thc quality of thcir cnvironment, provide
environmental education to the public, bring a cornprehensive perspective to enviromnental
issucs, and advocatc the benefits and nccessity ofChanhasscn's nahual rcsources
Thc Environmental Commission shall serve as an advisory body to thc City Council and
Planning Commission in addressing the needs olthe environlnent as directed by the City
Council. All final dccisions arc to bc rradc by the City Council.
Thc Environmental Commission will considcr and makc recommendations at thc direction
ofthe City Council regarding environurental issues.
The Environmental Commission will make recommendations at the direction of the City
Council regarding funding for environmental projects.
Thc Environmental Commission may propose studies to thc City Council and makc
recommendations according to the results.
The Environmental Commission will coordinate services with other govemmental and
private agcncics for rclatcd issucs
Establishmcnt of Sub-Committees. The Environmental Commission may, as they dccm
appropriate, establish special sub-committees comprised solely oftheir own members'
Sec tion 2 - Meetinss
1.2
1.3
1.7
l4
1.5
1.6
2.1 Time and Place. Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held on the second
wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. ar city Hall. 7700 Markel Boulevard. unless
otherwise directed by the Chairperson, in which case, at least 24-hour notice will be given
to all members. Regular meetings shall have a curfew of 8:30 p.rn. which may be waived at
the discretion of the Chairperson. All unfinished business will be carried over to the next
regular meeting. when the regular meeting day falls on a legal holiday, there shall be no
meeting. In such an event, the monthly meeting shall be rescheduled by consensus'
2.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings shall be held upon call by consensus of the
Commission and with at least 48 hours of notice to all members.
Attentlance. Tlie Environmental Comuiission rrembers shall attend not less than 75% ofall
regular and special meetings held during a given calendar year and shall not be absent from
three consecutive meetings. Failure to meet this rninimum attendance requirement will
result in removal liom the commission.
Scction 3 - Commission Conr ition - Terms and Vacancies
3.1
J. -:
3.3
3.4
Scct ion 4 - Orsanization
2.3
Cornposition, The Environmental Commission shall consist of seven adult voting members.
Additionally, one youth (age l6-18) voting ntember may also be appoirlted. The members
shall be appointed by thc City Council and may be rcmoved by thc Council. The City
Cour,cil rnay appoiltt one of their mentbers to serve as a liaison to the Commissiort.
Terms and Vacancies. The City Council shall appoinl seven urembers to the colnmission
for terms ofthree ycars. Thc City Council shall appoint a youth membcr for a tcrm ofonc
year. Vacancies during the temr shall be filled by the Council for the unexpired portion of
thc tcrm. All membcrs shall scrve without compcnsation
Member Rcquirements. All membcrs of thc Environmcntal commission shall bc in
compliance with all local. state, and federal environmental regulations at their homes and
owned businesses. Membcrs will bc allowcd six months to corrcct any violations.
Violations existing after that time will be reasonable cause for removal fronr the
Commission by actron of thc City Council.
Quorum. Four Environmental Commission members shall constitutc a quorum for the
transaction ofbusiness. Whenever a quoruln is not present, no final or official action shall
be taken at such mccting.
4.1 Elcction of Officcrs. Thc first mccting in Apnl of each year, thc Environmcntal
Commission shall hold an organizational meeting. At this meeting, the Commission shall
clcct from its membcrship a chairperson and vice-chairperson. This shall bc donc by voice
vote. Vice-Chairperson shall be elected tiom the remaining members by the same
proceeding. Ifthe Chairperson retires from the Environmental Commissron before the next
iegular organizational meeting, the Vice-Chairperson shall be Chairperson. If both
Cliairperson and Vice-Chairperson relire. new officers shall be elected at the next regular
meeting. If both Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are absent from a nieeting, the
Commission shall elect a temporary Chairperson by voice vote.
Duties of Chairperson and Vice-chairperson. The chairperson, or in his/her absence, the
Vice Chairperson, shall conduct the meeting so as to keep it moving as rapidly and
efficiently as possible and shall remind menibers. witnesses and petitioners to preserve order
2
4.2
and decorum and to keep comments to the subject at hand. The Chairperson shall not move
for action but may second motions.
Section 5 - Procedure
5.1 Procedure. When appropriate, parliamentary procedure governed by Robert's Rules of
Order Revised shalI be followed.
Scction 6 - Intbnr.rati onal Mcctinss
6.1
6.2
7.1
7.2
7.4
Purpose of Informational Meetings. The purpose ofan informational meeting is to collect
infom,ation and facts in order for the Commission to develop a rational envirorunental issue
recommendation for thc City Council.
Meeting Proccdure. At informational mcctings, thc following proccdures shall be followed
in each case:
The Chairperson shall state the purpose ofthe meeting.
Intercstcd persons may address thc Commission, gtving information regarding the
particular proposal.
Enviromiental Comniission Discussion. Matters for discussion which do not appear on the
agcnda may not be considcrcd and discusscd by thc Commission until thc crld ofthe agcnda.
Suspension ofRules. The Commission may suspcnd any ofthcsc rules by unanimous vote
of the members present.
Amendments. Amendments of these byJaws may be made at any regular or special
mccting of thc Environmental Commission but only if schcduled on the mecting agenda in
advance of the meeting.
Review. At the hrst meeting in April of each year, these by-laws shall be read and adopted
by the Environmcntal Commission.
Date adopted A r"l 1 Lo7-5
a.
b.
S."ti L 1^"Q
, Chairperson
Section 7 - Miscellaneous
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