SustainabilityComm_Bylaws_2019BY-LAWS OF THE RICHFIELD SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
COMMISSION PURPOSE
The Sustainability Commission works to support the education, promotion and implementation
of environmentally sustainable measures and practices in the City of Richfield. The board also
makes recommendations to the City Council regarding sustainability related initiatives and
policies.
COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP
The Commission shall consist of nine (9) regular members appointed by City Council. In making
appointments to the Commission, the City Council shall seek to select a representative balance
among various user groups and interests within the community. Regular members shall be
appointed in January of each year by the City Council to serve three-year terms. Terms of the
members of the Commission shall begin on the first day of February of the year of appointment
and shall continue until the 31st day of January in which their appointment expires or until their
successors are selected, subject, however, to prior termination as otherwise provided in Section
305 of the City Code. For the initial appointment of members, terms will vary between two and
three years in order to stagger expiration dates. After the initial appointments, any subsequent
appointments will be regular three-year terms. This will ensure only partial board turnover and
continuity in the work.
Of the nine (9) regular members, the City Council may approve two (2) youth appointments with
full voting privileges. Youth appointment terms shall be in accordance with Section 305 of the
City Code.
In addition to the nine (9) regular members of the commission, it shall have two (2) no-voting,
ex-officio members as follows: One member shall be appointed by the Richfield City Council
from among its members; one shall be appointed by the Richfield Community Services
Commission from among its members. Selection of ex-officio members shall be made annually
and, insofar as possible, in January of each year, with such ex-officio members serving for a
term of one year or until their successors are appointed.
REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO RESIDENCY, TERMS, ATTENDANCE,
REMOVAL/VACANCIES, AND STAFF/COUNCIL LIAISONS
Section 305 of the Richfield City Code shall dictate requirements related to residency, terms,
attendance, removal/vacancies and staff/council liaisons.
The official staff liaison to the Commission will be the Sustainability Specialist. In addition, both
the Recreation Services Director and Public Works Operations Superintendent will assist with
Commission meetings and work when appropriate.
OFFICERS
The members of the Sustainability Commission, at their first regular meeting in February of each
year, shall elect from their membership, a chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary to serve
for the ensuing year.
DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
The chairperson shall chair all regular and special meetings and shall be responsible for the
annual report to the City Council. The chairperson shall prepare meeting agendas and send to
the staff liaison to e-mail to all commission members not less than three (3) days prior to a
meeting. A twenty-four (24) hour notice of a special meeting must be given to each member.
The chair will represent the Sustainability Commission in engaging with other organizations in
the City.
The vice-chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Commission in the absence of the
chairperson.
The secretary shall provide a record of all proceedings of the Commission and transmit copies
of such to all persons as directed by the Commission. The secretary shall prepare, record the
minutes and member attendance at all meetings.
MEETING PROCEDURES
The Sustainability Commission shall meet at least six (6) times a year. Meetings are held on the
fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM at the Richfield Municipal Center, with the exception of
July and December when no regular meetings are held. Special meetings may be held on other
dates at the call of the chairperson.
All questions presented to the Commission shall be decided on by a simple majority of the
number of the commissioners present at the meeting provided a quorum is present. A minimum
of five (5) members out of nine (9) established by City Council present at the meeting is needed
to obtain a quorum. There will be a scheduled open forum at each meeting where residents will
be limited to three minutes to present.
Sturgis Parliamentary Procedure shall govern the conduct of meetings of the Commission.
Adopted: April 17, 1974
Amended: March 16, 1976, January 10, 1978, March 9, 1982, February 10, 1987, September 8,
1998, November 19, 2013, February 16, 2016, March 2, 2017.