Final Publication Number 2805.  First Publication in the Chronicle on July 30, 1998

City of Cambridge

In the Year One Thousand, Nine Hundred Ninety Eight.
 
 

AN ORDINANCE

In Amendment to the  Municipal Code of the City
 

Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Cambridge as follows:
Chapter 2.106 of the Cambridge Municipal Code is hereby repealed and replaced with the following new Chapter 2.106:
Chapter 2.106        COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PLANTING
2.106.010 Establishment
2.106.020 Function and Purpose
2.106.030 Membership-Appointment-Term
2.106.040 Officers
2.106.050 Sub-Committees
2.106.060 Meetings

2.106.010       Establishment
There shall be and hereby is established a committee on Public Planting under the auspices of the Public Works Department.

2.10G.020 Function and Purpose
It shall be the purpose of the Committee to promote and improve the quality and diversity of public plantings throughout all areas of Cambridge.  Specific functions of the Committee, in keeping with this purpose, shall consist of the following:
(A) To advise the City Council, City Manager, Public Works Commissioner and other appropriate Department Heads concerning public planting issues, including the effective maintenance of public plantings already in place;
(B) To serve as-a resource within the City for programs and ideas consistent with the purposes of the Committee;
(C) To review planting plans of all proposals for new public work in the City, primarily to appraise the appropriateness of plants, their placement, and the type of maintenance needed and provided;
(D) To support the role of the City Arborist or Tree Warden within the City;
(E) To encourage interest in public planting in all neighborhoods of the City; and
(F) To conduct such other activities as are considered appropriate for achieving the basic purpose of the Committee.

2.106.030 Membership-Appointment-Term
The membership of the Committee shall consist of between 11 and 21 persons to be appointed by the City Manager after consultation with the Committee in place when vacancies occur.  The membership shall include:
(A) The City Arborist or, if there is no arborist, a representative from the Public Works Department who shall be recommended by the Public Works Commissioner;
(B) One representative from the Community Development Department, who shall be recommended by the Assistant City Manager for Community Development;
(C) When possible, one representative from the City's Open Space Committee, who shall be recommended by the Chair of that Committee;
(D) The other members shall be appointed from the public at large and shall be Cambridge residents. Preferably they shall be qualified in horticulture by training and/or practical experience.  If not, they shall have a demonstrated interest in urban forestry and landscape issues.  They shall be representative of as many of the various neighborhoods of the City as possible.  The City Manager will advertise publicly for members of the Committee.  In addition, names of candidates to fill vacancies may be submitted by the Committee to the City Manager.  Members shall serve for a term of three years, or until their successors are duly appointed and qualified, and they may be reappointed by the City Manager.
Members of the Committee on Public Planting may serve on other committees concerned with public plantings.
The Arts Council, the Conservation Commission and the Historical Commission shall be invited to provide assistance and advice to the Committee, and notices of Committee meetings shall be sent to them.  The Committee may also call on other City departments for assistance and advice on projects which fall within the jurisdiction of those departments.

2.106.040 Officers
The officers shall be a chair, co-chair and secretary.  The officers shall be elected by the members at the annual meeting for a term of two years, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.  The chair shall prepare the agenda and preside at the meetings.  The co-chair shall serve as chair in the chair's absence.  The secretary shall keep the minutes.

2.106.050 Sub-Committees
The Sub-Committees serving and appointed by the Committee on Public Planting shall be as follows:

(A) Nominating Sub-Committee.-
This Sub-Committee shall consist of three members: a chair appointed by the outgoing chair of the Committee and two members elected by the Committee.  The Nominating Sub-Committee shall prepare a slate of officers for the Committee to vote on at its Annual Meeting.  The Nominating Committee shall also nominate new members to be recommended to the City Manager for appointment to the Committee.

(B) Other Sub-Committees may be established by the Committee from time to time for specific purposes.

2.106.060       Meetings
The Committee shall meet monthly unless written notice is provided to the City Clerk that a monthly meeting has been canceled.  In accordance with State Law all meetings shall be open to the public.  Notice of each meeting shall be posted 48 hours before the meeting.

Quorum and Action at Meetings.  Seven members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.  At any meeting at which a quorum is present and voting, the vote of a majority of those present shall decide a matter.

Annual Meeting.  An annual meeting of the members shall be held in January of each year.  The meeting may be held at a later time if the members are given at least 30 days notice.

In City Council September 28, 1998.
Passed to be ordained by a yea and nay vote: Yeas 9; Nays 0; Absent 0.

ATTEST:
D.Margaret Drury
City Clerk
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