Subject:
Title
Selection of Planning Commission Member of Tree Advocacy Committee
Body
Background
On April 29, 2024, the Town Council adopted a series of amendments to the Town of Vienna code, with the purpose of addressing the loss of tree canopy in Vienna. The effective date of those changes was July 29, 2024.
One of the amendments was to create, in Chapter 27 of the Town code, the Tree Advocacy Committee (TAC) to serve as a subcommittee to the Conservation and Sustainability Commission (CSC), but also to report directly on occasion to the Town Council. Attachment 01 provides Town Code Section 27-5 - Tree Advocacy Committee.
Planning Commission Member of the TAC
In establishing the TAC, the Town Council approved there being nine (9) members, as follows, all of whom must be residents of the Town of Vienna:
- 4 members appointed directly by the Town Council.
- 2 student members, one of whom is a senior and one a junior, appointed directly by the Town Council.
- 2 members selected by the CSC from its membership.
- 1 member selected by the Planning Commission from its membership (as had been recommended by the Planning Commission).
On July 10, 2024, the Planning Commission voted to select Commissioner Douglas Noble as its representative to the TAC for the initial two-year term. As the TAC did not start meeting until October 2024, the Town Clerk has interpreted that Mr. Noble’s term will expire two years after October 2024, on October 29, 2026.
Staff recommend that the Planning Commission vote on selecting the Commission member of the TAC in advance of the expiration of Mr. Noble’s term so that there will not be period where the Planning Commission is not represented.
PROPOSED/SUGGESTED MOTION
Recommended Action
"I move that the Planning Commission select _____________ to serve as the Planning Commission member of the Tree Advocacy Committee for a term of two years, effective on expiration of the current serving member; and that the selected member report back to the Planning Commission on a regular basis regarding activities of the Tree Advocacy Committee."
Or
Other action deemed necessary by the Planning Commission.