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Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, creating a Council of Friends organization for each of the nine county parks to streamline communications and maximize the effectiveness of existing groups within the county park system.
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WHEREAS, most, if not all, of the nine county parks have numerous volunteer organizations that have acted as a “friend” to the park by providing much needed resources to create, rehabilitate and improve park facilities; and,
WHEREAS, such organizations are an integral part of the park system and have a strong interest in the development of the system under the proposed reorganization and should have an equally strong voice; and,
WHEREAS, the integration of such organizations is important to the success of the proposed park system and allows for the utilization of an existing structure to communicate with citizens and interested parties about matters that affect our parks;
Therefore, the Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Creation of the Council of Friends
There is hereby created an advisory council in each of the county parks: Boyce Park, Deer Lakes Park, Harrison Hills Park, Hartwood Acres Park, North Park, Round Hill Park, Settler’s Cabin Park, South Park and White Oak Park. Each council shall be designated as the Council of Friends of the respective park. Each council shall be a county agency as defined in the Administrative Code and shall be subject to all provisions within the code relating to agencies.
Section 2. Definitions
Unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context, the following terms, as used in this ordinance, shall be defined as follows:
A. “Department” shall mean the Department of Parks and Recreation.
B. “Director” shall mean the Director of Parks and Recreation.
C. “Friends Council” shall mean the Council of Friends for any or all parks.
D. “Members” shall mean the members of the Council of Friends.
Section 3. Membership and Terms of Office
A. Each Friends Council shall be comprised of a minimum of seven (7) members. Appointments to each Friends Council shall be made as designated in this ordinance and presented to County Council for confirmation. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner for an unexpired term. The appointment process will begin with the confirmation of the Commission.
B. Each municipality that borders, adjoins or encompasses a county park shall have one representative on the Friends Council for that park. Upon notification from the County Council Member representing the district in which that municipality is located, the governing body of the municipality may recommend one or more persons for that position. The final selection of the appointment is at the discretion of the Council Member and the recommendation from the municipality is not binding. The Council Member shall present the appointment to the Full Council for confirmation.
C. County Council Members that represent a district in which a park is located shall make two appointments for each park located within their district. These two appointments shall be in addition to any appointment made for municipal representation as referenced in Subsection B. The Council Members shall present their appointments to the Full Council for confirmation.
D. County Council Members that represent a district in which there is no park shall make three appointments each and shall designate to which Friends Council each appointment is being made. The At-Large Members of County Council shall also make three appointments each and shall designate to which Friends Council each appointment is being made. The Council Members shall present their appointments to the Full Council for confirmation.
E. The members of the Friends Council must reside in the County at the time of their appointment and must maintain residence within the County at all times during their service on the Friends Council.
F. The terms of office shall be two (2) years for each member of the Friends Council. Members may be reappointed after their initial term. The term of .office shall begin with the appointment of the Director of Parks and Recreation by the County Executive. The terms of office shall terminate when member’s until their successors are appointed and qualified.
G. The members of the Friends Councils shall receive no compensation for the performance of their official duties., unless the County Council expressly provides compensation.
H. The members of the Friends Councils shall include, to the extent possible, representation from the labor, the disability community, education, environmental advocates, sports and athletic programs, landscape architecture and historic preservation. Consideration shall also be given to geographic diversity among members.
I. Members of the Friends Councils may be removed by the Appointing Official at will.
Refusal to resign from the Commission when no longer a resident of the County.
Section 4. Election of Officers
A. Each Friends Council shall have at least two officers, President Chair and Vice PresidentChair.
B. All officers shall be elected by the members for a term of one year and no officer shall serve more than two successive terms in that office.
C. The officers of the Friends Council shall perform such duties as are customarily assigned to such officers.
The Director of Parks and Recreation will provide staff to the Commission, within the limits dictated by fiscal constraints, and act as the Secretary to the Commission.
Section 5. Responsibilities of the Councils of Friends
A. Each Friends Council shall also have the following powers and duties:
1. Streamline communications with all existing “friends” groups within their respective park by sharing information on park plans that impact their specific interest areas.
2. Conduct periodic public meetings to report to the community and to receive input on various issues from the citizens.
3. Communicate information from the public meetings to the Director and the Parks & Recreation Commission, including initiatives undertaken by special interest groups and suggestions for changes or attention to park facilities.
4. Maximize the effectiveness of efforts by the various “friends” groups within the park by sharing information at public meetings and coordinating events and initiatives.
5. Work in conjunction with the County Council Members representing the district in which the park is located to address issues of concern or interest.
6. Make reports to the community and special interest groups in existence on Department plans for the parks.
7. Work closely with the Director and staff to educate park users about changes in governance and the positive impacts for their interest areas.
Section 6. Commission Meetings
A. Regular meetings of the Friends Councils shall be held, at a minimum, twice a year monthly at a time and place to be determined by each respective Friends Council. Meetings shall be and open to the public and shall be held , within the boundaries of Allegheny County.
B. Notice of the meeting and its agenda shall be given to the public prior to meeting and shall also be communicated to the County Executive, County Council and the Director. The agenda shall be at the discretion of the Friends Council.
C. A majority of all the members in attendance at the meeting of a Friends Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A motion shall carry upon the affirmative vote of the majority of the members present at any meeting.
D. Summaries of each meeting shall be kept and filed with the County Clerk who shall, in turn, provide copies to the County Executive and County Council.
E. Robert’s Rules of Order shall prevail.
Section 7. Resource Development
The County Executive will establish a freestanding 501c3 “Trust for Allegheny County Parks,” whose primary mission will be to secure financial resources to support and enhance objectives of the Department of Parks and Recreation. The trust will operate independently of County government. Generated resources will be “restricted” to County parks and recreation services.
The County Executive will appoint five (5) individuals to the Governing Board of the Fund, who are committed to parks and the environment by virtue of their professional positions and/or their knowledge of development strategies for programs and capital projects.
Board members will confer with the Director of Parks and Recreation as funds are solicited and spending priorities are established. The Board of the “Trust” may seek input from the Commission and County Council in reviewing requests for funding.
The “Trust” will be staffed by a development professional that will report to the Director of Parks and Recreation, and Board members will be invited to participate in the development of marketing strategies that will support the fundraising agenda. Periodic reports will also be given to the County Executive and County Council’s Parks Committee upon request of said county officer.
Expenditures of funds within the county parks are subject to the approval, by a majority vote of the seated members, of County Council in accordance with existing procedures and policies.
Section 8. Council of Friends
In order to streamline communications and maximize the effectiveness of various “friends” groups that currently exist within the County park system, the Director will establish a one “Council of Friends of the Parks.” for each of the existing county parks.
The “Friends Council” will be made up of five community representatives from each County Council district that contains a County park, as appointed by that Council Representative. One representative shall be appointed from each municipality that borders a park. Five additional community representatives may also be appointed to represent the surrounding community or to represent park users EachThe representative shall be a conduit to the Department and back to the community.
The community representatives will report to the Department and Commission on initiatives undertaken by special interest groups in each park and will report to the community on department plans for the parks. Friends council members will work closely with the director and staff to educate parks users about changes in governance and the positive impacts for their interest areas.
Section 89. Severability
If any provision of this Ordinance shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid,
void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the
remaining provisions of this Ordinance which shall be in full force and effect.
Section 99. Repealment
Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of
this Ordinance is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Ordinance.
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS GASTGEB AND JABBOUR