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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE II, ADMINISTRATION, CHAPTER 10, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, SECTION 6, OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, 2000, AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED, BE REPEALED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND A NEW SECTION 23, ARTICLE 11, OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, BE RE-ESTABLISHED IN TITLE II, ADMINISTRATION, CHAPTER 5, DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION.
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark wishes to build on past actions and provide a stronger base within municipal government for advancing sustainability goals as laid out in the Newark Master Plan and Newark Sustainability Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 40:69A-29 provides the Municipal Council of the City of Newark the power to, among other things, “organize and regulate its internal affairs, and to establish, alter, and abolish offices, positions and employments and to define the functions, powers, and duties thereof”; and
WHEREAS, previously, the Municipal Council of the City of Newark adopted Ordinance 6PSF-a on January 5, 2011. This Ordinance created an Office of Sustainability and the position of Sustainability Officer within the Department of Economic and Housing Development and assigned certain duties to said Officer (Ord. 6 PSF-A, 1-5-11 §§ 1-3) as amended by Ordinance 6PSF-c, adopted on November 5, 2015; and
WHEREAS, due to the increased need for interdepartmental coordination on sustainability projects, including but not limited to municipal energy efficiency, green storm water infrastructure, urban gardens, farms, and green re-use of vacant lots, recycling, and air quality projects, the City now desires to locate the Office of Sustainability and the position of Sustainability Officer within the Office of the Business Administrator; and
WHEREAS, the City further desires to advance its sustainability goals by assigning staff within various departments as liaisons to the Sustainability Officer with responsibility for carrying out tasks related to sustainability goals within their own departments as approved by Department Directors and the Business Administrator; and
WHEREAS, by focusing on sustainability across departments within municipal government, the City will be better able to address other important policy goals, increased operational efficiencies, improved public health and quality of life, and increased economic opportunities for residents within the Green, 21st Century Economy.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
[Note: Underlined text represents additions and strikethroughs represent deletions]
Section 1: Title Two, Administration, Chapter 10, Department of Economic and Housing Development, Section 6, of the Revised General Ordinances of the City of Newark, New Jersey, 2000, as amended and supplemented, be and the same is repealed in its entirety.
2:10-6.1. Office Created; Sustainability Officer.
The Municipal Council hereby authorizes the creation of a Sustainability Office and of the position of Sustainability Officer within the Department of Economic and Housing Development. (Ord. 6 PSF-A, 1-5-11 § 1; Ord. 6 PSF-C, 11-5-15)
2:10-6.2. Duties of the Sustainability Officer.
The Sustainability Officer of the City of Newark shall be responsible for coordinating and promoting efforts across departments within City government and with community and business partners throughout the City to advance sustainability goals as outlined in the Newark Sustainability Action Plan and as further directed by the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development (the "Director"). (Ord. 6 PSF-A, 1-5-11 § 2; Ord. 6 PSF-C, 11-5-15)
2:10-6.3. Establishment of City-Wide Green Team.
The Director is hereby authorized to appoint a City-Wide Green Team to serve as an advisory body to the Director for pursuing certification on behalf of the City of Newark with the Sustainable Jersey Program. (Ord. 6 PSF-A, 1-5-11 § 3; Ord. 6 PSF-C, 11-5-15)
2:10-6.4. Responsibilities of the Green Team.
The general purposes for the Green Team Committee shall include but not be limited to:
a. Completing the municipal registration in the Sustainable Jersey Program;
b. Managing Newark's participation in the Sustainable Jersey Program, including initiating, supporting, and documenting activities that qualify for points within the Sustainable Jersey certification framework;
c. Ensuring that activities carried out pursuant to Sustainable Jersey certification advance the principles and goals of the Newark Sustainability Action Plan;
d. Coordinating with staff within municipal government to identify and support City government activities that advance Sustainable Jersey certification;
e. Convening and coordinating efforts within the community to advance City-wide sustainability in areas including but not limited to: gardening, farming, tree planting, and green infrastructure projects, air quality monitoring and air pollution reduction projects, energy efficiency and indoor air quality projects, materials re-use and recycling projects, green local economy projects, arts and cultural activities that promote sustainability, and youth engagement and educational projects;
f. Soliciting and evaluating ideas for sustainability projects and policies from the community;
g. Engaging Newark businesses and institutions in prompting and highlighting sustainability initiatives that strengthen the local economy; and
h. Supporting municipal staff and the Newark Environmental Commission in setting and reaching measurable benchmarks for progress in advancing municipal sustainability, including reducing energy use, air pollution, storm water run-off, waste, toxicity and greenhouse gas emissions and promoting public health, quality of life, cost savings, natural resource conservation, and access for Newark residents to job and business opportunities in the green economy.
(Ord. 6 PSF-C, 11-5-15)
2:10-6.5. Membership, Term of Office.
The Director shall appoint twelve (12) members to serve on the Green Team. Membership of the Newark Green Team Committee shall be open to all Newark residents, workers, and business owners via invitation by the Director. To the greatest extent possible, the Director shall make appointments that strive to include membership from the following sectors: (a) Members of the Newark Environmental Commission; (b) City residents; (c) Representatives of community-based organizations; (d) Representatives of K-12 schools, vocational and technical schools, and higher education institutions; (e) Representatives of small and large businesses; (f) Representatives of civic institutions such as the library, museum, hospitals, and arts and cultural venues; and (g) Representatives of municipal government.
The Green Team shall elect from among its members a Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary. Initially seven (7) members shall be appointed with a term ending December 31, 2017 and five (5) members with a term ending December 31, 2016. Thereafter, all terms shall be for three (3) years.
The Green Team shall recruit City volunteers to work on Green Team projects. The names of the Green Team volunteers and the Green Team Committee reports, minutes, etc. shall be submitted to the Municipal Council on a biannual basis.
(Ord. 6 PSF-C, 11-5-15)
2:10-6.6. Meetings.
The Green Team shall meet monthly. Additional meetings of the Green Team Committee may be scheduled at the discretion of the Chair. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Green Team. (Ord. 6 PSF-C, 11-5-15)
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Section 2: Title 2 Administration, Chapter 5, Department of Administration, of the Revised General Ordinances of the City of Newark, New Jersey, 2000 as amended and supplemented, is hereby amended as follows:
2:5-1. Establishment and General Organization of Department
j. Office of Sustainability
Section 3: Title 2 Administration, Chapter 5, Department of Administration, of the Revised General Ordinances of the City of Newark, New Jersey 2000 as amended and supplemented, is hereby amended to add a new Article 11, Section 23, Office of Sustainability is re- established as follows:
1. Established
There shall be within the Department of Administration, an Office of Sustainability, the head of which shall be the Sustainability Officer.
2. Duties and Responsibilities
The Sustainability Officer, under the direction of the Business Administrator, shall:
a. Manage policy initiatives and programs that advance the City’s sustainability agenda
b. Work with Department Directors and staff team to move toward sustainability benchmarks within each department and coordinate across departments
c. Increase efficiencies to reduce operational costs for the City.
d. Work with the Newark Environmental Commission and community partners to advance priority items within the Newark Sustainability Action Plan
e. Manage Newark’s participation in the Sustainable Jersey program, including working with the Newark Environmental Commission to establish, coordinate and promote the activities of the Newark Green Team, a multi-sector stakeholder group responsible for assisting the City in maintaining Newark’s certification within the Sustainable Jersey Program
f. Manage the budget for Sustainability activities and raise additional funds through earmarked revenue, savings, and grants
g. Advise and assist the Mayor on City environmental matters
3. The Office of Sustainability will be comprised of the Sustainability Officer and municipal staff liaisons within other agencies, including but not limited to the Department of Housing & Economic Development, the Department of Engineering, Department of Water and Sewer Utilities, the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Senior Services, Department of Public Works, Department of Health and Community Wellness and the Department of Public Safety. These staff liaisons will advance specific tasks related to an interdepartmental sustainability strategy within their respective departments.
4. The Office of Sustainability will file a progress report annually with the City Clerk.
Section 4: Any prior ordinances or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
Section 5: If any part of this Ordinance is declared unconstitutional or illegal, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
Section 6: This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon final passage and publication in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
An Ordinance amending Title II, Administration, Chapter 10, Department of Economic and Housing Development, to repeal the ordinance, in its entirety, and add a new Section 23, Article 11 re-establishing a new Office of Sustainability within the Department of Administration.