Regional Environmental Planning Agency

Bylaws | Members | Minutes

Administration and Rules of Procedure for the
Regional Environmental Planning Agency

Mission:

The Regional Environmental Planning Agency will serve as an advisory committee to the Grand Valley Metro Council and other interested parties to facilitate communication and coordination necessary to promote sound environmental stewardship. The Agency is an agency under the terms of the Grand Valley Metro Council and is organized and operated pursuant to the Council's bylaw provisions relating to agency status.

Section 1. Functions

1. The primary functions of the Agency shall include but not be limited to:

a. The identification, study, discussion, and evaluation of areas of common interest and concern as they pertain to public water, sanitary sewer and storm water systems in the Grand Valley Metropolitan Area.

b. The formulation and implementation of an integrated Master Plan that seeks efficient and effective water, sanitary sewer and storm water services for the Metro Area.

c. To review and comment from a metropolitan perspective on plans for water, sanitary and storm water services and development.

d. To recommend implementation of a limited time delay for any proposed water/sewer capital project not found to be in the metropolitan interest or in conflict with the Master Plan, based upon a review by the Agency.

e. To review and comment on Master Plans or like documents that are produced and adopted by other agencies of the Council, with the intent that all proposals are appropriately integrated as they pertain to water, sanitary sewer or storm water service and development.

f. To make necessary reports relative to the Agency's activities and to address other issues which may be referred to the Agency.

g. In all it's activities, to function as an ongoing multi-jurisdictional forum for coordinated utility and natural resource planning based upon the Blueprint Principles as adopted by Grand Valley Metro Council.

2. The Agency will not have responsibilities in the following areas:

a. Ownership of facilities

b. Operations and Normal Maintenance

c. Facility Design and Construction

d. Water or Sewer Treatment Plant employees

e. Establishment of Rates

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Section II. Organization

1. The Agency shall be governed by a board consisting of twenty-four (24) members appointed by the Grand Valley Metro Council, as follows:

Regional Utilities (Major Treatment Facilities)
Grand Rapids 2 members*
Wyoming 2 members
Plainfield 1 member
Grandville 1 member

*Suggested that one member represent the Utility Advisory Board (UAB)

Other Utility (Treatment) Systems*
Kent County Units 1 member
Ottawa County Units 1 member
Other County Units 1 member

*Potential members include but not limited to:

Sparta
Rockford
Cedar Springs
Wayland
Greenville
Ionia
Lowell
Coopersville
Caledonia
Allendale

Drain Commissioners
Kent County 1 member
Ottawa County 1 member

County Representatives
Kent County 2 member
Ottawa County 2 member

Rural Communities

2 members (From communities not already listed)

Home Builder Industry

1 member

Farm Bureau (Farm community)

1 member

Environmental/Non Profit*

2 members

*Potential members include but not limited to:
Land Conservancy Trout Unlimited
WMEAC Duck Unlimited
Isaac Walton League Center for Environmental Studies
University Water Resources 1 member

At Large*

2 members

**Potential members include but not limited to:
Chamber of Commerce
Private Sector

MDEQ (Ex-Officio)

1 member

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2. Agency Board Members shall serve two-year terms and be nominated as follows:

a. Regional Utilities: Each of the systems named shall nominate persons to represent said community on the Board. It is anticipated that at least one of the persons named from Grand Rapids and Wyoming should be a person with professional experience in the water, sanitary or storm water fields. It is also hoped that one of the persons from Grand Rapids could also represent the Utility Advisory Board. \

b. Other Utility Systems: Those communities outside of the Regional Utility Systems but providing water and/or wastewater treatment services shall jointly nominate persons to represent Kent, Ottawa and other county communities.

c. Drain Commissioners: The Drain Commissioner, or his designee, will be nominated to the Board.

d. County Representatives: The counties of Kent and Ottawa shall nominate two persons each to the Board. It is anticipated that those persons nominated will be familiar with and represent the interests of those county departments or agencies having responsibility for water, sanitary, storm or other environmental systems.

e. Rural Communities: Other GVMC member communities not already represented by the Regional Utility or Other Utility System categories shall jointly select two persons to be nominated to the Board.

f. Farm Bureau (Farming community): The Farm Bureau or other organization representing the interests of farming shall nominate one person to the Board.

g. Home Builder Industry: The Home Builders Association of Grand Rapids or other organization representing the interests of residential construction shall nominate one person to the Board.

h. Environmental/Non Profit: Those agencies or organizations with IRS 501 (c) (3) nonprofit (or similar) designation and organized for environmental protection and enhancement shall jointly nominate two members to the Board.

i. University Water Resources: The W. A. Annis Water Resources Institute of Grand Valley State University shall nominate one person to the Board.

j. At Large: GVMC shall nominate two (2) persons to the Board who shall represent the interests of the metropolitan private sector community at large.

k. Ex-officio (Others): The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality shall nominate one person to the Board to serve in an ex-officio, non voting role. GVMC may nominate other ex-officio non-voting members to represent other geographic, community or business interests as it deems advisable.

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Section III. Meetings

1. Regular meetings of the agency shall be held at a place and time to be determined by the agency. Notice shall be mailed to each Agency representative before each regular meeting.

2. Special meetings may be called by the Chair or at the request of one-third of the Agency membership. Notice of a special meeting is to be sent to all members no later than five (5) calendar days in advance of the meeting and shall contain an agenda of the items to be discussed.

3. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the voting members of the Agency.

4. The agenda for each regular and special Agency meeting shall be established and published at the direction of the Chair. Any member may move amendments to the published agenda. Such motions shall be the first order of business at any Agency meeting and shall require a majority vote of the members present.

5. The business of the Agency shall be conducted in the following order:

A. Roll Call

B. Motion by any member to amend the published agenda

C. Approval of the minutes of the prior meeting

D. Petitions and communications

E. Old Business

F. New Business

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Section IV. Conduct of Business

1. The Agency shall organize and elect a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary at the first regular meeting held in October of each year. No member may serve as Chair for more than three (3) consecutive terms of office.

2. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Agency, shall decide all points of order and shall sign all official papers of the Agency except where that authority is herein delegated to the Secretary.

3. The Vice Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chair if the Chair is absent from any meeting.

4. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Agency, shall give all required notices of meetings, carry on the correspondence of the Agency and maintain its files. If any member of the Agency is absent for four (4) consecutive meetings without being excused therefrom, the Secretary shall cause notice of the absences to be delivered to the member's unit of government or agency governing board. In lieu of the Agency electing a Secretary, the Council shall assume all duties of the Secretary.

5. The Agency may establish such committees as it deems advisable and assign to each committee specific duties or functions. The Chairperson shall appoint all committee members and shall fill vacancies on committees as they may occur.

6. Agency meetings shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order to the extent that they are consistent with law or theses Rules of Procedure.

7. All Agency meetings shall be open to the public.

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Section V. Fiscal and Operational Management

1. The Agency shall prepare an annual budget indicating the amount, source and type of projected revenues and expenditures.

2. Any revenues collected for the Agency for its ongoing functions or activities shall be used only for the work of the Agency.

3. The Grand Valley Metro Council shall maintain the Agency accounts and funds and shall provide financial reports to the Agency as requested.

4. All employees working for the Agency shall be deemed to be employees of GVMC and not the Agency. All GVMC Personnel Rules and Regulations shall apply to the hiring, termination, compensation and working conditions for said employees.

Section VI. Amendments and Effective Date

1. Recommendations for amendments to these Rules of Procedure shall be approved by a majority vote of the Agency and then submitted to the Council for final approval.

2. Grand Valley Metro Council shall grant final approval for all amendments to these Rules of Procedure as per the applicable provisions of the Council bylaws dealing with agencies.

Certificate:

These Rules of Procedure were approved by GVMC at its Regular Meeting held on June 6, 2002.

James R. Buck

GVMC Chairperson

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REPA Members:

Regional Utilities (Major Treatment Facilities)

Grand Rapids 2 members

• Corky Overmyer, Environmental Protection Dept.
• George Haga, Utility Advisory Board

Wyoming 2 members

• Joe Stapf, Public Utilities Director
• Open

Plainfield 1 member

• Bob Homan, Township Manager

Grandville 1 member

• Ken Krombeen, City Manager
  

Other Utility (Treatment) Systems

Within Kent County 1 member

• Open

Within Ottawa County 1 member

• Ken Zarecki, Ottawa County Road Commission, Director of Utilities

Within Other Counties 1 member

• Open

Drain Commissioners

Kent County 1 member

• Roger Laninga

Ottawa County 1 member

• Paul Geerlings

County Representatives

Kent County 2 members

• Kurt Kemppainen, Pulic Works Director
• Open

Ottawa County 2 members

• Aaron Bodbyl-Mast
• Open
  

Other Representatives

Rural Communities 2 members

• Open
• Open

Home Builder Industry 1 member

• Dale Kraker, Eastbrook Homes

Farm Community 1 member

• Robert Meeuwsen, Zeeland Farm Services

Environmental/Non Profit 2 members

• Open
• Open

University Water Resources 1 member

• John Koches

At Large 2 members

• Ray Bruggink
• Open

MDEQ (Ex-Officio) 1 member

• Janice Tompkins

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Minutes:

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