(a) There is established an Urban Forestry Advisory Council ("UFAC").
(b) The UFAC shall be composed of 12 members, as follows:
(1) The Director of the District Department of Transportation, or the Director's designee;
(2) The Director of the District Department of the Environment, or the Director's designee;
(3) The Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, or the Director's designee;
(4) The Director of the Department of General Services, or the Director's designee;
(5) The General Manager of District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, or the General Manager's designee;
(6) A representative of the U.S. National Park Service;
(7) A representative of the U.S. General Services Administration;
(8) A representative of the District's electric utility;
(9) Three community representatives appointed by the Mayor knowledgeable in the fields of urban forestry, public policy, environmental protection, public administration, or environmental justice and equity; and
(10) One community representative appointed by the Chairperson of the Council committee with oversight of the District Department of the Environment.
(c)(1) The community representatives shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, with initial staggered appointments of one community representative appointed for one year, 2 community representatives appointed for 2 years, and one community representative appointed for 3 years. The community representative to serve the one-year term, the community representatives to serve the 2-year term, and the community representative to serve the 3-year term shall be determined by lot at the first meeting of the UFAC.
(2) Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment to the position that became vacant. Community representatives who are appointed to fill vacancies that occur before the expiration of a community representative's full term shall serve only the unexpired portion of the community representative's term.
(d) The UFAC shall be co-chaired by the Director of the District Department of Transportation and the Director of the District Department of the Environment, or their designees. The UFAC may designate other officers and create temporary, ad-hoc committees as necessary.
(e)(1) The UFAC shall hold at least 3 meetings per year.
(2) The UFAC shall conduct its meetings in compliance with subchapter IV of Chapter 5 of Title 2.
(f) The purpose of the UFAC shall be to:
(1) Ensure coordination between the District agencies responsible for achieving the District's tree canopy goals and partners engaged in programs and activities geared toward achieving those goals.
(2) Advise District agencies responsible for achieving the District's tree canopy goals regarding policies, programs, and partnerships for the purpose of maintaining, protecting, and increasing the District's tree canopy; and
(3) Provide input on the 5-year urban forest report and master plan required by § 8-651.03(c).
(g) The District Department of Transportation and the District Department of the Environment shall provide the UFAC with an annual operating budget, which shall include funds to maintain a website where the UFAC shall provide a public listing of members, meeting notices, and meeting minutes.
(June 12, 2003, D.C. Law 14-309, § 109; as added July 1, 2016, D.C. Law 21-133, § 2(e), 63 DCR 7134.)
ApplicabilitySection 7012 of D.C. Law 21-160 repealed § 4(b) of D.C. Law 21-133. Therefore the changes made to this section by D.C. Law 21-133 have been given effect.
Applicability of D.C. Law 21-133: § 4(b) of D.C. Law 21-133 provided that the creation of this section by § 2(e) of D.C. Law 21-133 is subject to the inclusion of the law’s fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented.