GREAT FALLS — The Great Falls City Commission meeting on Tuesday evening is going to have votes on a resolution that has been prompting debate on social media: a proposal to create a climate change task force for Great Falls.
Commissioner Mary Sheehy Moe proposed the resolution, which if approved, would establish the Great Falls Energy Response Task Force.
The resolution states that the main purpose would be to evaluate the city's energy use and to propose a plan to help improve energy conservation and emergency response in response to what it calls "the effects of changing weather patterns in Great Falls."
The proposal states that, if approved, the task force members will be required to "draft Action Plan available for public review and comment no later than March 31, 2021 and a final Action Plan and recommendation ready to present to the City Commission no later than May 31, 2021."
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Commission Chambers in the Civic Center.
Also on the agenda for the meeting are proposals to raise fees for sanitation collection and establishing golf fees for Great Falls golf courses.
Here is the full text of the Great Falls Energy Response Task Force proposal:
- RESOLUTION NO. 10333: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GREAT FALLS REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF AN ENERGY RESPONSE TASK FORCE
- WHEREAS, the City of Great Falls’ staff has already made significant efforts in shoring up infrastructure against future energy-related emergencies and wishes to accelerate these efforts; and WHEREAS, the City of Great Falls recognizes changing weather patterns which have resulted in many more wildfires, more frequent flooding and other natural adverse events and emergencies; and WHEREAS, the establishment of an Energy Response Task Force will also promote energy-related cost savings by establishing renewable energy alternatives.
- NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA, AS FOLLOWS:
- SECTION 1: There is hereby established the Great Falls Energy Response Task Force (the "Task Force"), an ad hoc committee appointed by the City Commission, in coordination with an Energy Corps volunteer under the supervision of the City, as directed by the City Manager. The general purpose of the Task Force shall be to evaluate the City’s energy use and resiliency and to propose a plan to improve energy conservation and emergency response to the effects of changing weather patterns in Great Falls. The plan will include a history of specific actions already taken by the City with regard to that dual purpose and propose future actions to be taken, and identify potential partnerships and resources needed to implement the plan.
- SECTION 2: Members of the Task Force shall be appointed a term by the City Commission through its established committee appointment procedures. Task Force members shall receive no compensation. Expectations for attendance and conduct of individual members and the Task Force as a whole shall be the same as those for members of other committees appointed by the City Commission. The Task Force will be composed of individuals appointed by the City Commission from both the public and private sectors, representing both the City’s and the citizen’s interests regarding this resolution.
- SECTION 3: The Task Force will consist of five (5) individuals who are residents of the City of Great Falls, and up to two (2) members of the City Commission, who as ex officio members shall neither make motions nor cast votes. An Energy Corps volunteer under the supervision of the City shall be the lead staff person for the Task Force.
- SECTION 4: Pursuant to Montana’s open meeting laws, all meetings of the Task Force shall be properly noticed at least 48 hours in advance of a meeting, include an agenda of topics/items to be discussed and allow for public comment on agenda items and for public comment that is within the jurisdiction of the Task Force, and appropriate Minutes of all meetings shall be kept and be available for inspection by the public.
- SECTION 5: The Task Force members shall select a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and a Secretary from among its members. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping all records of the Task Force and taking minutes of all meetings, and submitting them to the City Clerk. A majority of the membership, not to include ex officio members, shall constitute a quorum. The Task Force shall meet as often as necessary to accomplish its general purpose, as described in Section 1, but not less than once a month.
- SECTION 6: Members of the Task Force shall comply with the Code of Ethics set forth in Mont. Code Ann. § Title 2, Chapter 2, and the Official Code of the City of Great Falls (OCCGF) § Title 2, Chapter 21.
- SECTION 7: The Task Force shall begin its deliberations as soon as practical after its creation and shall meet with the goals of having a draft Action Plan available for public review and comment no later than March 31, 2021 and a final Action Plan and recommendation ready to present to the City Commission no later than May 31, 2021. The Task Force shall be disbanded and cease to exist as of June 1, 2021 or the date the City Commission implements the final Action Plan, whichever is sooner.
- SECTION 8: This Resolution is contingent on the ability of the City to secure the services of an Energy Corps member to staff the work of the Great Falls Energy Response Task Force.
