RESOLUTION NO. 6608
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS (THE “CITY”) ADOPTING THE JUNE, 2005 PLAN OF THE TASK FORCE ON HOMELESS SERVICES AND ESTABLISHING THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION ON HOMELESNESS (THE “COMMISSION”).
WHEREAS, in 2003, the Mayor of the City of Lawrence appointed the Task Force on Homeless Services consisting of eighteen Lawrence residents having interests in homeless issues in the City and seeking to reach a consensus among them on efforts to address the problems encountered and experienced by both homeless persons and individuals in the community.
WHEREAS, the City desires to formally recognize the efforts the work that has been done by the Task Force on Homeless Services and to encourage additional work for and advice to the City with regard to homelessness issues.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS:
Section 1. Adoption of Final Report. The Final Report of the Task Force on Homeless Services, dated June 2005, is hereby received by the City Commission. The Final Report shall be the guide of the City Commission in the determination of City priorities, policies, and funding for the provision of services for homeless individuals.
Section 2 Establishment of Commission. The Community Commission on Homelessness is hereby established as an advisory commission to the City.
Section 3. Purpose of Commission. The Community Commission on Homelessness shall report to and advise the City on matters relating to its goal of working with existing service providers and agencies to facilitate and make recommendations regarding the implementation of the plan.
Section 4. Duties of the Commission. The Community Commission on Homelessness shall have the following duties: review the implementation of the Homeless Services Plan; evaluate progress toward stated goals and programs; develop a ten-year plan to end chronic homelessness; and facilitate communication between interested stakeholders. The Commission shall be an advisory body to the City Commission and may make reports and findings to other appropriate governmental bodies in Douglas County. The Commission shall: use the adopted plan as a guide in the direction of Commission work, monitor service effectiveness, gather opinions and concerns of those experiencing homelessness, produce and deliver an annual report assessing the implementation and progress of the Task Force Plan, the 10-year plan, and include information from annual or semi-annual surveys of homeless persons to the City Commission, establish a broad-based funding plan after exploring varied funding possibilities, and be instrumental in the establishment of the Community Cooperation Committee. The Commission shall have the charge of making such recommendations to the City Commission as it determines appropriate for the advancement of appropriate services for the homeless.
Section 5. Number and Qualification of Members. The Community Commission on Homelessness shall be comprised of eleven members, each of whom shall reside within the city limits of the City of Lawrence. Membership on the Commission shall be voluntary and no member shall receive payment for service on the Commission.
Section 6. Appointments. The Mayor of the City shall appoint the members to the Community Commission on Homelessness with the consent of the City Commission. The appointments shall consist of a diverse group representing neighborhood organizations, neighborhood residents, community members who are homeless or have experienced homelessness, the Lawrence Police Department, businesses, landlords, service providers, city and county governments, funding entities, private sector housing providers, faith-based organizations, and health service providers.
Section 7. Regular Terms;Term Limits. Each member of the Community Commission on Homelessness shall be appointed to serve a term of three years and no individual shall be reappointed if the individual has already served two full consecutive terms. For purposes of determining eligibility for reappointment, the unexpired term of more than two years of an individual appointed to fill the unexpired term shall count as a full term. In addition, an initial term (as set forth in Section 8) of two years shall count as a full term, but an initial term of one year shall not count as a full term.
Section 8. Initial Terms. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7, the initial appointments shall be as follows: three members for a term of one year, four members for a term of two years, and four members for a term of three years. After expiration of the initial terms as set forth in this Section, all terms shall be for three years as set forth in Section 7. The terms of the initial members of the Commission shall commence on the first day of the month in which this Resolution becomes effective, regardless of the date of actual appointment. Regardless of the date of appointment, the expiration date of any particular term will be on December 31 of the appropriate year.
Section 9. Initial Meeting. The Community Commission on Homelessness shall initially convene at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Mayor of the City (or his/her designee) and shall thereupon proceed to organize and elect a Chair and Vice-Chair and to fix and determine times and places of future meetings.
Section 10. Bylaws. The Community Commission on Homelessness shall prepare bylaws to govern the Commission’s structure and decision making process. At a minimum, the bylaws shall require the same representative structure of the Commission’s members as set forth in this Resolution and shall further require the affirmative vote of a majority of all then-current members appointed and serving on the Commission to make recommendations or take other significant Commission-related action. Until such time that the bylaws are prepared, the Commission shall have a Chair who shall call and preside over all meeting of the Commission and a Vice-Chair who shall serve in the absence of the Chair. The City Commission shall approve the by-laws prior to the effectiveness of the by-laws.
Section 11. Open Meetings and Open Records. All meetings of the Community Commission on Homelessness shall be held in compliance with the Kansas Open Meetings Act and its records shall be subject to the Kansas Open Records Act.
Section 12. Evaluation of Commission. The City shall routinely review whether the continued existence of the Community Commission on Homelessness is necessary or desirable, and if so, whether any amendments should be made to this Resolution or to the responsibilities of the Community Commission on Homelessness. If the City takes no formal action to terminate the continued existence of the Community Commission on Homelessness or make any amendments to this Resolution or the Community Commission on Homelessness, the Community Commission on Homelessness shall continue according to the provisions of this Resolution.
Section 13. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect and shall be in full force from and after its adoption by the City.
THIS RESOLUTION is passed and adopted by the City this ______ day of _____________________, 2005.
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Dennis Highberger, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Frank S. Reeb, City Clerk