Ordinance that established the College Student Commission. — original pdf

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ORDINANCE NO. 20171214-043 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2-1 OF THE CITY CODE TO CREATE A COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: PART 1. Chapter 2-1 of City Code (City Boards) is amended by renumbering the existing sections 2-1-124 (Commission/or Women) through 2-1-131 (Commission on Seniors) as sections 2-1-125 through 2-1-132, respectively, and by adding a new section 2-1-124 to read: § 2-1-124 COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION. (A) The College Student Commission is established to represent this constituency of the City by serving as an advisory board to the city council concerning issues affecting the quality of life for higher education students in the Austin area. (B) · The commission shall have 15 members nominated by the below listed higher education institutions and appointed by the city council. Each of the five higher education institutions shall nominate 3 students for appointmept by council, and each of the nominating institutions shall restrict its nominations to students currently enrolled at time of appointment. Only one nomination from each nominating institution may be from its Student Government Association or similarly-constituted body. Mandatory membership distribution is as follows: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 3 commission members from University of Texas at Austin; 3 commission members from Austin Community College; 3 commission members from St. Edward's University; 3 commission members from Concordia University; and 3 commission members from Huston-Tillotson University. Commission composition and membership qualifications contained herein are mandatory and not directory. Page 1 of2 (C) (D) (E) (F) Each commission member is exempted from any requirement to be a resident of the City in order to be eligible for appointment cir service; therefore, City Code section 2-1-21 (B) (Eligibility Requirements and Removal) is waived. The commission should have a balanced membership. including students who represent a socioeconomic and ethnically diverse population from multiple student organizations. Each commission member shall be appointed for a term of up to two years beginning March !'1 • The commission shall meet at least quarterly. The commission shall: ( 1) (2) (3) advise the council on topics that affect college students in the Austin area including, but not limited to, issues relating to transportation, housing, affordability, immigration, and public safety; evaluate and recommend programs, policies, and practices that could improve the quality of life of college students in the Austin area; and provide opportunities for college students to contribute to the City's culture, economy, and character, and promote such contributions. PART 2. This ordinance takes effect on December 25 , 2017. § § §~~-----c/-f-~-----J'-----\1-~~ PASSED AND APPROVED ---~D~ec~e=m=b~e~r~1~4__ _ , 2017 APPROVED: __ ~~(~··_\_.___·_ Anne L. Morgan City Attorney Page 2 of2 A.R. 20 A Resolution In Support Of Creating a College Student Commission Authors: DIRECTOR ALDEN l'vfaRSHALL (City Relations Age111y), CHIEF OF STAFF SANTIAGO RosALEs (Student Government Executive Boarcl), STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT ALEJANDRINA GUZMAN (Student Governme111), AND STUDENT BODY VICE PRESIDENT MICKY Wotr (St11de11; Governmenl) Sponsors: Ci-1A1R'1AN Ci-1ARLJE BoNNER (Government Affairs Committee) AND REPRESENTATIVE BENJAMIN SOLDER (College ofNatural S,ienm) WHEREAS, Student Government serves as the official voice of students at The University of Texas at Austin; and, WHEREAS, The City of Austin temporarily created a committee with support from Mayor Pro Tern Kathie Tovo to provide a snapshot of student opinions in the city'; and, WHEREAS, This committee provided a platform for students to engage in conversations with city officials about student safety'; and, WHEREAS, In May, City Council approved a resolution tasking the City Manager to develop an ordinance that would create a permanent version of this committee 3 ; and, WHEREAS, On December 14th, City Council will consider an ordinance to create a College Student Commission under City Code Chapter 2-1 4 ; and, WHEREAS, The College Student Commission would be an advisory board of 15 students with equal representation of each of the five higher education institutes in Austin: University of Texas, Austin Community College, Huston-Tillotson University, St Edward's University, and Concordia University'; and, I httpJ /'l'ww.dailytexdnonline.com/2017 /I 0/2;/ cil:)'-$et-to-fonnahze-college-t:l>k-force-gi'·ing-rn1dents nev.- pathwJy-10 ,-oice-i>>ue$ 3 http:/ /www.dailytexanonline.coc:n/2017 / J0 /25/ city·$et -to-fonnolize-college-t:i>k-force-givmg-sruderm-nev.·-patlrwJy-to-voice-1.sue' 4 http://'1'-W\v.aurnntexa>.gov/department/ nty-council/2!J 17 /20 J 7 J21--1-reg.hnnll'O-l.3 WHEREAS, The College Student Commission would be an official platform for discussing student issues at the city level including "transportation, housing, affordability, immigration, and public safety" 6 ; and, WHEREAS, Students from the University of Texas have consistently expressed interest in local issues including police accountability1 therefore, , housing', and transportation'; and BE IT RESOLVED, That local issues such as accessibility, housing, affordability, transportation, public safety, and immigration greatly impact the student experience and merit the creation of the College Student Commission; and, BE IT RESOLVED, That Student Government strongly supports the creation of the College Student Commission to give fair representation to the diverse voices of the University of Texas student body; and therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, That Student Government strongly supports that the College Student Commission be focused on empowering student voices from all backgrounds and serve as an additional platform for student advocacy; and therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, That Student Government strongly urges the Austin City Council to approve this ordinance; and therefore, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs, the Dean of Students, City Council Member Jimmy Flannigan, City Council Member Ann Iytchen, City Council Member Ora Houston, City Council Member Greg Casar, City Council Member Sabino "Pio" Renteria, City Council Member Delia Garza, City Council Member Leslie Pool, City Council Member Alison Alter, City Council Member Ellen Ttoxclair, Mayor Pro Kathie Tovo, Mayor Steve Adler, and The Daily Texan. C. h.ttp:/ /W\V\V ;iustimex~>-gov / edim,:/ document.cim'1d=2891l94 7 http:/ /www.d:ulytex.i.nonhne:com/2017I11 /02/ studenr,-mu>t-dem.md-pohce-accountabihty 8 http-/ /WW11.· dailytexannnlm~ mm/ 20 17 / I 0 / 17 / m1dt•nt<·tl<•>erve-to-hc-mfonned-wlwn-renting-off-campm ? http./ /wv.'\v.dailytexanDnlme.com/ 2017 / l 0 /24 / studenr,;-necd-enhanced-rngh!time-transpor_r~tion