(Signed by Mayor 5/16/2002)

City of Buffalo
Local Law No. (2002)
Introductory No. 3 (2002)

A LOCAL LAW amending Article Eighteen of the Charter of the City of Buffalo in relation to creating a Buffalo Creativity and Civic Solutions Commission.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. That Article Eighteen of the Charter of the City of Buffalo, adopted pursuant to law, is hereby amended as follows:

Sec. 18-66. Establishment of the Buffalo Creativity and Civic Solutions Commission.
To honor, promote and take local advantage of the City of Buffalo's World Leadership in the study and utilization of Creativity, for the common good, a commission, to be known as the Buffalo Creativity and Civic Solutions Commission, is hereby established.

Sec. 18-67. Membership.
The commission shall consist of, not more than twenty-one members, each of whom shall be appointed by the following appointing authorities: the Mayor, the Common Council, the City Comptroller, the Board of Education, the Black Leadership Forum (or successor organization with similar interest as determined by the Common Council), Hispanics United (or successor organization with similar interest as determined by the Common Council), Good Neighbors Planning Alliance (or successor organization with similar interest as determined by the Common Council), United Way of Buffalo & Erie County (or successor organization with similar interest as determined by the Common Council), United Neighborhoods (Block Clubs) (or successor organization with similar interest as determined by the Common Council), Buffalo-Niagara Partnership, Buffalo State College Small Business Development Center, The New Millennium Group (or successor organization with similar interest as determined by the Common Council), the Wellness Institute, Leadership Buffalo (or successor organization with similar interest as determined by the Common Council), Creative Education Foundation (or successor organization with similar interest as determined by the Common Council), Buffalo State College International Center for Studies in Creativity, the State University of New York at Buffalo, and up to four others, selected by a majority of the members.

The appointees of the Mayor, the Common Council, the City Comptroller, the Board of Education, Buffalo State College Small Business Development Center, Buffalo State College International Center for Studies in Creativity, the Creative Education Foundation and the State University of New York at Buffalo, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County and the United Neighborhoods (Block Clubs) shall serve three year terms, and the remaining members shall serve for two year terms.

All active members shall be eligible for reappointment.

Sec. 18-68. Qualifications of Members.
a) Each member shall be a resident of the City of Buffalo, and
b) Shall have training or experience in creative problem solving processes, or
c) Shall have demonstrated excellence in some area of creative endeavor or leadership, or
d) Shall, upon appointment, attend the Commission's Creative Problem Solving Training Program.

Sec. 18-69. Duties and Powers.
a) The commission shall provide the city government and various community organizations, with assistance, expertise and education, in the facilitation and use of creative problem solving techniques;
b) Shall act as a funnel and creative catalyst, to and from citizens groups;
c) Shall be a solutions recommending resource for the City of Buffalo;
d) Shall promote the planning and fulfillment of creative actions for the common good;
e) Shall select an appropriate Meetings Facilitator for its activities; and
f) Shall adopt rules and procedures to manage its operations and meetings.

Sec. 18-70. Duties, Powers, Function of Staff.
An Executive Director may be selected by the commission, and be responsible to the commission, as chief administrator of the commission, to insure that its duties and responsibilities are carried out, and shall assist the commission as necessary.

Sec. 18-71. Qualification of Staff.
a) The Executive Director shall be an experienced administrator, and
b) Shall have knowledge and experience in various creative problem solving techniques and public action initiatives.

Sec. 18-72. Meetings.
Meetings of the commission shall be held upon the call of the Executive Director, or as specified in a written declaration by a majority of the members of the commission, but in no event shall fewer than four meetings per year be held. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members.

Sec. 18-73. Committees and Resource Members.
The commission may, at its discretion, establish committees to assist it in its mission, and may, at its discretion, appoint non-resident, resource members, thereto.

Sec. 18-74. Compensation.
The members shall serve without compensation for their services, but may receive reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

Sec. 18-75. Expenditures.
The commission shall, within the amounts appropriated by the Common Council or otherwise made available by grants, expend, contract for, or direct the expenditure of such sums, and accordingly provide, as permitted by ordinance or grant, the necessary facilities and personnel.

Sec. 18-76. Reports.
Each December, the Commission shall prepare an annual written report of its activities and provide a copy to the Mayor, the Common Council and the City Clerk.

Section 2. Insofar as the provisions of this local law are inconsistent with the provisions of any other local law or act, the provisions of this local law shall be controlling.

Section 3. This local law shall take effect immediately.

IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED, pursuant to Section 20 of the Municipal Home Rule Law that the immediate passage of this Local Law is necessary.