G5-19 Ordinance No. G5-19
AN ORDINANCE
AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE SUBURBAN TREE CONSORTIUM
WHEREAS,the City of Elgin has pursued a vigorous tree replacement program and program
and promoted the forestation of vacant parkways, recognizing the aesthetic and environmental
importance of trees in the community; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 65 of ILCS 5/11-73.1-1 entitled"Municipal and Joint Municipal Tree
Planting Programs", authorizes municipalities to jointly enter into long term contracts for the
purchase and delivery of trees; and
WHEREAS, the City of Elgin has a concern about the diminishing supply of adequate and
varied tree stock available at reasonable prices in the Metropolitan Chicago area; and
WHEREAS,the Suburban Tree Consortium Agreement and the Suburban Tree Consortium
Act is a long term plan for the planting of trees on property located within the municipality.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ELGIN, KANE AND COOK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the City Manager and City Clerk are hereby authorized to accept on
behalf of the municipality the contracts and bylaws of the Suburban Tree Consortium. A copy of the
bylaws as currently amended are appended to and made part of this Ordinance for Membership as
Exhibit A.
Section 2. The participation of this governmental entity,as a member of the agency,shall
commence on the date membership of this community is accepted by the Board of Directors of the
Suburban Tree Consortium. The City Manager shall appoint a City of Elgin representative to the
STC Board.
Section 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and
approval as by Statute in such case made and provided. This ordinance shall be published in
pamphlet form as provided by law.
Section 4. That all ordinances or parts of ordinance in conflict with the provisions of this
ordinance be and are hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict.
Section 5. That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and
publication in the manner provided by law.
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David J. Ka'��m, .yor
Presented: February 27, 2019 ,,4-, }F EE
Passed: February 27, 2019 '*,: C#
Omnibus Vote: Yeas: 8 Nays: 0
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Recorded: February 27, 2019 r
Published: February 28, 2019P-' - 4 X1111
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imberly Dewis, Ci Clerk
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EXHIBIT A
BY-LAWS REVISED 03/10/16
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
The Suburban Tree Consortium (hereafter called the STC) is an intergovernmental
agreement voluntarily established by its members for the purpose of:
• Contracting and negotiating with tree nurseries to provide its members with a
variety of quality trees at reasonable prices;
• Contracting and negotiating with tree planting services on behalf of its
members;
• Providing a forum for mutual study, development and implementation of
municipal tree growing, planting and maintenance programs for all its
members;
• Providing arboricultural services to other member governmental units.
Any trees or services which may be acquired during the term of this agreement shall be
paid for, owned, and be maintained on an individual basis by each municipality which
desires to make any such acquisition. This individual ownership arrangement shall not,
however, prevent STC from bargaining on behalf of any member(s) in an effort to reduce
costs of any type.
ARTICLE II
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POWERS
The powers of STC are as follows:
• To enter into contracts,for the performance of services directly related to this
venture;
• To employ agents and consultants for the operation and maintenance of a
system for the growing, planting, and care of trees;
• All powers necessary and incidental to carrying out the purposes set forth in
Article I of this agreement.
ARTICLE III
PARTICIPATION
A. Membership shall be limited to Chicago Metropolitan municipalities within a sixty
(60) mile radius of the City of Chicago.
B. To apply for membership a municipality shall submit to the STC:
1. A certified copy of an ordinance passed by the municipality's governing
board authorizing membership in the STC.This ordinance shall acknowledge
the municipality's acceptance of all existing STC contracts;each municipality
is responsible for it's individual debts and liabilities incurred while a member
of the STC; the remaining STC members shall not absorb another member's
debts and liabilities by default; that the municipality's needs are compatible
with the STC; and the appointing of a designated official and alternate to the
STC Board. Such ordinance shall be substantially similar to the ordnance for
membership attached as Exhibit A.
2. Payment of membership fee of$575.00 to the STC.
3. Upon receipt of the ordinance for membership and fee, the STC Board of
Directors shall motion the application at the Board's next regular meeting.
New members shall be admitted by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
C. Provide a certified copy of the resolution of intent to the STC with the annual
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membership renewal and is attached as Exhibit B.
D. Current member municipalities shall annually at the start of the new fiscal year(May
1) pay membership dues of$575.00, or as amended.
E. Only member municipalities who have paid all dues, fees and other charges may
vote and participate in STC functions.
ARTICLE IV
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. There is hereby established, for the STC, a Board of Directors which shall consist of
one designated official, or alternate, of each member municipality.
B. The Board of Directors shall determine general policy of the STC, and shall have
the responsibility for the hiring of consultants, approval of amendments to this
agreement, approval of the acceptance of new members, and approval of the
annual budget of the STC.
C. Each municipality that is a member of the STC shall be entitled to one seat on the
Board of Directors and shall be entitled to one vote thereon. Such one vote may be
cast only by the designated official or designated alternate.
D. Each designated official shall serve on the Board until a successor is appointed by
his or her municipality. When such designated official ceases to be an officer of the
member municipality appointing such officer, the official shall cease to be a Board
member of STC.
E. The Board of Directors may establish rules governing its own conduct and
procedures and have such express or implied authority as is not inconsistent with or
contrary to the laws of the State of Illinois or this Agreement.
F. Unless otherwise specified in this agreement, all business by such Board of
Directors shall consist of a majority vote of the membership present at the meeting
or submitting votes in advance. Due to the nature of multiple municipal
responsibilities and the need to proceed with matters of business in a timely fashion,
voting may be conducted in person at any board meeting and by telephone,
facsimile or electronic-mail before the board meeting by members unable to attend
in person. A majority shall be one (1) more than half the combined total votes cast
in person plus those submitted before the meeting. All such voting activities shall be
recorded by the STC Secretariat.
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G. No one serving on the Board of Directors shall receive any salary or compensation
from the venture. The daily operation of the venture shall be conducted under the
direction and supervision of the Board of Directors, subject to the policy limitations
established by the Board of Directors from time to time. Except as specifically
excepted herein, no contract or other obligation of this venture shall be binding
unless approved or ratified by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS
A. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held twice per year. Special
meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by its President, or shall be called
upon written request by two of its members. Twenty-four (24) hours notice of
special meetings shall be given to the official representatives of each member
municipality and an agenda specifying the subject of such special meeting shall
accompany such notice. Business conducted at said meetings shall be limited to
those items specified in the agenda.
B. The time, date, and location of regular and special meetings of the Board of
Directors shall be determined by the President of the Board of Directors.
C. Notice of the regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to the
designated official of each member municipality at least five (5) days prior to such
meeting, and an agenda for such meeting shall accompany the notice; however,
such meeting shall not be limited to the matters set forth in such agenda.
D. All business which requires a vote shall be as set forth in Article IV.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. Officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and
Member at Large. All officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors.
B. Officers shall be elected for a minimum of a two year term and a maximum of a 5
year term and shall serve terms rotating through the positions in a fixed sequence in
the following order: member at large; secretary; treasurer; vice-president and
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president. New officers shall take office at the adjournment of the summer meeting
of the Board of Directors at which they are elected. Nominations for the executive
committee positions as listed above will be accepted at the winter meeting, to be
voted on at the next summer meeting.
C. A vacancy shall immediately occur in the office of any officer upon the resignation or
death of such person holding such office or upon his/her ceasing to be an officer or
employee of any member government. Upon a vacancy occurring in the office of
any officer, the Board of Directors may appoint a successor to fill the vacancy. The
rotation of officers may be advanced one year before the vacancy has been filled if
the Board of Directors finds this advisable.
D. Any officer or agent elected by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board
of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the STC would be served
thereby.
E. The President shall be the principal executive officer of the STC and shall in general
supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the STC. In general, the
President shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other
duties consistent with this agreement as may be prescribed by the Board of
Directors from time to time.
F. In the absence of the President or in the event of his/her inability or refusal to act,
the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President including the authority to
sign instruments which have been authorized for execution by the Board of
Directors; and when so acting, shall have all the restrictions as that of President.
G. The Executive Committee, consisting of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer,
Committee Liaison and Member At-Large will be responsible for reporting and
working with all STC committees, and carrying out the decisions of the majority of
the members.
H. The STC shall contract for services for a Secretariat to perform the various
functions, which include but are not limited to the following:
(a) Keep the minutes of the Board of Directors meetings in one or more
books provided for that purpose;
(b) See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement;
(c) Be custodian of the records of the STC;
(d) Have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and
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securities of the STC;
(e) Receive and process invoices for monies due and payable to the STC
from any source whatsoever;
(f) In general, perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretariat
and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the
President or the Board of Directors. A Memorandum of
Understanding specifying the dollar amount of the Secretariat Service
shall be renewed annually by the Board of Directors.
Officers shall serve without compensation from the STC except that they shall be
reimbursed for authorized out-of-pocket expenses made on behalf of the
Consortium.
J. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to contract with other municipal
bodies for use of Consortium facilities, equipment, and programs and to establish
appropriate charges therefore.
K. At each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, the Secretariat, along with the
Treasurer, shall report budget and financial transactions since the previous regular
meeting.
L. The President shall present a full report of his activities at each regular meeting of
the Board of Directors.
M. The Board of Directors shall (as provided for in the approved budget) have the
authority to hire, fix the salary of, and remove the Program Consultants for the STC.
ARTICLE VII
FINANCES
A. The fiscal year of the STC shall end on April 30th of each year.
B. An Annual Budget shall be prepared by the Secretariat. At the winter meeting each
year, the Board of Directors shall adopt the budget by a majority vote of all the
members and shall submit the budget at the winter meeting to each member
municipality for inclusion in its budget deliberation and approval. The budget will
become effective at the beginning of the next fiscal year, which begins on May 1.
Total budgeted expenditures for the STC may not be exceeded unless authorized
by each elected legislative body of each participating municipality.
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C. Each member will take all internal required actions to authorize the funds necessary
to meet its obligations under the by-laws of the STC.
D. All STC expenditures, with the exception of nursery and planter payments, will be
made under the signatures of the office of Secretariat. Any expenditure over
$500.00 must be approved by the STC Executive Committee by a majority vote.
Any member reserves the right to request any expenditure to be voted on by the full
STC membership. Such a vote would require a majority rule.
ARTICLE VIII
CONTRACTS ON BEHALF OF THE STC
A. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents to
enter into any authorized contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the
name of and on behalf of the STC, and such authority may be general or confined
to specific instances. In general, the office of the Secretariat will sign and execute
all transactions for the STC.
B. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the STC, and no evidences of
indebtedness shall be issued in its name.
C. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other
evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the venture, shall be signed by
office of the Secretariat of the venture and in such manner as shall from time to time
be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX
WITHDRAWAL, TERMINATION, AND DISSOLUTION
A. Any participating municipality may at any time give certified written notice of
withdrawal from the STC. Any participating municipality may withdraw at any time,
with the consent of a majority vote of the members. Certified written notice is
defined as a certified copy of the member's village board minutes where a majority
vote of the board is in favor of terminating their STC membership. The village clerk
will be required to send a certified copy of the board minutes to the Suburban Tree
Consortium Coordinator.
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B. Upon any such withdrawal:
1. Withdrawal shall not take effect for a period of one (1) year from
date of such notification;
2. Fiscal year dues will not be refunded.
3. Upon withdrawal, the withdrawing member shall continue to be
responsible:
a) For 100% of its current fiscal year dues, which are non-refundable.
b) For any contractual obligations for a period of one year from the date
of certified written notification.
ARTICLE X
LIABILITY AND PROPERTY
A. Except as otherwise provided by individual contracts, all participating municipalities
in the STC shall be liable for the debts and liabilities of STC, with the exception of
purchases made directly by individual municipalities. Each participant shall
indemnify and hold harmless any other member for any loss, cost or expense that
may be imposed upon such other member in excess of its proportionate liability.
B. All property including any copyrights or patents acquired by the STC shall be owned
in common by the parties to the STC in equal shares, unless otherwise determined
in writing by all parties.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENT
A. Amendment to this Agreement may be proposed by any member of the Board of
Directors. The Amendment shall be submitted to the Board of Directors at least
thirty (30) days prior to the meeting of the Board of Directors at which such
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amendment is to be considered. The proposed amendment shall be considered by
the Board of Directors and a copy thereof, and its reasons therefore, mailed to the
Board members at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting at which such
proposed amendment is to be considered.
B. A majority vote of the Board of Directors shall be required to recommend any
amendments to this Agreement to the governing body of the municipalities.
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