Section 1506.12. Coastal resources advisory council

There is hereby created the coastal resources advisory council, which shall consist of nineteen members, appointed by the director of natural resources, who represent a broad range of interests, experience, and knowledge relating to the management, use, conservation, protection, and development of coastal area resources. The director shall solicit names of qualified persons to serve on the council from the legislative authorities of counties, townships, municipal corporations, and other political subdivisions and from interest groups located in the coastal area. The director shall appoint to the council at least one member from each shoreline county, which members shall be selected from the names submitted to the director as described above and at least one of which shall be a public official of such a county; at least three individuals who own private shoreline property in a shoreline county; at least one public official of a municipal corporation that is located in a shoreline county; at least two individuals who are members of the Ohio association of realtors and whose places of business as specified in section 4735.16 of the Revised Code are located in the shoreline area; and at least two individuals with experience in residential and commercial land development in the shoreline area. No more than ten members of the council shall be from the same political party. The director may participate in the deliberations of the council, but shall not vote.

The members of the council first appointed by the director shall serve terms commencing no later than one hundred eighty days after March 15, 1989, and expiring on February 1, 1990. On February 2, 1990, the director shall appoint six members to serve for a term of one year and seven members to serve for a term of two years. The members first appointed by the director after the effective date of this amendment shall serve terms commencing no later than one hundred eighty days after that date. Three of those members shall serve terms expiring on February 1, 1997, and three of those members shall serve terms expiring on February 1, 1998. On February 2, 1997, the director shall appoint nine members to serve for a term of three years to replace all members whose terms of office expired on February 1, 1997. On February 2, 1998, the director shall appoint ten members to serve for a term of four years to replace all members whose terms of office expired on February 1, 1998. Thereafter, terms of office for all members shall be for four years commencing on the second day of February and ending on the first day of February. Members may be reappointed to the council.

The director may remove any member at any time for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. In the event of the death, removal, resignation, or incapacity of any member, the director shall appoint a successor to hold office for the remainder of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed. Any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

Membership on the council does not constitute holding a public office or position of employment under state law and is not grounds for removal of public officers or employees from their offices or positions of employment.

The council annually shall select from its members a chairperson and a vice-chairperson. The council shall hold at least one meeting every three months and shall keep a record of its proceedings, which shall be open to the public for inspection. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson and shall be called upon the written request of two or more members. A majority of the members constitutes a quorum. The department of natural resources shall furnish clerical, technical, legal, and other services required by the council in the performance of its duties.

Members shall receive no compensation, but shall be reimbursed from appropriations to the department for the actual and necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their official duties.

The council shall do all of the following:

(A) Advise the director on carrying out the director's duties under this chapter, including, without limitation, implementation of the coastal management program;

(B) Recommend to the director such policies and legislation as are necessary to preserve, protect, develop, and restore or enhance the coastal resources of the state;

(C) Review and make recommendations to the director on the development of policies, plans, and programs for long-term, comprehensive coastal resource management, including, without limitation, the coastal management program document adopted under division (A)(1) of section 1506.02 of the Revised Code;

(D) Recommend to the director ways to enhance cooperation among governmental agencies, including, without limitation, state agencies, having an interest in coastal management and to encourage wise use and protection of the state's coastal resources. The council may request information and other assistance from those governmental agencies for this purpose.

Effective Date: 05-08-1996