05/20/1974 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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In answer to Councilman McDonald, Manager explained that the Budget Committee appropriated funds in the 1973-74 budget to the planning department to assist neigh-l borhood groups with organization and administrative costs. That assistance covered " ,such things as secretarial help, printing newsletters, postage for notices, et,c. i I 'Co~ncilwoman Campbell asked how an organization would proceed in the event it; re- qu~red legal aid in a zoning issue - how would an attorney's fees be met M I "d "," . anager, ~a~ ~e d~dn t th~nk the Counc~l was in position to tell a neighborhood organization that ~t shou~d not have mo~ey available for that type of activity. The question was whether ~t w~s appropr~ate to require a fee as a condition of membership. He suggested reword~nq of Art~cle IX, Section 2, to delete the provision for ma'ndatory payment of dues. There would be nothing to prevent collection of funds on a voluntary basis or through fund raising events. Mr. Murray moved seconded by Mr. Williams that the Council accept and apfrove,the charters of the four organizations (Crest Drive, South un~vers~t~, Westside Quality, Oak Hills) with the understanding that the Oak H~lls charter would be amended to eliminate the word "homeowners" from ,the ~itle and to elimin~te reference to mandatory payment of dues (Art~cle IX, Sections 2 and::3J..'MQtion,carried unanimosul'y--".--- ~ Charter, Active,Bethel CiEizeiiS"- Cop'ies- were" previou~ly distribut;ed to Coundl'~','" Manager recognized the ABC neighborhood group as t;he most active over a longer , period of t;ime, working wi thout; formal recognition for a great deal of input and. ,in~lvement in Planning commission concerns. He called attention to' provisions 'in the charter which could cause concern in view of the att;empt to develop 'criteria: to assure the Council over the years that these neighborhood groups were formed in ' 'a manner to give full opportunity for represent;ation. Also, from time to time to give t;he opportunity t;o determine whether democratic represent;ative process was .~cont;inuing. One was the limitation of membership to residents of the area. In 'operat;iC?n, property owners or tenant;s of commercial properties-who do not live in t;he area are not precluded from participation but; they are not; given voting privileges., Secondly, there is no requirement for a quorum to conduct; business. lAI though it is not; a problem now, there seems to' .be the potential for problems in the future.. A t;hird provision allows raising of funds wit;hout indication of how :it occurs or what e~fect failure to'contribute would have on one's membership. Comm H 5/8/74 .' Approve (Alse{ 9~e , action next page) I , ~. \ Eric Haws, speaking for the ABC; explained that a treasurer was provided. for in jthe original chart~r of the group, although one has never been elected nor have any ~unds been accumulated. He said'itwas never contemplated to raise money, and the ~roup would probably be willing to reword that; particular section. with regard to ~equiring a quorum, Mr. Haws said there had been no problem except; ininst;ances of administrative hangups with ,mailing of notices or .occasionally because of bad weat;her~ with regard to voting privileges for people living outside the area, he. ,said this issue had been debated several times. It was the feeling of most of_ ~the people attending' those meetings that if persons were not; concerned enough with :the' area t;o live there they should' not be allowed t;o vote on issues concerning t;he :neighborhood. Mr. Haws said the group does welcome a t; t;enda nee of business people br anyone else living outside the area at t;he meetings but askedth~ Council to consider voting regulations comp?irable to t;hose requiring residency for voting on :7~~~e: "~~. ~~ s,t;8:~..9.! ci ~.~~ !Discussion tu;ned'to ~uidelines set out in the neighborhood organization policy !adopted by the city and conformance of the charter thereto. It was noted there !were no limitations in the'polic~ with regard to membership or quorum. !councilman Keller asked about r~sponse from commercial entities ~n the area. "Mr.Haws ;replied that in initial meetings of the ABC group it was agreed not to exclude anyone' ;wanting to attend so long as residents of the area had control of the organization. iHe ~aid industrial and commercial establishments had been sent lett;ers with regard !to the organization a~ only two of several hundred responded. r iMayor Anderson expressed concern about the lack of requirement for a quorum to lconduct Dusiness. He felt assurance of a certain degree of participation would be iof benefi t to the group and would offer protection to the neighborhood organizat;ion . .' j~tself so far as creditabilit;y of action taken if it was spelled out in the charter. . ;Mr. Haws said the question of requiring a quorum could be brought to the next ABC \meeting and asked for suggestion as to a suitable number. It was understood staff iwould lend assistance in that regard. Councilman Murray commented that if ABC ~agreed and wanted a quorum he thought it would be reasonable to have. However, he ;thought the most important thing was the public notification and open participation I\in meetings. He pointed out that a quorum was not required 'by the neighborhood' lorgaruzation policy.' Mr. williams moved seconded by Mr. Wood to adopt the ABC charter with the I Comm clear understanding t;hat payment of dues would not; be required as a condi- /5/15/74 ion of membership. Motion carried unanimously. ~ Approve I ~q. ~~ 5/20/74 - .16 .~ - e :- J. . .1