03/10/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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E. Charter, Fairmount Neighbors was previously distributed to Council members. Copies, of letter from Camilla Pratt, acting secretary of the group, were distributed at this . meeting explaining process leading to formal organization of the group. Also distributed were maps outlining areas of the various existing neighborhood organizations. Staff had no objections to approval of the charter. Councilman Haws said there seemed to be no provision for giving notice of executive committee meetings. He wondered whether those meetings were open to the membership. He also noted two areas - north of the River (the east Willakenzie area), and im- mediately west of the downtown area between the Westside Quality Project and the Friendly area - not represented by neighborhood organizations and wondered whether staff would be considering those. Randi Reinhard, planning, answered that most of the neighborhood organizations did not have notice requirements for executive committee meetings. It was assumed ample notice would be given through newsletters since they were regularly scheduled meetings and open. Ms. Reinhard mentioned staff contact with people in the downtown area be- tween Westside and Friendly and the interest there in possibly joining the Westside Neighborhood Quality Project group. The other area east of the downtown and north of the River was mostly University-owned or commercial property. She added that there had been some planning of an organization in the Churchill area. Assistant ManageL thought it important that the city stay in the position of allowing people to initiate their own neighborhood groups or smaller areas merging with existing groups. In re- sponse to Councilman Haws, he said there were budgetary implications but they were not large enough at this time to be of concern. Councilman Bradley asked why there was no reference to age limits in the charter. He felt there was inconsistency, that there should be equal application of ~ge limits - members in one group could vote regardless of age, in other groups voting was limited to certain ages. Ms. Reinhard explained that members of the Fairmount group had a number of younger people, high school age, interested and active in the group so it was felt they should be allowed to participate. The organization policy adopted by the city, she said, allowed each neighborhood to set its own restrictions. Assistant Manager noted that age was not a consideration when the Council adopted the neighbor- hood organization policy, age limitations now would require a policy change. John Porter, planning director, called attention to the advisory capacity of the neighbor- hood groups, voting in those groups was not a crucial issue since final authority rested with the Council. e e Councilman Bradley wondered to what degree the group would act in an advisory capacity "to influence the decisions of city, county, and state officials" as set out in the charter and whether that clause was common to all neighborhood charters. Assistant Manager said guidelines for organization were presented to neighborhoods to give them an opportunity to present their views on issues before the planning commission or council and they were considered advisory in that sense. Also it would give the Council assurance that presentation of views on certain issues were given by recog- -nized spokesmen for the various neighborhoods. Mr. Porter added that the provision was clearly within the intent of the neighborhood organization policy adopted by the Council. Mayor Anderson left the meeting. Council President Murray assumed the chair. Mr. Murray said that there was never any intent in considering adoption of neighbor- hood charters to define how the groups would function. the only purpose was to con- sider whether the city would be comfortable with those sections wherein it would be involved. Unless charter provisions were found to be contrary to the adopted policy, he said, the only proper course of action was to approve. He recognized probable usefulness of a policy review to determine uniformity of some charter provisions and he understood that would be attempted when the need was felt. Mr. Keller moved seconded by Mr. Hamel to approve the Fairmount Nei ghbors charter. Motion carried unanimousl.y. Cown 2/26/7.5 ApprovF 1/5 3/10/75 - 11