Item 2D: Approval of Neighborhood Assocation Charter Revisions

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Adoption of Neighborhood Association Charter Revisions Meeting Date: June 25, 2007 Agenda Item Number: 2D Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Beth Bridges www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5272 ISSUE STATEMENT The City Council is asked to adopt, by consent, the revised charters for Churchill Area Neighbors and the Crest Drive Citizens Association. BACKGROUND Neighborhood Associations/Community Organizations are governed by their charters. The City has set forth very general guidelines in the Neighborhood Organization Recognition Policy. When a group updates its charter, the final step in the process is to bring it to the council as a consent item. Staff describes the process followed and highlights topics of interest. Process for revisions: The Churchill Area Neighbors (CAN) created a charter review committee of the Executive Board. Their recommendations were reviewed by the Executive Board and forwarded to a vote to the general membership. Notice of proposed charter revisions was announced in a postcard mailing. The proposed new charter and a comparison of the existing revised charters were posted on the CAN website. Charter amendments were voted on at the May 2007 General Meeting. The required quorum was met. Highlights are described below. A similar process was followed by the Crest Drive Citizens Association (CDCA). Neighborhood Services staff was available to meet twice with the CDCA board as it worked on the charter. The proposed charter revisions were published in the newsletter prior to the general membership vote. The general membership voted to approve the charter revisions at their March 2007 General Meeting. Boundaries: There were no changes to the existing boundaries. The CAN board discussed the idea of th expanding their northern boundary to 11 Avenue. However, they decided not to pursue the change at this time. Voting: CAN requires attendance at a meeting within the immediately preceding 12 months in order for members to vote. It provides a way for members not on the Board to participate in an advisory vote at Executive meetings. The general membership may override a Board decision by a 2/3 majority vote at a General Meeting. CDCA does not have a prior attendance requirement in order for members to vote. It did include a provision for making reasonable accommodations to allow members with physical disabilities to vote. Both associations set their quorum at 10 members. Ten members in addition to board members/officers is the level set forth in the February 2000 council-adopted definition of an active neighborhood association. L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070625\S0706252D.DOC