ARTICLE I

NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL PROGRAM

A. The City Council of the City of Oxnard ("the City") established the Neighborhood Council Program ("the Program") and approved these by-laws for adoption by each of the neighborhood councils that participates in the Program.

B. The purposes of the Program are to encourage neighborhood residents and property owners to take action to improve their neighborhoods; to foster cooperation and good will within neighborhoods; to promote greater understanding of the needs and expectations of the City's neighborhoods and of the City's responsibilities, efforts and limitations in responding to such needs and expectations; to provide a structure for advocacy of neighborhoods' interests; to facilitate communication within neighborhoods and between neighborhoods and the City; to allow neighborhoods to participate in City decisions affecting neighborhoods; to help the City identify neighborhood problems and needs; and to provide a process for neighborhoods and the City to respond to such problems and needs.

C. To provide a mechanism to facilitate two-way communication between residents and City government.

D. To encourage residents to undertake action programs to improve the physical and social environment of their neighborhoods.

E. To serve as an advocate of the interests of a neighborhood before any agency, public or private, or before any group or individual requesting the views of that neighborhood.

ARTICLE II

CITY FORMATION AND SUPPORT OF NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS

A. Each neighborhood council adopting these by-laws acknowledges that the City Council defines neighborhoods for purposes of the Program. The City Council may define neighborhoods as they are identified in the City's 2020 General Plan or otherwise.

B. A neighborhood as defined by the City Council for purposes of the Program may form a neighborhood council and participate in the Program and in the Inter-Neighborhood Council Forum ("INCF") if the City Council certifies that within 45 days before such certification at least eleven persons eighteen years of age or older who reside or own real property in the neighborhood attended the formation meeting, that a majority of those persons approved these by-laws, and that an interim executive board of at least three persons has been selected for the proposed neighborhood council.

C. The persons constituting the interim executive board shall meet the qualifications for executive board members set out in these by-laws. Such persons may volunteer or, on request of any person present at the meeting at which the interim executive board is selected, shall be selected by written ballot. Within one year after City Council certification, the neighborhood council shall conduct a regular election of executive board members as set out in these by-laws.

ARTICLE III

POWERS OF NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS

A. A neighborhood council may conduct official business only at general membership meetings and executive board meetings called and conducted in accordance with these by-laws.

B. A neighborhood council may address the needs of the neighborhood by any lawful means.

C. A neighborhood council may raise funds to support its activities.

D. A neighborhood council may initiate direct action programs, working alone, or in cooperation with private or public agency to respond to the needs of that neighborhood.

E. A neighborhood council may submit recommendations to the City Council and City staff concerning matters of interest to the neighborhood.

1. Recommendations adopted by majority vote of the general membership may be submitted in writing or may be presented verbally by the Chair or another member of the executive board designated by the Chair.

2. Recommendations submitted in writing to City staff shall be directed to City staff assigned to the Program, with a copy to the City Manager.

3. Recommendations submitted in writing to other agencies shall include submitting a copy of each recommendation to City staff assigned to the Program.

4. Recommendations adopted by majority vote of the executive board, which the executive board by majority vote finds to require transmittal to the City before a general membership meeting may be held, may be submitted as provided in subsection E(1) of this article, accompanied by the written or verbal statement that although such recommendations were approved by the executive board, they have not yet been acted on by the general membership.

5. A general member or an executive board member who submits to the City or another organization or person any recommendation that has not been approved by the general membership or the executive board shall accompany such recommendation with the statement that the recommendation is made in such member's individual capacity, and not on behalf of the neighborhood council.

ARTICLE IV

ORGANIZATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS

A. General Membership

1. For purposes of determining the vote of the general membership, the general membership consists of all persons eighteen years of age or older who reside or own real property in the neighborhood and who are present at the general membership meeting when the vote is taken.

2. Only a general member who is present at a general membership meeting may vote at the meeting.

3. Persons who conduct or are employed by businesses located within the neighborhood, but do not reside or own real property in the neighborhood, are not general members and may not vote. However, such persons may attend meetings of the general membership and participate in discussions as members of the public.

B. Executive Board

1. The executive board consists of the positions of Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and/or Treasurer, and may include from one to three Members-at-Large. As so constituted, the executive board shall consist of at least four, but not more than seven, members.

2. Each member of the executive board shall reside in the neighborhood, provided, however, that one Member-at-Large may be an owner of real property in the neighborhood who does not reside in the neighborhood.

3. No member of the executive board may hold an elective office with any public agency.

4. Each member of the executive board who is present at a meeting of the general membership or the executive board may vote.

C. Election of Executive Board

1. Each year, City staff assigned to the Program shall prepare a written notice for each neighborhood council, stating the date, time and location of the annual election meeting as determined by the neighborhood council and that the executive board will be elected at the annual election meeting from persons nominated at the meeting. At least three days, but not more than four weeks, before the annual election meeting, the executive board, or a person or persons designated by the executive board, shall distribute the notice throughout the neighborhood by leaving a copy of the notice on or near the front entrance of each residence. Failure of any person to receive notice shall not be grounds to cancel the annual election meeting or invalidate any vote taken at the annual election meeting.

2. At the annual election meeting of the general membership, general members and executive board members may nominate persons for a specific office who are eligible to hold such office and who are present at the meeting or who have notified the Secretary that they will accept nomination. Executive board members shall be elected by majority vote of the general members and executive board members attending the meeting from among persons so nominated.

3. The Secretary, or the Treasurer if no Secretary was elected, shall make a list of each person attending the annual election meeting who is eligible to vote and wishes to vote. At the discretion of the Chair, votes may be taken by group voice vote, individual voice vote or written ballot. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.

4. City staff assigned to the Program shall be custodian of all funds for an inactive neighborhood council until reactivated.

D.Term of Office

Each member of the executive board shall serve until a new executive board takes office, as provided in Article V, Section C. Ordinarily, the term shall be for one year, unless a successor is not elected at the annual election meeting or unless the executive board member was elected to fill a position that was vacated after the annual election meeting.

E. Duties

1. The duties of the Chair are to preside over all regular and special meetings of the general membership and of the executive board; to appoint all committees with the approval of a majority of the executive board in order to facilitate the work of the neighborhood council; to dissolve any committee with the approval of a majority of the executive board; to be an ex-officio member of all standing committees; to respond to questions from general members and executive board members concerning procedures followed by the neighborhood council and the business of the neighborhood council; and to perform other acts not in conflict with these by-laws as necessary and desirable for governing the neighborhood council.

2. The duties of the Vice-Chair are to perform the duties of the Chair in his or her absence and to promote participation in the neighborhood council.

3. The duties of the Secretary are to prepare and distribute an agenda for each meeting of the general membership and of the executive board; to keep minutes of all meetings of the general membership and of the executive board, including whether a quorum is present, and if so, the names of the persons constituting the quorum; to record motions made and whether the motions passed or failed; to note in the minutes any action taken on items on the agenda and items not on the agenda; to note in the minutes any correspondence received; to sign all minutes after approval by the general membership or the executive board; to carry on the official correspondence of the neighborhood council; and to perform the duties of the Treasurer if none is elected.

4. The duties of the Treasurer are to account for and keep safe any and all funds of the neighborhood council; to spend such funds only as authorized by majority vote of the general membership or the executive board taken at a meeting thereof; to prepare and present a statement of the neighborhood council's finances to the general membership at the annual election meeting; to prepare and present a statement of the neighborhood council's finances to the executive board or to the general membership at other meetings, as directed by a majority of the executive board; and to perform the duties of the Secretary if none is elected.

5. The duty of a Member-at-Large is to undertake special projects as directed by a majority vote of the executive board.

6. The duties of the executive board are to plan and direct the work of the neighborhood council; to prepare an agenda for each general membership meeting and executive board meeting and to represent the neighborhood council before any group or individual, subject to the direction and review of the general membership.

7. The general membership may by majority vote place an item on the agenda of a general membership meeting.

F. Committees

1. The Chair, with the approval of a majority of the executive board, may appoint standing committees to consider matters likely to be of long-term interest to the neighborhood council. The Chair, with the approval of a majority of the executive board, may appoint ad hoc committees to consider matters likely to be of short-term interest to the neighborhood council.

2. Standing and ad hoc committees shall meet as often as necessary to complete their work and shall present their findings and recommendations to the general membership at least once a year. The chairperson of each committee shall schedule meetings, notify committee members of the meetings, and advise the executive board of committee activities.

3. No committee or member thereof shall purport to represent the neighborhood council or present any findings or recommendations of the committee, except as directed by the general membership.

4. At the annual election meeting, all committees, whether standing or ad hoc, are deemed dissolved.

ARTICLE V

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

A. A neighborhood council shall hold at least two general membership meetings each calendar year, including one meeting designated the annual election meeting.

B. Each January, City staff assigned to the Program shall prepare and distribute to each neighborhood council a schedule of dates for the annual election meeting of each neighborhood council. At the annual election meeting, the neighborhood council shall elect a new executive board, who shall take office at the end of the meeting; the current executive board shall report on its year's activities; and the current Treasurer shall present a Treasurer's report.

C. The current Secretary shall prepare and submit to City staff assigned to the Program the minutes of the annual election meeting, which shall include election results. If the election of the executive board is not completed at the annual election meeting, the neighborhood council shall hold such additional general membership meetings as are necessary to complete the election within 30 days of the date of the annual election meeting, and the new executive board shall take office when all new members have been elected.

D. At the annual election meeting, the general membership by majority vote shall schedule the remaining required general membership meeting. The meeting date may be changed by a majority vote of the general membership. During any meeting of the executive board, the executive board may schedule additional general membership meetings. The Secretary of the executive board, or the Treasurer if no Secretary was elected, shall distribute notice of the meetings throughout the neighborhood by leaving a copy of the notice on or near the front entrance of each residence. Failure of any person to receive notice shall not be grounds to cancel the meetings or invalidate any vote taken at the meetings. At such meetings, in addition to any other business, the general members by majority vote may fill vacancies in executive board positions.

E. On written request submitted to the Chair and signed by at least eleven (11) general members or executive board members of the neighborhood council, the Chair shall call and give notice of a general membership meeting and hold such meeting within four weeks of receipt of such written request.

F. A quorum for a general membership meeting shall be eleven members of the neighborhood council, consisting of nine general members and two executive board members.

ARTICLE VI

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS

A. Meetings of the executive board shall be scheduled at the request of the Chair or of a majority of the executive board. At least five days before each scheduled executive board meeting, the Secretary, or the Treasurer if no Secretary was elected, shall give written or verbal notice of such meetings to all members of the executive board who were not present when the meeting was scheduled. Failure of any executive board member to receive notice shall not be grounds to cancel the meeting or invalidate any vote taken at the meeting.

B. A quorum for an executive board meeting shall be a majority of the executive board members.

ARTICLE VII

RULES OF PROCEDURE

A. Open Meetings

All meetings of the general membership shall be open to the public. The Chair of each meeting, in his or her discretion, shall decide whether meetings of the executive board and standing and ad hoc committees shall be open to the public. No such meeting is subject to Government Code section 54950 et seq. (the Ralph M. Brown Act).

B. Records Available for Inspection

All minutes of general membership and executive board meetings and all financial records of the neighborhood council shall be made available for inspection within seven (7) days after receipt of a written request.

C. Orderly Conduct at Meetings

Persons attending general membership meetings and executive board meetings shall not disrupt the orderly conduct of the meetings. The Chair may direct a person attending such meetings to refrain from disrupting, delaying, preventing or disturbing the meeting and from addressing anyone other than the Chair. At the discretion of the Chair, and by majority vote of the general membership present at a general membership meeting or the executive board present at an executive board meeting, a person failing to comply with such direction may be required to leave the meeting.

D. Removal of Executive Board Members

1. The general membership, by majority vote taken at a general membership meeting, may direct the Secretary, or the Treasurer if no Secretary was elected, to place on the agenda of a future general membership meeting the recall of a member of the executive board.

2. At the meeting, proponents of the recall may address the general membership concerning the reasons to vote for the recall. Opponents of the recall may then address the general membership concerning the reasons not to vote for the recall. The Chair may allow each person no more than five minutes to address the issue of recall. Rebuttals may be allowed by majority vote of the general membership.

3. The general membership shall then vote on the recall. If a majority of the general membership present at the meeting votes in favor of the recall, the member of the executive board who is the subject of the recall shall be deemed recalled. The position shall be filled by majority vote of the general members; provided, however, that the person recalled may not be elected to that position for one year.

E. Interpretation of By-laws

1. The Chair, as directed by majority vote of the general membership, shall make a written request of the INCF to interpret any portion of these by-laws that is unclear or ambiguous. The written request shall identify the portion of the by-laws in question, describe the different interpretations to which the by-laws are subject, and request clarification from the INCF.

2. The general membership may, by majority vote, appeal the interpretation of the INCF to the City Council. The appeal shall be in writing, directed to the City Clerk, and shall state the reason for the general membership's disagreement with the interpretation of the INCF. The appeal shall attach copies of the request from the neighborhood council to the INCF and the INCF's response.

F. Amendment of By-laws

1. By majority vote of the general membership, a neighborhood council may request that the INCF recommend that the City Council amend these by-laws. The request shall be in writing, directed to the INCF Executive Secretary, and shall identify the portion of the by-laws to be amended, describe the reason for the amendment, and attach the proposed wording of the amendment.

2. The INCF Executive Secretary shall put the request on the agenda of an INCF general membership meeting to be held within six months of the date the INCF Executive Secretary receives the request. At such meeting the general membership of the INCF shall vote on the request. If a majority of the INCF general membership votes in favor of the request, the INCF Executive Secretary shall forward the request to the City Council, together with a letter stating that a majority of the INCF general membership recommends that the City Council grant the request to so amend the by-laws.

3. The City Council shall decide whether and how to amend the by-laws.

G. Adoption of Additional Policies and Procedures

These by-laws are intended only to provide a structure for the Program, not to provide detailed rules of procedure for the conduct of meetings or other business of neighborhood councils. Neighborhood councils are authorized and encouraged to adopt, by majority vote of the general members, additional written policies and procedures that are consistent with these by-laws. The general membership by majority vote may interpret and amend policies and procedures so adopted.

ARTICLE VIII

INTER-NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL FORUM

A. All neighborhood councils are encouraged to seek assistance from the INCF and to attend and participate in INCF meetings.

B. The general members of the INCF are the Chairs of all the neighborhood councils or their designees, as set out in the INCF by-laws. Each general member may vote at INCF meetings, as set out in the INCF by-laws.

ARTICLE IX

CITY SUPPORT

A. Consistent with the stated purposes of the Neighborhood Council Program and recognizing the special insight which its participants can provide, the City Council agrees to solicit and consider carefully information and recommendations from each Neighborhood Council regarding matters affecting the neighborhood.

B. Staff members of City departments will, to the extent practical, furnish information and assistance to the Neighborhood Council Program upon request of any Neighborhood Council.

C. City staff will provide, to the extent practical, supporting staff services including, but not limited to, staff services and advice as may be required to establish and maintain an active meaningful Neighborhood Council Program.

D. In adopting the City's annual operating budget in future years, the City Council shall, to the extent practical, appropriate funds to the Neighborhood Council Program sufficient to meet reasonable expense for paper, duplicating and postage.

ARTICLE X

DEEMING NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL INACTIVE

A. The executive board of the INCF may deem a neighborhood council to be inactive after finding either that such neighborhood council's annual election was not conducted and completed in accordance with these by-laws or that such neighborhood council did not conduct at least two general membership meetings in a calendar year.

B. An inactive neighborhood council may not participate in the Program or receive funding or staff support from the City.

C. The Chair of an inactive neighborhood council is not a member of the INCF.

D. An inactive neighborhood council may be reactivated and restored to participation in the Program by the procedure set out in Article II, Section B of these by-laws.

— END OF NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL BYLAWS —

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ARTICLE I

NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL PROGRAM

The City Council of the City of Oxnard ("the City") established the Neighborhood Council Program ("the Program"), which is conducted by neighborhood councils for individual neighborhoods in the City and by the Inter-Neighborhood Council Forum of the City of Oxnard ("the INCF").

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE OF INCF

The purposes of the INCF are to serve as a forum for the exchange of information and experience among participants in the Program; to encourage the formation of neighborhood councils; to maintain and develop the Program; to foster cooperation and good will within neighborhoods; to assist neighborhood councils to achieve their objectives; and to assist neighborhood councils in communicating with the City Council and staff.

ARTICLE III

POWERS OF INCF

A. The INCF may conduct official business only at meetings called and conducted in accordance with these by-laws.

B. The INCF may raise funds to support its activities.

C. The INCF may interpret the Neighborhood Council By-laws, as provided by these by-laws.

D. The INCF may deem a neighborhood council inactive, as provided by these by-laws.

E. The INCF may submit recommendations to the City Council and City staff concerning matters of interest to the INCF or neighborhood councils.

1. Recommendations to the City Council or staff adopted by majority vote of the general membership of the INCF may be submitted in writing or may be presented verbally by the Chair or another member of the executive board designated by the Chair. Recommendations submitted in writing to City staff shall be directed to City staff assigned to the Program, with a copy to the City Manager. The recommendations shall be accompanied by a statement of the name, neighborhood represented and vote cast by each general member concerning the recommendations.

2. Recommendations adopted by majority vote of the executive board of the INCF, which the executive board by majority vote finds to require transmittal before a general membership meeting may be held, may be submitted as provided in subsection E(1) of this article, accompanied by the written or verbal statement that although such recommendations were approved by the executive board, they have not yet been acted on by the general membership.

3. A general member or an executive board member who submits to the City or another organization or person any recommendation that has not been approved by the general membership or the executive board shall accompany such recommendation with the statement that the recommendation is made in such member's individual capacity, and not on behalf of the INCF.

F. The INCF may assist in direct action programs, working alone or in cooperation with private or public agencies, to respond to the needs of the City.

ARTICLE IV

ORGANIZATION OF INCF

A. General Membership

1. The general membership of the INCF consists of the Chair of each active neighborhood council. If a neighborhood council Chair is absent from an INCF meeting, the Vice-Chair of that neighborhood council may act for the Chair. If both the Chair and Vice-Chair of a neighborhood council are absent from an INCF meeting, another member of the executive board of that neighborhood council designated by the Chair may act for the Chair, if before the meeting begins the Chair notifies the INCF Executive Secretary of such designation.

2. Only a general member who is present at a general membership meeting may vote at the meeting.

3. General members or executive board members of neighborhood councils not designated in subdivision (1) of this subsection B may attend meetings of the INCF general membership and participate as members of the public, but are not general members or executive board members of the INCF and may not make motions or vote at INCF meetings.

B. Executive Board

1. The executive board consists of the positions of Chair, First Vice-Chair, Second Vice-Chair, Third Vice-Chair and Fourth Vice-Chair. The Executive Secretary shall be a City employee designated by the City Manager. The Executive Secretary is not a member of the executive board or the general membership and may not vote.

2. Each member of the executive board shall also be the Chair of a neighborhood council; provided, however, that a member of the executive board whose term as neighborhood council Chair expires during his or her term as a member of the INCF executive board may complete his or her term as member of the INCF executive board.

3. No more than one member of the executive board of the same neighborhood council (or person who was a member of the neighborhood council executive board when elected to the INCF executive board) may serve on the INCF executive board at the same time.

4. No member of the executive board may hold an elective office with any public agency.

5. Only a member of the executive board present at a meeting of the executive board may vote on executive board issues.

C. Election of Executive Board

1. The executive board shall be elected at the annual election meeting of the general membership of the INCF, which shall be held in November.

2. At the next to last general membership meeting held before the annual election meeting, the business conducted shall include calling for volunteers to serve on the nominating committee, appointment of the nominating committee by majority vote of the general membership, and announcement that at the next meeting the nominating committee will make nominations for the annual election of the executive board.

3. At the last general membership meeting held before the annual election meeting, the business conducted shall include nominations by the nominating committee and the consideration of additional nominations from the floor. Nominations will be accepted only of persons who are eligible to hold the office and who are present at the meeting or who have notified the Executive Secretary that they will accept nomination.

4. The Executive Secretary shall prepare a notice of the annual election meeting including a statement that executive board members will be elected at that meeting. The Executive Secretary shall mail this notice in sufficient time that it is received by the general membership at least seven (7) days prior to that meeting. Failure of any person to receive notice shall not be grounds to cancel the meeting or to invalidate any vote taken at the election meeting.

5. At the annual election meeting, each member of the executive board shall be elected by majority vote of the general members attending the meeting from among persons nominated at the previous meeting. Before the vote is taken, each nominee may make a brief statement concerning his or her candidacy.

6. At the annual election meeting, the Executive Secretary shall make a list of each person attending the annual election meeting who is eligible to vote for members of the executive board. The Executive Secretary shall call the name of each such person and record his or her vote. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.

7. Executive board members elected at the annual election meeting shall take office at the first meeting held after the beginning of the calendar year that follows the annual election meeting and shall continue in office until the new executive board takes office at the first meeting held after the beginning of the next calendar year.

D. Term of Office

1. Each member of the executive board shall serve until a successor is elected; provided, however, that resignations shall take effect earlier if the notice of resignation so states. Ordinarily, the term of office shall be one year. If a successor is not elected at the annual election meeting, the term shall continue until a successor is elected. If the member of the executive board was elected to fill a position that was vacated after the annual election meeting, the term shall continue until a successor is elected at the next annual election meeting. No executive board member may serve more than two consecutive terms of any length in the same position.

2. A member of the executive board may resign at any time by notifying the Executive Secretary in writing, specifying the effective date of the resignation. Resignation from the executive board automatically includes resignation from all appointed positions in the INCF.

E. Duties

1. The duties of the Chair are to preside over all regular and special meetings of the general membership and of the executive board; to appoint all committees with the approval of a majority of the executive board; to dissolve any committee with the approval of a majority of the executive board; to be an ex-officio member of all standing committees; and to represent the INCF before other agencies and organizations as directed by the general membership or the executive board.

2. The duties of the First Vice-Chair are to perform the duties of the Chair in his or her absence; to account for and keep safe any and all funds of the INCF; to spend such funds only as authorized by majority vote of the general membership or the executive board taken at a meeting thereof; to prepare and present a statement of the INCF's finances to the general membership at the first meeting of each calendar year; to prepare and present a statement of the INCF's finances to the executive board or to the general membership at other meetings, as directed by a majority of the executive board or the general membership.

3. The duties of the Second Vice-Chair are to perform the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Chair and the First Vice-Chair and to perform the duties of the First Vice-Chair in the absence of the First Vice-Chair.

4. The duties of the Third Vice-Chair are to perform the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Chair, the First Vice-Chair and the Second Vice-Chair, and to perform the duties of the First Vice-Chair in the absence of the First Vice-Chair and the Second Vice-Chair.

5. The duties of the Fourth Vice-Chair are to perform the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Chair, the First Vice-Chair, the Second Vice-Chair and the Third Vice-Chair, and to perform the duties of the First Vice-Chair in the absence of the First Vice-Chair, the Second Vice-Chair and the Third Vice-Chair.

6. The duties of the Executive Secretary are to carry on the official correspondence of the INCF; to prepare and mail notices of INCF meetings as provided in these by-laws; and to prepare and distribute an agenda for each meeting of the general membership and of the executive board. The Executive Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the general membership and of the executive board. The minutes shall include whether a quorum is present, and if so, the names of the persons constituting the quorum; the votes cast in any matter; any action taken on items on the agenda and items not on the agenda; the name and address of any person addressing a meeting or submitting a written comment card, a description of the matter on which the person spoke or commented, and whether the person supported or opposed the matter; and, on request of any general member or executive board member made on the record at a meeting, the general member's or executive board member's statement of reasons for supporting, dissenting from or protesting any action taken at the meeting. The Executive Secretary shall sign the minutes after approval by the general membership or the executive board.

7. The duties of the executive board are to plan and direct the work of the INCF; to prepare an agenda for each general membership meeting and executive board meeting; to represent the INCF before any group or individual, subject to the direction and review of the general membership; and to deem a neighborhood council inactive, as provided in Article VIII of these by-laws.

8. The general membership may by majority vote place an item on the agenda of a general membership meeting.

9. The general membership, on written request from a neighborhood council pursuant to majority vote of its general membership, may adopt a written interpretation of any portion of the Neighborhood Council By-laws identified in the request.

F. Committees

1. The Chair, with the approval of a majority of the executive board, may appoint standing committees to consider matters likely to be of long-term interest to the INCF. The Chair, with approval of a majority of the executive board, may appoint ad hoc committees (other than the nominating committee, discussed in Article IV, Section C(2) of these by-laws) to consider matters likely to be of short-term interest to the INCF. The Chair, with the approval of a majority of the executive board, shall dissolve committees that have accomplished their purposes or are no longer desired.

2. Standing and ad hoc committees shall meet as often as necessary to complete their work. The chairperson of each committee shall schedule meetings, notify committee members of the meetings, and advise the executive board of committee activities.

3. Each committee shall present its findings and recommendations to the executive board for review. At least once a year, each committee shall present its findings and recommendations, as reviewed and approved by the executive board, to the general membership, which may vote to take action on the recommendations.

4. No committee or member thereof shall purport to represent the INCF or present any findings or recommendations of the committee, except as directed by these by-laws or the general membership.

ARTICLE V

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

A. The INCF shall hold at least four general membership meetings each calendar year, including one meeting designated the annual election meeting, which shall be held in November. The executive board may schedule additional general membership meetings. In addition, the Chair shall schedule a general membership meeting to be held no later than four weeks after receiving a written request for the meeting, signed by at least eleven (11) general members.

B. The Executive Secretary shall mail written notice of a general membership meeting to all general members in sufficient time to be received at least five (5) working days before a general membership meeting. Failure of any general member to receive such notice shall not be grounds to cancel the meeting or to invalidate any vote taken at the meeting.

C. At the first general membership meeting held in a calendar year, the new executive board shall be installed.

D. At any general membership meeting, the general members by majority vote may fill vacancies in executive board positions from among general members nominated from the floor and present at the meeting.

E. A quorum for a general membership meeting shall be eleven members.

F. No matter may be adopted or approved at a general membership meeting unless approved by majority vote of the members present at the meeting.

ARTICLE VI

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS

A. Meetings of the executive board shall be scheduled at the request of the Chair or a majority of the executive board. At least five days before scheduled executive board meetings, the Executive Secretary shall mail written notice thereof to all members of the executive board. Failure of any executive board member to receive notice shall not be grounds to cancel the meeting or invalidate any vote taken at the meeting.

B. A quorum for an executive board meeting shall be a majority of the executive board members.

ARTICLE VII

RULES OF PROCEDURE

A. Open Meetings

All meetings of the general membership, the executive board, and standing and ad hoc committees shall be open to the public. Meetings of the general membership, the executive board and standing committees shall be conducted in accordance with Government Code section 54950 et seq. (the Ralph M. Brown Act).

B. Records Available for Inspection

All approved minutes of general membership and executive board meetings and all financial records of the INCF shall be made available for inspection on request of any person.

C. Orderly Conduct at Meetings

1. Persons attending general membership meetings and executive board meetings shall not disrupt the orderly conduct of the meetings. The Chair may direct a person attending such meetings to refrain from disrupting, delaying, preventing or disturbing the meeting and from addressing anyone other than the Chair. At the discretion of the Chair, and by majority vote of the general members present at a general membership meeting or the executive board members present at an executive board meeting, a person failing to comply with such direction may be required to leave the meeting or may be allowed to remain.

2. A designee of the Chief of Police shall be ex officio sergeant-at-arms at INCF meetings. The sergeant-at-arms shall follow instructions given by the presiding officer or by such majority of members for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum during INCF meetings.

D. Presiding Officer

1. The presiding officer shall assume the chair at the hour appointed for the general membership meeting or executive board meeting and call the meeting to order.

2. The presiding officer shall preserve order and decorum at all meetings, state the questions before the meeting, and announce all decisions made.

3. Except as provided in subpart (4) of this subsection D of Article VII, the presiding officer shall decide all questions of procedure; provided, however, that the decision may be changed by majority vote of the general members present at a general membership meeting or by a majority vote of the executive board members present at an executive board meeting.

4. Points of order based on a breach by the presiding officer of the by-laws or other adopted rules of procedure shall be determined by a majority vote of the general membership at a general membership meeting or by a majority of the executive board at an executive board meeting.

E. Addressing the General Membership/Executive Board

1. Any person wishing to address a meeting of the general membership or the executive board or any member thereof shall first be recognized by the presiding officer. The presiding officer shall not refuse to recognize a person because the person wishes to make a point of order based on the presiding officer's breach of the by-laws or other adopted rules of procedure.

2. On being recognized, the person shall audibly state his or her name and neighborhood or other affiliation for the record; address all remarks to the presiding officer; and confine his or her remarks to the matter under consideration. No other person shall enter into the discussion before he or she is recognized by the presiding officer. A speaker who has been recognized shall not be interrupted unless called to order by the presiding officer or by majority vote of the general members present at a general membership meeting or by a majority vote of the executive board members present at an executive board meeting. When a speaker is called to order, the speaker shall remain silent until the question of order is determined and shall resume speaking only if directed by the presiding officer or such majority to proceed.

F. Roll Call Vote

On request of any general member, the Executive Secretary shall call the name of each general member present and record each general member's vote on any question.

G. Minutes

1. The Executive Secretary shall prepare minutes of general membership meetings and executive board meetings, recording the matters required by section E(6) of Article IV of these by-laws. Except as required by section E(6) of Article IV or on request of a general member or executive board member, the Executive Secretary need not include in the minutes the remarks of any person.

2. As soon as possible after each meeting, the Executive Secretary shall mail a copy of the minutes of a general membership meeting to each general member and a copy of the minutes of an executive board meeting to each member of the executive board.

3. Unless a general member requests the reading of minutes at a general membership meeting, the minutes may be approved without reading, unless the Executive Secretary has not mailed a copy of the minutes to each general member.

4. Unless an executive board member requests the reading of minutes at an executive board meeting, the minutes may be approved without reading, unless the Executive Secretary has not mailed a copy of the minutes to each executive board member.

H. Removal of Executive Board Members

1. At any general membership meeting, a general member may request that an election to recall a member of the executive board be scheduled for the next general membership meeting. If a majority of the general members vote in favor of the request, the Executive Secretary shall schedule the recall election for the next general membership meeting.

2. At the meeting, proponents of the recall may address the general membership concerning the reasons to vote for the recall. Opponents of the recall may then address the general membership concerning the reasons not to vote for the recall. The Chair may allow each person no more than five minutes to address the issue of recall. Rebuttals may be allowed by majority vote of the general membership.

3. The general members shall then vote on the recall. If a majority of the general members present at the meeting votes in favor of the recall, the member of the executive board who is the subject of the recall shall be deemed recalled. The position shall be filled by majority vote of the general members from among general members nominated from the floor; provided, however, that the person recalled may not be elected to that position for one year.

I. Interpretation of By-laws

1. The Chair, with the approval of a majority of the executive board, shall interpret these by-laws on request of any general member. The general membership may, by a two-thirds vote, appeal the interpretation to the City Council. The appeal shall be in writing, directed to the City Clerk, and shall state the reason for the general membership's disagreement with the interpretation.

2. The general membership, on written request from a neighborhood council pursuant to majority vote of its general membership, shall adopt a written interpretation of any portion of the Neighborhood Council By-laws identified by the request.

J. Amendment of By-laws

1. By majority vote of the general membership, the INCF may request the City Council to amend these by-laws. The request shall be in writing, directed to the City Clerk, and shall identify the portion of the by-laws to be amended, describe the reason for the amendment, and attach the proposed wording of the amendment.

2. The City Council shall decide whether and how to amend the by-laws.

K. Adoption of Additional Polices and Procedures

These by-laws are intended only to provide a basic structure for the INCF, not to provide detailed rules of procedure for the conduct of meetings or other business of the INCF. The INCF is authorized and encouraged to adopt, by majority vote of the general membership, additional written policies and procedures that are consistent with these by-laws. The general membership by majority vote may interpret and amend policies and procedures so adopted.

ARTICLE VIII

DEEMING NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL INACTIVE

The executive board of the INCF may deem a neighborhood council to be inactive after finding either that such neighborhood council's annual election was not conducted and completed in accordance with the Neighborhood Council By-laws or that such neighborhood council did not conduct at least two general membership meetings in a calendar year.

— END OF INTER-NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL FORUM BYLAWS —

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