Northridge Community Council |
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approved at the 9-19-01 meeting
;MINUTES, (Numbers match agenda) at Andasol Elementary School
WELCOME and Pledge of Allegiance by Acting President Dorothy Boberg. Dorothy thanked Andasol Elementary for the use of their auditorium as well as those people who helped arrange the meeting site and managed the sign in tables for the evening. The representatives from elected officials offices and the North Valley Area Planning commission were introduced.
MINUTES from the June meeting were reviewed by the stakeholders and approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT from Acting Treasurer Andy Anderson:
There is currently $38.00 in the treasury. Any monies spent from the treasury will require two signatures. No city dollars have been made available to date.
OLD BUSINESS:
Boundaries Committee Report from Don Larson: His committee had a good meeting and is working on a small area in Northridge. They are not ready to recommend boundaries.
Dorothy Boberg talked with Chatsworth about using zip codes for boundaries, as Northridge has planned to do. The census tract map is about the same as the zip code map.
Willie Langley moved that the boundaries for the Northridge Community Council be the NR zip codes from 91324 through 91330. Seconded. Tabled.
Organizational Structure Committee Report from Walter Prince: The structure of the community council and committees can be established in any way the stakeholders choose. All other community councils are having the same problem.
Walter’s 31 page proposed structure shows an administrator and staff receiving a salary from D.O.N.E. He commented that an on-going structure is essential and can be a powerful political tool. Walter referred to the Town Hall in Simi that has been successful for 30 years. Simi is divided into four quadrants. All stakeholders are entitled to one vote. A vote can be taken by written ballot if it’s a volatile issue.
2.
Walter referred to the display chart to show a proposed structure. Each board director would head a committee and be responsible for knowledge of and expertise in the purpose of a specific city department. Each board director would be responsible for contacting that city department for information to guide community members. Sub-committees could be formed to solve a citizen problem.
The board directors would serve as an Internal Affairs body for the community council; ie: boundary adjustments; bylaws; meeting locations; fundraisers; write grants; policy and procedure manual.
If an existing organization chooses to come under the wing of the Northridge Community Council, it would be welcome as a stakeholder. A committee to represent them would liaison with the City Council office.
The community councils are depending on the city for the funding to get started. Discussion followed.
A stakeholder, according to the charter, lives, works or owns property within the community council boundaries. This has changed to include anyone with an interest in the area, so now any person who participates in any organized activity within the boundaries is a stakeholder. All students at Cal State Northridge are stakeholders. There are no restrictions as to how many councils one person can belong to.
What does the City think the purpose of the councils is? Opinion: It’s a result of the secession movement; to placate people and provide another level for them to provide input into their city government. The community councils will not have any power or authority. Access and cooperation will depend on the City Council member. The community councils should be a positive voice to help the community.
Comment: Under this proposed organizational structure, the community council would be controlled by the board of directors. The stakeholders must be able to participate in all voting and the stakeholders should elect a board. Bylaws committee should research the language that allows only limited speaking time and that no political statements can be made. This is a first amendment issue and should not be in the bylaws.
Comment: Make a broad effort to include as many people as possible.
3.
Andy Anderson moved that wording be added to the bylaws "that appointed chairs of committees and appointed liaisons to city departments, whether or not they are elected board members, have a vote on the board of directors, but are not required to be part of the eleven board vote quorum for the twenty one members". Seconded. Discussion followed. Charles Brink moved that the motion be amended that wording be deleted after "city departments" and wording be added at that point; "may be appointed but shall not be members of the board". Andy accepted the amendment. Seconded. After discussion, the motion was tabled.
Kim Savage commented that she hasn’t been aware of previous meetings. Response: There’s been no funding from D.O.N.E. for widespread mailings or newsletters.
Comment: A director should be elected by the stakeholders. The director should appoint the chairs of committees; three committee members (stakeholders) minimum per committee.
There was additional discussion. Andy Anderson revised his motion but the assemblage voted to table the motion until the next meeting.
Comment: We must not focus on an October deadline. We need to structure the Northridge Community Council properly the first time rather than to revise it later.
Kim Savage requested and there was a motion made that the Bull Creek area be included in the Northridge Community Council boundary. The Community Plan includes the area in Northridge. There was discussion regarding the inclusion of the entire zip code area of 91343 or just partial inclusion. The motion was seconded, followed by considerable discussion.
There were several people attempting to address a variety of issues at the same time.
Zip codes were designed to deliver mail. Look to geographic lines to set boundaries.
Look at bylaws and boundary issues on the web site and vote at the next meeting.
Requests were made to distribute information in advance of the meetings so stakeholders can be prepared to discuss it.
Identify all stakeholders and reach out to them before voting.
Harry Coleman has an alternate structural plan.
4.
Bylaws and Boundary Committees need to do their work. Table discussions until then.
The Bylaws Committee and the Boundary Committee members were identified. The committees are open to new members.
5. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.