Approval Letter

March 19, 2008

Dear Northridge East Neighborhood Council Board Members:

The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (Department) received your Board- approved request for proposed bylaws amendments on March 8, 2008 to amend the Northridge East Neighborhood Council (NENC) bylaws.

It appears that with the exception of one (1) of your proposed amendment requests (Article VII, Section 1 .b), the requested changes are consistent with applicable guidelines for Neighborhood Councils such as the Los Angeles City Charter, City Ordinances, and the Plan for a Citywide System of Neighborhood Councils at this time. The Department has further noted that the request contains all required documentation.

Therefore, the proposed request to amend your bylaws has been approved as noted below. The current NENC certified and amended bylaws shall include the following numbering and language:

Article Ill. Definitions

I. BOARD OF DIRECTORS or BOARD means the elected governing body within the meaning of that term as set forth in the Plan for a Citywide System of Neighborhood Councils (approved on May 30, 2001), Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE).

1. BROWN ACT means the Ralph M. Brown Act, (Cal. Govt. Code section 54950.5 et.seq.).
2. COUNCIL shall mean the Northridge East Neighborhood Council.
3. MEETING shall mean any meeting of the neighborhood council.
   1. OFFICIAL ACTION shall be any agendized action at a public meeting, which results in Board approval or disapproval of any resolution, position, or decision.
   2. STAKEHOLDER shall mean any individual who lives, owns property, works, attends school or engages in voluntary service with community and/or non-profit organizations within the geographic area of this Council, and also to those who declare a stake in the neighborhood and affirm the factual basis for it.
   3. QUORUM shall mean a majority number of the Board and is required for any Council Meeting to take place.
   4. AT LARGE shall mean any Northridge East Neighborhood Council stakeholder.

Article VII. Board of Directors

1. Membership

1. There shall be fifteen (15) members of the Board of Directors.
2. Cannot be approved. See below for explanation.
3. One member of the Board shall be reserved for a representative of youth.
   1. The youth member shall be between the ages of 16 and 18 at the time the stakeholder is appointed to this seat each June.
   2. The youth member shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Board on a written application made to the Board on a Form to be designated.
   3. Board members under the age of 18 are precluded from voting on matters regarding:
      1. the expenditure of public funds;
      2. the entering into contracts or contractual matters of the neighborhood council;
      3. advising the City on entering any third-party contracts, including the entry, renewal, or contract terms; and
      4. the hiring of staff.
4. All Stakeholders age 18 or greater are eligible for candidacy to the Board except for the youth seat.
5. Two members shall be “at-large” members.
6. Two members shall be representatives from California State University Northridge (CSUN).
   1. One member shall be a representative of the Student Body of CSUN, and shall serve at the pleasure of the President of the Associated Students.
   2. One member shall be a representative of the Faculty, Administration and Staff of CSUN, and shall serve at the pleasure of the President of CSUN.
7. Two members shall be elected from Stakeholders who are Business Owners or Employees within the boundaries of the Council. For purposes of this section only, Employees shall not include students. Business owners or Employees need not live within the boundaries of the council.
8. Three members shall be elected from Stakeholders who are Property Owners within the boundaries of the Council. Property Owners must live within the boundaries of the council.
9. Three members shall be elected from Stakeholders who are Property Owners, Renters, Business Owners, or Employees within the boundaries of the Council, who are also residents within the boundaries the council. For the purposes of this section only, Employees shall not include students. The mere fact that a stakeholder is a student shall not preclude that person from qualifying for the board, so long as they also qualify as a “Property Owner”, “Business Owner”, “Renter” or “Employee”. The term “Renter” shall mean that the individual is listed on the residential rental agreement as a party to that residential real estate rental agreement and is not simply an occupant of a rental unit.
10. Two members shall be elected from Stakeholders who are Property Owners, Business Owners, or Employees within the boundaries of the Council, who need not live within the boundaries the council. For purposes of this section only, Employees shall not include students. The mere fact that a stakeholder is a student shall not preclude that person from qualifying for the board, so long as they also qualify as a “Property Owner”, “Business Owner”, or “Employee”.

2. Duties

a. The primary duties of the Board of Directors are to govern the Council and carry out its objectives.

1. Term of Office

a. Terms shall commence on the first meeting following the election, after the new members have been administered their oath of office.

b. All members shall serve a 2-year term except for the Youth member and the member representing the CSUN Associated Students who will serve a I-year term.

c. No member shall run for the board for more than four (4) consecutive terms. In no way does this limit a former board member from being appointed to an open seat.

The following requested amendment cannot be approved:

Article VII. Board of Directors

1. Membership

b. No single community stakeholder group shall comprise a majority of the governing body unless extenuating circumstances are warranted and approved by the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners.

The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment maintains the authority to approve “extenuating circumstances” as referred to in this bylaws provision. Your existing bylaws, dated February 17, 2006, already contain this provision. Thus, the provision in the February 17, 2006 bylaws will continue in effect.

It is also noted that based on inclusion, revision, removal, or other such changes, renumbering may have occurred to provide consistency throughout the bylaws document.

It is further noted that while the Department has reviewed the requested changes, there could be additional items within the bylaws that may need to be altered at a later time to be consistent with applicable policies.

The governing structure of the NENC will now be based on these current and amended bylaws and NENC is advised to begin use and distribution of these current certified and amended bylaws. In addition, the Department will keep a copy of said bylaws on file.

Should you have any questions, please contact your Neighborhood Council Advocate, Melvin Canas who may be reached via email at Melvin.Canas@lacity.org, by phone at (818) 374-9953, or toll-free by dialing 3-1-1.