El Cerrito Community Council Bylaws

Article 1. Name

Section 1.1

The name of this organization shall be the El Cerrito Community Council (ECCC).

Section 1.2

The geographic area within the City of San Diego bordered by 54th/Collwood Street (East side only); University Avenue (North side only); College Avenue (West side only); and south of Baja Canyon (The canyon South of Baja Drive.)

Article 2. Purpose (Mission Statement)

The purpose of this Council is to promote the public good and the welfare of the El Cerrito community by:

• disseminating information and providing a forum for discussion on issues of interest to the community,
• initiating, organizing, or providing support for activities which benefit the community,
• facilitating communication between the City or other agencies and the community.

Article 3. Community Council

Section 3.1

Membership in the Council shall be open to any individual at least 18 years of age and residing or owning property within the El Cerrito community or any business owner (or business owner’s designee) whose place of business is within the El Cerrito community. Membership shall be granted upon receipt of an application verifying qualification.

Section 3.2

No absentee or proxy voting is allowed. Only active members may vote at any meeting. An active member is any member who has attended at least one prior meeting within the previous 12 months. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for maintaining updated attendance records, membership rolls, and any other vote eligibility records.

Section 3.3

Regular meetings of the Council shall be held at least once every other month. A quorum of the Council is obtained as long as a quorum of the Board of Directors (see Section 4.6) is present at any regular meeting of the Council announced at least one week prior to the meeting date. No Council business may be conducted at a meeting not satisfying quorum.

Section 3.4

It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to organize and facilitate meetings of the Council. Decision items may be placed on the Council agenda by decision of the Board, or by decision of the Council at a previous meeting, or by petition of twelve (12) Council members presented to the Board chairperson at least 10 days prior to the meeting date. Decision items on the agenda shall be announced at least one week prior to the meeting date.

Article 4. Board of Directors

Section 4.1

The executive body of the Council shall be the Board of Directors consisting of no less than five (5) and no more than nine (9) persons elected from the active Council membership during the March Council meeting.

Section 4.1.1

Nominations shall be requested starting in February and may be made from the floor. Members are encouraged to nominate themselves. Directors shall take office at the April Board of Director’s meeting and shall hold office for a term of one year or until their successors are elected.

Section 4.1.2

The election shall be by a secret ballot, where a vote is indicated for each candidate that a voting member wants on the board. The candidates with the most votes (up to nine (9) candidates) shall be elected to the board. Votes can be indicated by marking a prepared list of candidate’s names or by writing in candidates names on a ballot. An unmarked name on a prepared list of candidates shall not count as a vote for that candidate. A name written in on a ballot shall count as a vote for that candidate even if there is no other

Section 4.1.3

The chairperson or presiding officer shall declare (an) unopposed nominee(s) elected without a ballot if no one objects.

Section 4.2

A vacancy on the Board of Directors may occur upon: (1) failure to elect a full slate during the Council election, (2) receipt and acceptance of a resignation, (3) the third consecutive unexcused absence or the sixth absence whether excused or not. An unexcused absence is any absence for which the member fails to notify either the chairperson or vice chairperson at least 12 hours prior to the meeting. Vacancies on the Board may be filled by appointment. Such appointments require a one week prior notice to the Board of Directors and a 2/3 (two-thirds) vote of the current membership of the Board.

Section 4.3

The Board of Directors is empowered to act in the name of the El Cerrito Community Council between meetings of the Council in all matters unless otherwise indicated within these bylaws or by resolution of the Council.

Section 4.4

At the April Board meeting, the Board of Directors shall conduct internal elections to appoint from among its membership a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, a secretary, a treasurer, a membership coordinator, and any other officers the Board deems necessary. New internal elections may be called at any time by majority vote of the Board.

Section 4.5

The chairperson shall preside over all meetings of the El Cerrito Community Council and the Board of Directors and be primarily responsible for all other meeting preparations. The vice-chairperson shall serve as presiding officer in the absence of the chairperson. Unless otherwise specified, the chairperson shall also serve as the primary spokesperson for the El Cerrito Community Council.

Section 4.6

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at least once every month unless a “dark” month is declared by resolution of the Board. A quorum of the Board of Directors shall be 50% of the current membership of the Board. No business may be conducted at a meeting not satisfying quorum. Any proposed decision items on the agenda shall be announced at least one week prior to the meeting date. All meetings of the Board shall be open to the public.

Section 4.7

It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to inform the community, to the best of their ability, about the meeting schedules, agendas, and actions of the Council and the Board. The Board shall coordinate block captains throughout the community to facilitate the distribution of notices. Any prior notice or announcement actions required within these bylaws may be satisfied by posting notice.

Section 4.8

All financial records, membership lists, meeting minutes, and other records maintained by the Board of Directors shall be open for inspection by any active member. Exceptions may be made for certain confidential personnel, contractual, or legal records where authorized by the Council. The contact information (phone, address, email) of all members of the ECCC is confidential and not open for inspection or distribution.

Section 4.9

The Board of Directors shall adopt Standing Rules, as necessary, to carry out the regular business of the ECCC. Any changes to these Standing Rules shall require a majority (50% + 1) vote of the board.

Article 5. Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Keesey’s Modern Parliamentary Procedure shall govern this Council in all cases in which they are applicable and not in conflict with these bylaws or any special rules that the Council may adopt.

Article 6. Amendments

These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the El Cerrito Community Council by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting. Bylaw amendments may be placed on the Council agenda by a majority vote of the Board of Directors or by petition of twelve (12) Council members.

Article 7. Committees

Section 7.1

Standing committees shall be appointed and disbanded as necessary by a majority vote (50% + 1) of the Board of Directors, in order to perform their specified functions. The Chairperson of each committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. (See Standing Rules # H.)

Section 7.2

All committee meetings shall be announced in advance and open to the public. No committee will issue any report in the name of the El Cerrito Community Council without approval by the Board of Directors.

Article 8. Standing Rules

Section 8.1

In addition to these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall establish a set of Standing Rules. All Standing Rules shall be consistent with these Bylaws.

Section 8.2

Standing Rules can be amended with a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors provided a quorum is present.

Section 8.3

Standing Rules can be temporarily suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors present at any regular or special meeting in which a quorum is present, provided that such action shall not be in conflict with these Bylaws.

Article 9. Dissolution

Upon the dissolution of the El Cerrito Community Council, any assets remaining after payment of all debts and liabilities shall be distributed equally to the College Area Community Council and the Eastern Area Community Planning Council. If either of these organizations does not exist, that organization’s share shall be distributed to the general fund of the City of San Diego. Dissolution is triggered automatically if the active membership of the Council falls below 25 persons for more than 12 consecutive months.

Article 10. Final Approval:

These bylaws have been approved by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the El Cerrito Community Council on January 21, 2010.