The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment shall seek public input in its development of a Plan for a Citywide system of neighborhood councils. The Plan shall contain a statement of goals, policies and objectives of the Neighborhood Council system, and shall contain specific regulations, in draft ordinance format. These regulations, when adopted by ordinance, shall be sufficient to implement the Plan and shall conform with the following:
(a) The regulations shall establish the method by which boundaries of neighborhood councils will be determined based on standards adopted by the Commission and approved by City Council. The system for determining boundaries shall maintain neighborhood boundaries to the maximum extent feasible and may consider community planning district boundaries where appropriate.
(b) The regulations must ensure that all areas of the City are given an equal opportunity to form neighborhood councils.
(c) The regulations shall establish the procedure and criteria for recognition or certification of neighborhood councils.
(d) The regulations shall not restrict the method by which the members of a neighborhood council are chosen, if the process otherwise satisfies the requirements of this article.
(e) The regulations shall require that neighborhood councils adopt fair and open procedures for the conduct of their business. However, neighborhood council meetings are not all required to be held within the boundaries of the area represented by the neighborhood council.
(f) Early Notification Procedures. The regulations shall establish procedures for receiving input from neighborhood councils prior to decisions by the City Council, City Council committees and boards and commissions. The procedures shall include, but need not be limited to, notice to neighborhood councils as soon as practical and a reasonable opportunity to provide input before decisions are made. That notice shall be required for matters that will be considered by the City Council, City Council committees, City boards or commissions and any other City official who is required to hold a noticed public hearing. However, failure of a neighborhood council to receive notice shall not invalidate any action of the City Council, City Council Committees, City boards or commissions or any other City official.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 172,728, Eff. 8-30-99.