BOULDIN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BYLAWS
SECTION 1
Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be the Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association, herein after referred to as BCNA, established in 1971.
Article II - Purpose
The purpose of BCNA is to seek to preserve and improve the quality of life in the neighborhood and to provide support in all matters of neighborhood concern.
Article III - Boundaries
Town Lake on the north; Union Pacific Railroad Tracks on the west; Oltorf Street on the south; and South Congress Avenue on the east comprise the boundaries of the Bouldin Creek neighborhood and of BCNA.
Article IV - Membership
All residents living within the area described in Section 1, Article III are eligible for membership in BCNA. Non-resident property and business owners shall be invited to participate on a non-voting basis. Honorary voting membership may be attained through nomination by a BCNA officer, and approved by a majority vote of the general membership.
Members shall be asked, but not required to contribute a minimum of ten dollars ($10.00) at the beginning of each fiscal year for the support of authorized activities.
Article V - Objectives
The objectives of BCNA are to:
Represent and advance the interests of residents of the neighborhood through the election of a BCNA Policy Board to develop policy, and officers to implement that policy.
Work in the development of area parks and natural green spaces, and in the implementation of land use policies.
Preserve the historic character and unique culture and amenities of the neighborhood.
Promote public services, consumer protection, and public safety.
Publish on a regular basis a BCNA newsletter to keep all residents informed on issues vital to the neighborhood.
SECTION 1
Article VI - Organizational Structure
Policy Board: BCNA Members will annually elect a neighborhood policy development board who will represent one BCNA sector for a two-(2) year term. The board shall be comprised of representatives from each of seven (7) sectors within the boundaries established in Section 1, Article III. Each sector representative candidate must reside within the sector they wish to represent. Each shall be elected by obtaining a simple majority vote of residents within their neighborhood sector in accordance with guidelines set out in Section 2, Article III.
Steering Committee: A Steering Committee will implement Policy Board decisions and respond to all issues and questions which may arise. The Steering Committee will be comprised of the elected officers and the committee chairpersons.
Officers: BCNA Members will annually elect officers who will represent BCNA for a one-(1) year term. Officers will include the President, four (4) Vice Presidents and a Secretary. Officer candidates shall be elected by obtaining a simple majority vote of BCNA Members in accordance with guidelines set out in Sec 2, Article III.
Duties of Officers
The President shall:
Preside at all meetings of BCNA general membership and the Steering Committee and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
Cosign all checks drawn on the account of BCNA.
Be the primary spokesperson of BCNA, have the right to approve all statements made on behalf of BCNA, and be required to report these endorsements at the next meeting of the BCNA Policy Board and the Steering Committee.
The Vice President - Community Issues shall assist and support committees related to zoning, development, parks and traffic. Will preside at BCNA meetings when necessary due to the absence of the President.
The Vice President - Communications shall assist and support activities related to newsletter, telephone line, web page and other media.
The Vice President - Community Relations shall assist and support activities related to community ambassadors, resource persons and the Austin Neighborhood Council Representative.
The Vice President - Treasurer shall assist and support activities related to finance, fund raising and social chair. Treasurer shall cosign all checks drawn on the account of BCNA.
The Secretary will assist and support activities related to the corresponding secretary, records keeper, agenda keeper and database manager.
Officers will serve as at large members of the Policy Board.
End of Section 1
BOULDIN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS
SECTION 2
Article I - Meetings and Organization
Meetings of the BCNA general membership shall be held bi-monthly, scheduled on such day as a majority of the residents may agree.
Special meetings may be called by the Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee meetings shall be held on a monthly basis scheduled by the President.
The Policy Board meetings shall be held on a quarterly basis scheduled by the Policy Board Chair.
The fiscal year of BCNA shall run from October 1 to September 30.
Article II - Voting
Each BCNA member present at any BCNA general association meeting shall be entitled to one vote. BCNA members must be 18 years of age or older in order to vote.
Quorum: In all cases where official positions and policies are being established, a quorum shall be necessary for the transaction of BCNA business.
For BCNA general association meetings, a quorum of BCNA members shall be necessary for the transaction of BCNA business. In no case shall a quorum be constituted with less than twenty-five (25) members present. For BCNA Steering Committee meetings, a quorum shall be constituted when seven (7) steering committee members are present. For BCNA Policy Board meetings, a quorum shall be constituted when seven (7) Policy Board members are present.
A majority vote of more than fifty (50) percent of the members constituting a quorum shall be binding on BCNA.
Article III - The Election Process
Election Date: The election process including publicity, polling place, date and time of the election shall be determined by the Election Committee and shall be held at a central point in the neighborhood accessible to all neighborhood residents.
In order to vote, proof of residency will be required. Proof of residency may include a current Texas Drivers License, Texas Identification Card, voterís registration card, or utility bill with the name and address of the resident(s).
Staffing of the election process shall be the responsibility of the Election Committee. The Election Committee shall maintain confidential election results and report to the Steering Committee.
Appeals: Any appeals, questions or issues related to the election process shall be in writing and submitted to the chair of the Election Committee within forty eight (48) hours of the close of the election process. The Election Committee will include these appeals, questions, or issues in their report to the outgoing Steering Committee for resolution. The Steering Committee decisions are final.
Certification of Results: The Steering Committee will certify election results and make any decisions to resolve election appeals, issues or questions and then make the election results public. After the BCNA Policy Board is seated, it will receive and certify election results and make the results public.
In those cases where no resident files for election of a given office, nominations for these positions shall be the responsibility of the Nominations Committee.
SECTION 2
Article IV - The Policy Board
Once elected, the Policy Board members will elect their chair, vice-chair and secretary.
In addition to the seven (7) sector representatives, the BCNA President and the four (4) Vice Presidents will also serve as at large members of the Policy Board. As at large members of the board, these five (5) officers will continue to serve on the Policy Board until new officers are elected. As at large members, officers are prohibited from simultaneously serving as the Policy Board Chair, Vice Chair or Secretary.
During the first Policy Board election, straws will be drawn by members of the Election Committee so that overlapping terms of sector representatives will be established. During the first year, half of the board will serve one year, and half of the board will serve two years. Annually thereafter, one half of the board will be elected for two-year terms.
Members of the Policy Board present at any Policy Board meeting shall be entitled to one vote.
No proxy votes will be allowed for board members, they must be present and voting unless assigned to other neighborhood business which is occurring at the same time.
The sectors from which the board representatives are elected, are to be defined prior to the election and may be adjusted annually by the Policy Board to reflect equal representation.
Article V - The Steering Committee
In all instances, the President and Steering Committee shall implement Policy Board decisions, where such have been developed. If policy is not developed, the President and/or Steering Committee shall bring it to the attention of the Policy Board for action. The President and/or Steering Committee may present policy recommendations for Policy Board consideration.
No proxy votes will be allowed for Steering Committee members, they must be present and voting unless assigned to other neighborhood business scheduled at the same time.
Article VI - Board/ Officer Candidate Eligibility
Age: Each candidate must be 18 years of age or older.
Residency: Each candidate must reside within the boundaries established in Section 1, Article III.
Term Limits: There shall be a two-term limit for the same position for officers and sector representatives with eligibility re-established after one year.
Filing: Each candidate must file for election according to the guidelines developed by the Election Committee.
Article VII - Duties of Non Elected Positions
Parliamentarian: The Parliamentarian shall assist in observance of Robert's Rules of Order at general association, policy board meetings and steering committee meetings. The Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the President and ratified by the Steering Committee.
Austin Neighborhood Council Representative: The ANC Representative shall attend all functions of the Austin Neighborhood Council representing the official policy of BCNA and shall report all actions taken to the Steering Committee. The ANC Representative shall be appointed by the President and ratified by the Steering Committee.
SECTION 2
Article VII - Duties of Non Elected Positions (continued)
Election Committee: The Election Committee shall be convened during the quarter preceding the stated date of elections to prepare for and conduct the balloting process. The Election Committee shall maintain election results confidential and report to the Steering Committee. The Election Committee shall be selected by the Steering Committee.
Positions appointed by the Steering Committee: The Steering Committee shall appoint chairs for all standing and ad hoc committees and task forces including: Zoning, Newsletter Production and Distribution, Smart Growth, Town Lake Park, Post Office. These appointments shall be ratified at the next meeting of the general association.
Article VIII - Resignation/ Replacement/ Removal from Office
Resignations: Any BCNA officeholder must give four (4) weeks written notice before a resignation becomes effective. The resignation notice will be addressed to the Policy board chair and a copy to the BCNA president.
Removal from Office: Any BCNA officeholder may be removed from a position for cause at any meeting of the BCNA Steering Committee by two-thirds of the committee members present providing that notice has been furnished to the committee membership at least two weeks prior to said Steering Committee meeting.
Replacement of Officers: When necessary, vacant offices shall be filled at any meeting by the Steering Committee for the unexpired portion of the term or as directed in Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised. This officer must be approved by a majority of the quorum present at the next general meeting.
Article IX - Parliamentary Authority
When not inconsistent with these by-laws, Robert's Rule of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure. These rules may be suspended at any meeting by a majority vote.
Article X - Prohibitions
BCNA shall not endorse any candidates for political office.
The identity of individual BCNA members shall be confidential and may not be released without their permission. Elected and non elected office holders as outlined in Section 1 Article VI-1 , Section 1 Article VI-2, and Section 2 Article VII shall be excluded from the provisions of this Article X-2.
SECTION 2
Article XI - Adoption/ Amendment of Bylaws
These bylaws may be amended at any BCNA general membership meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of a quorum present, provided that the amendment(s) has been submitted in writing to the membership at the previous meeting.
These bylaws shall become effective upon approval of two-thirds of the Bouldin Creek BCNA Members present at the BCNA general meeting.
Other provisions of these bylaws notwithstanding: Officers and sector representatives may be elected immediately following approval of the bylaws and shall serve until new officers and sector representatives are elected and installed in accordance with the provisions of Section 2, Article III.
Article XII - Dissolution
In the event of dissolution, BCNA's assets, after payment of debts, will be distributed to an organization which is tax exempt under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
End of Section 2