By-Laws

Proposed NPU-X 2002 By-Laws

Aug 30, 2001

Please review By-Laws for Vote in Late September


I. PURPOSE
Neighborhood Planning Unit X (NPU-X) is hereby established for the purpose of advising the City of Atlanta, including the Mayor, Council and any Department or official of the City, on all matters affecting the environment of, the well-being of residents of, and the general livability of the neighborhoods within Neighborhood Planning Unit X as defined by the Bureau of Planning and Development and approved by the City Council.

II. FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES.
The NPU may recommend an action, a policy or a comprehensive plan to the City and to any City agency on any matter affecting the livability of the neighborhood, including, but not limited to, land use, zoning, housing, community facilities, human resources, social and recreational programs, traffic and transportation, environmental quality, open space and parks; assist City agencies in determining priority needs for the neighborhood; review items for inclusion in the City budget and make recommendations relating to budget items for neighborhood improvement; and advise the bureau of planning on the preparation of the fifteen-, five- and one-year comprehensive development plans.

III. MEMBERS
Section 1. The membership of NPU-X consists of all persons 18 years of age or older whose primary place of residence is within the neighborhood planning unit, and any corporation, organization, institution or agency which owns property or has a place of business or profession within the NPU. Acceptable proofs of residence shall include the following: Georgia driver's license, Georgia state identification card, Georgia voter registration card, utility bills (electricity, gas, telephone, cable, or water), lease or mortgage payment book.
Section 2. Each member shall have one vote and shall have the right to exercise that vote on all issues which come before the NPU.

IV. OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. NPU-X shall annually elect the following officers:
a) CHAIR - shall preside over NPU meetings and shall serve as representative to the Atlanta Planning and Advisory Board (APAB) or designate a delegate.

b) VICE-CHAIR - shall preside over NPU meetings in the absence of the Chair and act as alternate delegate to APAB.

c) TREASURER - shall give monthly reports on funds received and disbursed. The books shall be subject to an annual audit. This audit shall be conducted by an ad hoc auditing committee consisting of three non-office-holding members of the NPU.

d) SECRETARY - shall record the proceedings of the meetings of the NPU, prepare official correspondence of the NPU, keep attendance records based on sign-in sheets from each meeting, and prepare a list of eligible voting members for the annual election.

e) Sergeant-at-Arms - shall be responsible for keeping order during meetings. Shall be responsible for counting votes on issues before the NPU.

f) PARLIAMENTARIAN - shall be well versed in “Robert’s Rules of Order” and shall advise the chair on parliamentary procedure. The rules contained in “Robert’s Rules of Order” shall govern the NPU in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the laws of the City of Atlanta or these bylaws.

g) REPRESENTATIVES (4) to the Hi-Fi Buys amphitheater Oversight Committee - shall represent NPU-X at monthly meetings and report monthly to the body.

h) Representatives (3) to the Hi-Fi Buys amphitheater Community Finance Committee shall - represent NPU-X at monthly meetings and report monthly to the body.

Section 2. Officer elections shall be held at the November meeting. All members of the NPU who have attended at least three meetings in the previous twelve months, including the November meeting, are eligible to vote in the election.

Section 3. Nominations shall be taken from the floor at the November meeting. Any member of NPU-X may be nominated, except that only persons who are eighteen years of age or older and whose primary place of residence is within NPU-X may be nominated as Chair. Each candidate's name shall be posted after being nominated. Each candidate shall be allowed up to three minutes for presentations.

Section 4. Elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. An ad hoc elections committee consisting of persons who are not candidates for election shall count the ballots and report the results to the body. Those who are elected will take office on January 1" and will serve for one year.

V. COMMITTEES
Section 1. The following standing committees of NPU-X are hereby established:

a) The Land Use Committee - shall consider all questions including but not limited to land use, zoning, housing, neighborhood development, and historic preservation in NPU-X and shall make recommendations to the NPU. The committee shall seek to include members from each neighborhood association and active CDCs.

b) Transportation Committee - shall consider all matters having to do with planning for the provision of adequate transportation facilities and services in NPU-X, including but not limited to mass transit, streets and highways, parking, bicycles and pedestrians, and shall make recommendations to the NPU. The committee shall seek to include members from each neighborhood association and active CDCs.

c) Economic Development Committee - shall consider all matters having to do with planning for economic vitality in NPU-X, including but not limited to employment and commercial centers, and shall make recommendations to the NPU. The committee shall seek to include members from each neighborhood association and active CDCs.

d) Human Development Committee - shall consider all questions having to do with planning for the provision of adequate social services, including but not limited to health, education, welfare, day care and other facilities in NPU-X, and shall make recommendations to the NPU. The committee shall seek to include members from each neighborhood association and active CDCs.

e) Recreation and Culture Committee - shall consider all matters having to do with planning for the provision of adequate recreation and cultural facilities, services and programs in NPU-X, and shall make recommendations to the NPU. The committee shall seek to include members from each neighborhood association and active CDCs.

f) Environmental Protection Committee - shall consider all matters relating to planning for a pleasant and healthful environment including but not limited to air, water and noise quality, sanitation, flood control and drainage, and water supply in NPU-X, and shall make recommendations to the NPU. The committee shall seek to include members from each neighborhood association and active CDCs.

g) Public Safety Committee - shall consider all questions having to do with planning for the provision of adequate public safety facilities and services, including police and fire facilities and services in NPU-X, and shall make recommendations to the NPU. The committee shall seek to include members from each neighborhood association and active CDCs.

h) Library Committee - shall consider all matters having to do with public libraries in NPU-X and shall make recommendations to the NPU. The committee shall seek to include members from each neighborhood association and active CDCs.

i) Parks Committee - shall consider all matters having to do with parks and playgrounds in NPU-X, and shall make recommendations to the NPU. The committee shall seek to include members from each neighborhood association and active CDCs.

j) MCA Oversight Sub-Committee - shall consist of four elected members and shall represent NPU-X to the MCA Oversight Committee.

k) Lakewood Amphitheater Community Finance Sub-Committee - shall consist of three elected members and shall represent the Neighborhood Planning Unit to the Lakewood Amphitheater Community Finance Committee (LACFC).

The NPU will accept volunteers for committees that are not elected by the body. Members of each committee may be selected from volunteers from among the membership of NPU-X.

Section 2. The NPU may create new committees as necessary by majority vote of those members present at a regular meeting.

VI. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS
Issues that affect a specific geographical area shall be considered by the neighborhood association that is directly affected by such issue prior to consideration by NPU-X. The Chair of the NPU shall be responsible for informing the neighborhood associations of upcoming issues. The recommendation of the neighborhood association shall be considered by the NPU. In cases involving land use, the chair of the Land Use Committee shall be responsible for coordinating with the affected neighborhood associations.

VII. MEETINGS

Section 1. The regular meetings of NPU-X shall be held on the second Monday of each month from January to November, unless otherwise ordered by the NPU. Committees shall meet in regular session upon the call of the presiding officers.

Section 2. Fifteen members of NPU-X shall constitute a quorum. The members present of any committee shall constitute a quorum.

Section 3. All meetings of NPU-X and its committees shall be open to the public and notice of such meetings shall be given to each of the recognized neighborhood associations within the NPU and may be posted at conspicuous places as allowed by law throughout the NPU.

VIII. AMENDMENT AND APPROVAL OF BYLAWS

Section 1. The bylaws of NPU-X must be annually approved by a majority of the members of the NPU in attendance at a meeting held before the end of September. Votes to amend and approve the bylaws are open to every member of NPU-X without attendance requirements or any other limitation.

Section 2. Said bylaws shall be submitted to the City of Atlanta's Bureau of Planning by September 30 and shall become effective January 1st of the following year.