9.06.020 Criteria for formal recognition of a NAC

9.06.020 Criteria for formal recognition of a NAC.

A NAC that seeks formal recognition by the City shall meet and continue to maintain conformity with the following minimum criteria for formal recognition:

1. a resident, a property owner, a business and a representative of a nonprofit organization within the recognized boundary of a NAC shall be entitled to membership.

2. a member who is at least eighteen years of age shall have one vote on any matter to be decided by the NAC. One high school student government representative from each high school within the NAC boundary who also lives within the boundaries of the particular NAC and who has been appointed by the representative’s school to serve as a NAC member, shall also have one vote and may be under eighteen years of age.

3. membership or other participation shall not be conditioned on the requirement of the payment of dues or fees. However, a NAC may accumulate funds to carry out its purposes through other means, including voluntary contributions, projects, grants, contracts and subscription to newsletters. Each NAC solely shall be responsible to account to the state and federal governments for the NACs private revenues and expenditures, if any. A NAC’s use of public funds provided to it directly or indirectly by a public entity shall be limited to only those uses allowed by controlling law.

4. membership shall not be limited by race, creed, color, sex, national origin, income or any other status protected under federal, state or local law.

B. NAC Boundaries. In order to implement the council’s stated purpose of insuring maximum opportunity for public involvement, the council shall adopt a map containing suggested boundaries for NACs that will encompass the entire area of the City. Persons seeking formal recognition of a NAC may propose alternatives to the map suggestions. Following input in writing or through oral testimony at a city council meeting by interested persons, the council shall finally determine the boundaries of a NAC in accordance with as many of the following criteria as may be applicable under the circumstances:

1. boundaries should be contiguous and mutually exclusive of those of other formally recognized NACs;

2. boundaries should follow readily identifiable physical features, such as property lines or arterial or collector streets, or be set at some other clearly defined and relatively permanent natural or human-made feature; and

3. boundaries describing the territory should be logical, considering such other factors as:

a. a community of interests, common identity and social communication;

b. existing commercial patterns;

c. existing boundaries of other agencies, such as school districts; and

d. the views and desires of residents seeking NAC recognition.

C. Organization and by-Laws. Following determination of a boundary for a NAC, the person or persons seeking formal recognition shall:

1. Hold at least one public organizational meeting that has been well publicized in the neighborhood, with City assistance and approval, and adopt written by-laws that provide, at a minimum, for the following:

a. Election of officers; provided, that every elected officer and the NAC’s representative on the Beaverton committee for community involvement (BCCI) meet the membership requirements of BC 9.06.020(A);

b. Meetings of the general membership, and board, executive committee and subcommittee meetings; provided, that general membership meetings shall be held on any matter on which the NAC acts in an advisory capacity to the city council or to the planning commission or other advisory body to the council, including but not limited to action by the NAC on a pending application to the City for a land use permit or land use decision;

c. All decisions of a NAC shall be by majority vote of the duly constituted board;

d. Votes of the general membership shall be advisory only to the board;

e. Any such meetings shall be conducted in conformance to the requirements of Oregon public meetings law and Oregon public records law regardless of the size of its membership;

f. Written minutes as required by the Oregon public meetings law and that also record minority opinions and provided that copies of minutes and meeting sign-in sheets be forwarded to the City within a time period determined by the City;

g. A current list of the names and addresses of the officers of the NAC to be kept on file with the City; and

h. A minimum of one general neighborhood meeting to be held per calendar year and the time, place and meeting agenda be publicized throughout the neighborhood through mail, on the City website, and in local newspapers no fewer than five business days in advance of the meeting.

2. Following adoption, a copy of the NAC’s by-laws shall be filed with the City subject to review and approval by the city attorney for compliance with applicable federal, state, and local law, including this code, and that any amendments be forwarded to the City in a reasonable time period with all such amendments subject to similar review and approval.

D. Formal Recognition. Providing the NAC meets the criteria set forth in subsections A, B and C of this section, a NAC may be considered formally recognized by council resolution. The city manager shall given written notice of the council’s formal recognition, within 60 days of the adoption of the resolution, to eligible members of the NAC. The council’s resolution shall include at least the following:

1. An encouragement to participate in the activities of the newly formed NAC;

2. A map or other designation describing in general terms the NAC boundaries;

3. The names and addresses of the NAC’s officers and board members; and

4. The name, if any, of the City’s designated liaison person who will be serving as a primary contact with the NAC. [BC 9.06.020, amended by Ordinance No. 3544, 12/16/86; amended by Ordinances No. 4059, 9/13/99, Ordinance No. 4376, 11/14/05, Ordinance No. 4794, 12/1/20]