DNA Charter

Charter for the Downtown Neighborhood Association

Approved by City of Eugene: March 22, 2010

Article I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA).

Article II - GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES

The Downtown Neighborhood Association encompasses the area inside the following boundary beginning at the intersection of High Street and E. 13th Avenue, north to E. 11th Avenue, east to Mill Street, north to E. 10th Avenue, east to Ferry Alley, north by an irregular line between tax lots at a point two tax lots east of Ferry Lane to Broadway, east to Hilyard Street, north to E. 8th Avenue, northwest to the Willamette River following the western boundary of the property owned by the University of Oregon, downriver to include the property occupied by the Eugene Water and Electric Board, northwest along the Willamette river to the boundary of Skinner Butte Park, south and west along the north boundary of the Campbell Senior Center to the intersection of High Street, northwest along High Street to the border of Skinner Butte Park, southwest along the border with Skinner Butte Park to E. 3rd Avenue, due west to Lincoln Street, south to W. 5th Alley, west to Washington Street, south to W. 7th Alley, east to Lawrence Street, south to W. 13th Avenue, and east to High Street, including all tax lots immediately south of and bordering 13th Avenue.

Article III - PURPOSE

Section 1.  The mission of the Downtown Neighborhood Association is to build community at the neighborhood level and improve the livability and economic vitality of the neighborhood.  The DNA will do this by:

•  Sponsoring neighborhood improvement projects and social events;
•  Providing a forum to identify, discuss, and resolve neighborhood issues.
•  Establishing two-way communication between neighborhoods and the City, and between neighborhoods and other external agencies;
•  Educating neighbors on issues, public process, City services, and elections; and
•  Identifying and advocating the DNA’s position on issues such as land use and development, transportation, public safety, and social services.

Section 2. These powers are granted by the Eugene Neighborhood Organization Recognition Policy Resolution No. 2554, as amended by Resolution No. 3746.

Article IV - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership is open to any person 18 years of age or older who lives, works, or owns property within the boundaries described in Article II.

Section 2. Membership is declared by entering one signature and address on the neighborhood association’s attendance log available at each general meeting.  The Neighborhood Association shall keep and maintain attendance lists for all general meetings for at least 12 months.  Membership shall terminate at once for anyone who moves from the neighborhood, unless they are also the designated representative from a business, corporation, partnership, non-profit agency, or landowner.  A resident or a representative of the neighborhood business, corporation, partnership, or non-profit agency or a non-resident owner must have attended a general meeting within the previous year in order to vote.

Section 3. Each resident member is entitled to one vote.  Each corporation, partnership, non-profit agency, business or landowner shall each have one vote.  Each corporation, partnership, non-profit agency, business and landowner shall appoint one person as a representative for the business/property.  If the designated representative can not attend a meeting, another person from the entity or land ownership venture can attend the meeting and vote in place of the representative.  The replacement person shall sign in as himself or herself and clearly state which entity they represent and the person who they are substituting for.  In this case, it is acceptable that the substitute person not have attended a meeting in the past year as long as the original representative has attended a meeting.

A business owner is anyone who owns a business downtown.  A landowner is any entity consisting of an individual, partnership, or group that owns land.

Section 4. There shall be no absentee voting or voting by proxy, except as described above in Article IV, Section 3.

Article V - GENERAL MEETINGS

Section 1. A minimum of four General Meetings shall be held each year at a time and place to be established by the Steering Committee.  The first General Meeting of the calendar year is designated as the Annual Meeting.

Section 2. A quorum at a General Meeting shall be 10 members, not including members of the Steering Committee.

Section 3. Election of the Steering Committee shall be at the Annual Meeting.

Section 4. Notice of General meetings will be made available to all neighborhood addresses.  Notice shall be included in the City’s public meeting calendar and published in the association’s newsletter, or other comparable public information media that meets the distribution goal.  Any non-resident property owner can be added to the distribution list upon request.

Section 5. Notice shall include the meeting date, time and place and the proposed agenda.  Any member may raise additional agenda items at the meeting, but that item shall not be voted upon until the next meeting.

However, if two-thirds of those attending the meeting vote that emergency action is called for, the matter may be voted on at the same General Meeting.

Section 6. The meetings of the Association shall be conducted according to generally accepted rules and procedures, such as Roberts Rules of Order.

Article VI - FUNCTIONS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE

Section 1. The Steering Committee shall consist of a minimum of eight and a maximum of ten members (four officers and four to six at-large members) elected at the Annual Meeting. 

Section 2. The Steering Committee shall meet a minimum of four times per year.  Notice of the Steering Committee meetings shall be provided to staff for inclusion in the City’s public meeting calendar in a timely manner and announced through the association’s public information media.  Steering Committee meetings are open to the public.

Section 3. The majority of the Steering Committee positions shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 4. The Steering Committee may conduct such business and take such action as needed to accomplish the purposes of the neighborhood association (Article III).  Decisions will be made by a two-thirds majority vote of those present.

Section 5. Minutes of the Steering Committee shall be taken and kept on file by the Secretary.  A summary of the Steering Committee discussions and decisions will be published in the next available newsletter or shared at the next General Meeting.  The membership may override a Steering Committee decision by a two-thirds vote, except emergency actions.  

Section 6. The Steering Committee shall be responsible for establishing the time, place, and agenda for General Meetings and other DNA activities and for ensuring that notification occurs.

Section 7. The Steering Committee shall represent the neighborhood association’s position to the City Council, Planning Commission, Budget Committee, or other appropriate elected or appointed officials.  Such advisory opinions must specify if the position is one of the general membership, the Steering Committee, an appointed sub-committee, or by organization members present and lacking a quorum.  

Section 8. If a Steering Committee member is absent for more than three consecutive meetings without permission, both Steering Committee and General Meetings, either the position is vacated, filled by appointment, or petitioned by individual to regain active status.

Section 9 Membership on the Steering Committee shall terminate at once for non-eligible voters.

Article VII – OFFICERS

Section 1. The Officers shall consist of: A Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Section 2. Duties of the Chairperson: The chairperson shall coordinate and guide the business and activities of the Steering Committee, facilitate the General Meetings, and be the primary contact person for and liaison with the City of Eugene.  The chairperson, or her/his designee, shall be the association’s representative on the Neighborhood Leaders Council (NLC).  

Section 3. Duties of the Vice-Chairperson: The Vice Chairperson will assist the Chairperson in her/his duties upon request.  In the absence of the Chairperson, or in the event of her/his inability or refusal to act, the Vice Chairperson shall execute the duties and power of the Chairperson.  

Section 4. Duties of the Secretary: The Secretary shall take summary minutes of all General Meetings and Steering Committee Meetings and maintain on file copies of said minutes, correspondence, membership lists, attendance lists, and other records.

Section 5. Duties of the Treasurer: The Treasurer shall receive all association funds, deposit them in a bank approved by the Steering Committee, and pay out funds authorized by the Steering Committee.  If the expenditure exceeds $50, the Chairperson must also sign the check.  If the expenditure exceeds $500, there must be a vote by members at the next General Meeting. 

Section 6. When a vacancy of an officer position occurs, the Steering Committee shall elect a replacement by vote of a majority of a quorum of members at their next meeting.

Article VIII – ELECTIONS

Section 1. The 10 members of the Steering Committee shall be elected by a majority of active members eligible to vote, as defined in Article IV, at the Annual Meeting.  Steering Committee members serve one-year terms. 

Section 2. The public announcement for the Annual Meeting will include the list of current Steering Committee members, those that wish to run again, and other interested parties who have let their intentions be known to the current Chairperson.

Section 3. At the Annual Meeting, the Chairperson shall present the names of those known to want to run and ask for additional nominations from the floor.  The Chairperson may ask for the vote on an individual basis or as a secret ballot.  

Article IX - PUBLIC INFORMATION

Section 1. The DNA shall produce and distribute public information items per City Council Direction. 

Section 2. The name of the DNA newsletter shall be selected by the Editor and agreed upon by the Steering Committee.

Section 3. The purposes of the newsletter are:

•  Provide notification of upcoming meetings
•  Facilitate discussion on local neighborhood issues.
•  Promote neighborhood, community, and city events.
•  Share neighborhood-specific information.
•  Foster dialogue on elections and ballot measures.
•  Build community.
•  Recognize people and businesses for their volunteer efforts.
•  Assist in organizing non-active neighborhood associations.
•  Distribute City public information.

Section 4. The newsletter shall be published prior to each General Meeting, subject to available funding from the City.

Section 5. The Steering Committee shall select an Editor, who will be responsible for the newsletter’s content, format, and preparation for printing.  The newsletter editor will collaborate with City staff to produce a product that meets the Neighborhood Association Newsletter Guidelines adopted by Council within the annual budget allocated. 

Article X - SUB-COMMITTEES

Section 1. The Steering Committee may establish sub-committees to work on special projects for the neighborhood association.  The purpose, authority (including permission to speak publicly on issues within the committee’s specific concern), and time span shall be specified when the sub-committee is created.

Section 2. Sub-Committee membership shall be open to all members and appointed by the Steering Committee.

Section 3. A representative of the sub-committee will provide progress reports (orally or in writing) at Steering Committee meetings.

Article XI - FINANCES

Section 1. The organization may receive funds and employ persons to further its purposes, and may own and dispose of property.

Section 2. Grants or monies secured to fund specific projects or programs, which have itemized budgets already approved by the Steering Committee, may be expended without further approval.

Section 3. The association will collect voluntary dues.  The voluntary dues shall be the same for each member, and shall be set at $5 per year.  The dues shall be payable at the Annual Meeting. 

Section 4. The Steering Committee shall adopt standard accounting practices or the budget and expenditure of funds. 

Article XII – AMENDMENTS AND CHARTER REVIEW

Section 1. This charter may be amended at any General Meeting by a two-thirds vote. 

Written notice of the proposed charter change shall be given to the general membership prior to the General Meeting where changes will be presented, discussed and voted on. Charter changes are not official until adopted by the City Council.

Section 2. The Steering Committee shall appoint a Charter Review Sub-Committee at least every ten years or more frequently, should they deem it necessary.  The first review shall occur no later than January 2011.