Neighborhood Bylaws

Article I Purpose

Section 1 NAME OF ORGANIZATION: The Everest Neighborhood Association

Section 2 PURPOSE OF THE EVEREST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: The purpose for which The Everest Neighborhood Association is organized is:

  1. To enhance the livability of the area by establishing and maintaining an open line of communication and liaison between the neighborhood, government agencies, and other neighborhoods.
  2. To provide an open process by which all members of the neighborhood may involve themselves in the affairs of the neighborhood.
  3. To do and perform all of the activities related to said purposes, and engage in any lawful activity for which corporations may be organized.
  4. Notwithstanding any statement of purpose or powers aforesaid, the association shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of its specific and primary purpose.

Section 3 MEMBERSHIP: Membership in The Everest Neighborhood Association shall be open to all residents, located with The Everest Neighborhood boundaries. Residents who are 18 years of age or older, shall have one vote each, to be cast during attendance at any general or special meeting.

Article II Funding

Section 1 DUES: Charging of dues or membership fees shall not be made; however, voluntary contributions will be accepted. Activities to raise funds for The Everest Neighborhood Association’s use may be held if appropriate.

Article III Meetings

Section 1 GENERAL MEETING: The first Monday in March shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise. Notification for the annual meeting shall require seven (7) days advance notice to all members of The Everest Neighborhood Association, by phone, written notice, or posting of appropriate signs.

Section 2 SPECIAL MEETINGS: Special meetings of the membership may be called by the chairperson or executive board as deemed necessary. Notification and purposes(s) of the special meeting shall require seven (7) days advance notice to all members, as described in Section 1 above.

Section 3 QUORUM: A quorum for any general or special meeting of The Everest Neighborhood Association shall be the number of members in attendance. Unless otherwise specified in these bylaws, decisions of The Everest Neighborhood Association shall be made by a majority vote of those members present at any meeting.

Section 4 PARTICIPATION: Any general, special, board or committee meeting is open to any person and all who wish to be heard. However, only those eligible for membership are entitled to vote. All actions or recommendations of the general or special meetings shall be communicated to all affected parties, including minority reports.

Section 5 PROCEDURES: The Everest Neighborhood Association shall follow Roberts Rules of Order (Revised) in all areas not covered by the bylaws.

Article IV Board of Directors

Section 1 COMPOSITION OF BOARD: The Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as the board, shall be composed of a chairperson, vice chair, secretary, treasurer, and 2 members-at-large. (Standing committees may be chaired by board members-at-large or by interested members of the neighborhood association). Each director shall hold office for a term of 1 year for which he/she is elected or appointed and until his/her successor shall have been elected or appointed to take office.

Section 2 DUTIES OF BOARD MEMBERS

  1. CHAIRPERSON: The chairperson shall prepare the agenda and preside at all meetings of the board and membership; shall appoint members of committees not elected, with a majority approval of the board, except for members of the Grievance Committee.
  2. VICE CHAIRPERSON: The first alternate shall assist the chairperson; in the chairperson’s absense shall function as chairperson.
  3. SECRETARY: The secretary shall keep minutes and written records of majority and minority opinions expressed at all meetings; shall be responsible for all correspondence of The Everest Neighborhood Association; shall make records of The Everest Neighborhood Association available for inspection for any proper purpose at any reasonable time.
  4. TREASURER: The treasurer shall be accountable for all funds and shall give an accounting at each general meeting; shall receive, safekeep, and disburse The Everest Neighborhood funds, but such disbursement shall require the signature of one other board member.
  5. BOARD MEMBERS-AT-LARGE AND COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS: Chairpersons of committees shall inform the board The Everest Neighborhood Association of all activities of their respective committees.

Section 3 DUTIES OF THE BOARD

  1. MANAGEMENT: The affairs of The Everest Neighborood Association shall be managed by the board in the interim between general meetings. The board shall be accountable to the membership, shall seek the views of those affected by any proposed policies or reactions before adopting any recommendation on behalf of The Everest Neighborhood Association; and strictly comply with these bylaws.
  2. VACANCIES: The board may fill any vacancy on the board or a committee by majority vote of the board in cases involving absences by a board or committee member from three (3) consecutive meetings. A member appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the unexplored term and until his/her successor is elected or appointed.
  3. BOARD MEETINGS: The board shall meet at least fourteen (14) days prior to any general or special membership meeting and at any other time the chairperson may designate. These meetings shall be open session; however, only board members shall be entitled to vote. A quorum for board meetings shall be made by majority vote. Directors shall be notified of board meetings in writing or by telephone in advance. A majority of board members, by signed petition, may call a board, general, or special meeting.
  4. EMERGENCY POWERS: In such cases where the board is required to provide neighborhood response before the question is presented to the membership, the board must indicate to the questioner that this is the case, and shall present the action taken at a special or general meeting within 30 days, or within a reasonable time for ratification by the membership where circumstances dictate.

Article V Committees

Section 1 STANDING COMMITTEES

  1. PUBLICITY COMMITTEE: The Publicity Committee shall be responsible for publishing The Everest Neighborhood Association newsletter, notifying the membership of meetings, elections, and events, and shall maintain and update the membership and mailing lists.
  2. Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the chairperson as The Everest Neighborhood Association or the board shall from time-to-time deem necessary to carry on the work of The Everest Neighborhood Association.

Section 2 SPECIAL COMMITTEES

  1. A Grievance Committee shall be selected as needed by vote of the Board. If the grievance is against the Board, the membership shall appoint a grievance committee. No one may serve if they have an interest in the matter being grieved.

Artivle VI Elections

Section 1 ELIGIBILITY: Only persons eligible for The Everest Neighborhood Association membership shall be qualified to hold an elected or appointed position.

Section 2 BOARD MEMBERS: Members of the board shall be elected to serve for 2 years until the appropriate general meetings. Elections of Board Members shall be staggered, such that approximately one-half the Board shall be elected each year. The election shall be by nomination from the floor and requires a majority vote of the membership present. The board membership elections will be held at the annual general membership meeting.

Section 3 STANDING COMMITTEES: Standing committees shall have elected committee chairpersons with nominations being taken from the floor and shall require a majority vote of the membership present. The chairperson shall then call for volunteers to fill committee memberships. In the case of insufficient volunteers, the board will fill the vacancies.

Section 4 IMPEACHMENT: A majority of the board may submit a written request for the chairperson’s resignation at a board meeting. If the chairperson chooses not to resign, then any holder of an elected position may be removed and replaced by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of a general or special meeting.

Article VII Grievance Procedure

Section 1 PERSON OR GROUP ADVERSELY AFFECTED: A person or group adversely affected by a decision or policy of The Everest Neighborhood Association may submit in writing, within thirty (30) days, and recommend a resolution of the grievance to the board.

Section 2 RECEIPT OF COMPLAINT: Within seven (7) days of receipt of the complaint, the Board will appoint a Grievance Committee per the requirement of Article V, Section 2; this committee shall arrange with the petitioner a mutually acceptable place, day, and hour for a review of the complain, and will in writing, within thirty (30) days, recommend a resolution of the grievance to the board.

Section 3 FINAL RESOLUTION: The committee shall attempt to resolve the complaint, and shall submit a report of their recommendation and/or action to the complainant, board and membership. If the committee, board, and petitioner cannot reach an agreement, final resolution of the complaint shall be by vote of a majority of the membership at a general or special meeting.

Article VIII Procedure For Consideration Of Proposals

Section 1 EXECUTION: The board shall be responsible for the execution of this article.

Section 2 SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS: Any person or group, inside or outside the boundaries of The Everest Neighborhood Association and any city department may propose in writing items for consideration and/or the board. The board shall decide whether proposed items will appear on the agenda of either the board, standing, or special committees or general or special meeting.

Section 3 NOTIFICATION: The proponent and members directly affected by such proposals shall be notified in writing of the place, day, and hour the proposal shall be reviewed not less than seven (7) days in advance.

Section 4 ATTENDANCE: The proponent may attend this meeting to make a presentation and answer questions concerning the proposal.

Section 5 DISSEMINATION: The Everest Neighborhood Association shall submit recommendations and dissenting views as recorded from the meeting to the proponent and other appropriate parties.

Article IX Adoption And Amendments

Adoption of an amendments to these bylaws shall require two-thirds (2/3) vote by the members present at a general meeting.

Article X Boundaries

Section 1 BOUNDARIES: Boundaries of the Everest Neighborhood Association shall be defined as that described and shown in the current City of Kirkland Comprehensive Plan.

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