There can be two groups of people where bylaws provide guidance for voting. 

-  Members of the association.  These are the people that show up at the meetings and vote for the issues at hand. 

- Board members take votes on specific issues. 

Currently the bylaws allow both residents and businesses located within the boundaries of the neighborhood. 

 

Here are my thoughts: 

I would like to include all residents, both tenants and owner occupants, as potential candidates for board members and members of the association.  I do not believe there should be limits on either tenants or owner occupants as board members or association members.

 

 As for businesses, the Downtown Tempe Group, if I remember David Saars comments correctly allow for non business members to be non voting board members.  This could be a model for our board.  OR, alternatively, we could identify one business that could vote as an association member - but not as a board member. 

 Anyone's thoughts on this?

 

Joe Gibbs 

this is a test reply. I've been unable to reply all day.

What is a Neighborhood Association?

A neighborhood association is a voluntary organization of residents who work together to improve and maintain the quality of life in their neighborhood. Associations can form out of concern over a particular issue, or as a means of enhancing the "sense of community" in the neighborhood.

Features of a Neighborhood Association:

• Membership is open to all residents in the neighborhood but participation is optional; boundaries are established by the association (usually 40 - 400 households)
• Dues are voluntary
• There is no legal authority to enact or enforce maintenance or design requirements beyond those established by City ordinances
• To ensure a visibly democratic process, the organization establishes formal or informal bylaws to provide for at least one general membership meeting per year and require an annual election of officers
• Associations create their own newsletters (NO advertising or political campaigning), which the Neighborhood Services Division duplicates and mails to all households in the area.
• Association position statements are reached through consensus; any dissenting statements are also attached and sent to the City.

Proposed revisions to the by-laws:

1. Businesses within MPWNA boundary to be designated as 'non-voting' affiliates.

2. The majority of the Board at any one time, and for quorom, shall be owner occupants.

The current by for membership in the association says:

The membership of the MPWNA shall be comprised of all persons owning , residing or doing business in a permanent structure within the boundaries of Mitchell Park West.

you can read the entire by-laws for Board members, which are more extensive on this website on the homepage, where they are published. click on it on the bottom right corner of the homepage.