The following outline is a comparison of the Neighborhood Council Plan
adopted by the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners and the subsequent Plan for a
Citywide System of Neighborhood Councils adopted by the City Council, which
supercedes the Commission version:
Neighborhood Council Plans Comparison Chart
Commission Plan
Article I - Goals & Objectives
1. Defines "Stakeholder" as a person living, working or owing
property in an area. Lists types of organizations
Article II - Desired Characteristics
2. Organic Beginnings
3. DONE shall provide on-going technical assistance
Article III - Certification
4. DONE to facilitate collaboration among competing groups and to
provide dispute resolution services
5. DONE to actively assist organizing activities in areas where
leadership has not emerged
6. Requires mission statement, by-laws, accounting system and code of ethics
7. Boundaries to follow census tracts, physical features and follow contemporary community lines
8. Min population at 20,000 with flexibility to consider applications with less
9. Overlapping boundaries with each council having veto power
10. Elaborate requirements for by-laws and for accounting
11. Requires grievance procedure
Article IV - Process
12. Requires four findings
13. Notifies applicants of dual applications
14. Commission action in 90 days
Article V - Assessments, Boundaries, Complaints
15. Self Assessing
16. Adjustments include new development
17. By-law changes must be submitted to DONE
18. Done shall take steps to resolve complaints
19. DONE can recommend de-certification for non-compliance to the Board for action
20. Voluntary de-certification requires evidence of support
Article VI - DONE's Responsibilities
21. Assist with outreach and training
22. Help councils meet citywide
23. Facilitate sharing of resources
24. Maintain information network
25. Provide operational support, including equipment, space and mailings
26. Fund special projects and needs
27. Review and evaluate
Article VII - Early Notification
Council Adopted Plan
Article I - Goals & Objectives
1. Ensure equal opportunity to form neighborhood councils
Article II - Desired Characteristics
2. "Inclusive Membership" defines a "Stakeholder"as a person living, working or
owning property in an area. Lists specific types of organizations
3. Statement of Non-Discrimination
Article III - Certification
4. Sets October 1, 2001 as the first day to accept applications
5. DONE to facilitate collaboration among competing groups and provide dispute resolution services
6. DONE to promote councils in areas where civic participation rates are low
7. Boundaries to follow census tracts, and City service and planning areas
8. Min. population at 20,000 with flexibility to consider applications with less, removing the finding
that DONE can support it
9. Overlapping boundaries limited to shared public uses with a landmark
10. Requires a specific outreach program including 200-500 signatures
11. By-laws shall prohibit a single group from forming a majority of the "governing body"
12. Sets term limit of eight years in office
13. Notes Brown Act issues
14. Requires voting procedures
15. Requires grievance procedure
16. Mandates a "Treasurer" and submittal of statement once a year
17. Imposes Ethics Ordinance provisions
Article IV - Process
18. Requires a 20 day hold on all applications
19. If two applications are received, an extra 20 days to reach consensus
20. Requires translation and posting in seven languages at five locations
21. Commission action in roughly 55 days
22. Commission is arbiter of boundaries
23. Appeal to Council
Article V - Assessment, Boundaries, Complaints
24. Self Assessing
25. Commission can expand boundaries
26. An area can ask to be annexed with agreement of an existing council
27. By-law changes submitted to DONE, if disapproved, can be appealed
28. Done must make exhaustive efforts to resolve complaints
29. DONE can initiate de-certification for violations, requiring notice and action
30. Voluntary decertification requires notice and a hearing
Article VI - DONE's Responsibilities
31. Assist with outreach and training
32. Coordinate citywide Congress
33. Facilitate communication with City
34. Maintain information database
35. Provide operational support, including equipment, space and mailings
36. Act as clearinghouse
37. Review and evaluate
38. Report quarterly to City Council
39. Provide adequate staffing, with consideration to resource availability
Article VII - Early Notification
Article VIII - Funding
40. Annual budget for council operations
41. Annual grant funding for disbursement by DONE on an application basis
Substantive Changes
Article I - Goals & Objectives
1. Moves definition of "Stakeholder" to Article II
Article II - Desired Characteristics
2. Deletes Organic Beginnings
3. Deletes DONE's ongoing technical assistance
4. Mandates Non-discrimination
Article III - Certification
5. Adds the October 1st opening date
6. Adds emphasis on areas where civic participation is historically low
7. Adds emphasis on boundaries following city service and planning areas
8. Removes a required finding of DONE support for smaller councils
9. Limits overlapping boundaries, requiring a landmark?
10. Requires 200 - 500 signatures
11. Tries to stop a single interest group from controlling a council
12. Tries to impose 8 yr term limits officers
13. Imposes sections of the Brown Act and the Ethics Ordinance without being clear as to which
sections
14. Requires a treasurer and annual financial statements
15. Requires specific voting procedures
Article IV - Process
16. Adds a mysterious 20 day hold that no one knows about
17. Adds an extra twenty days to resolve disputed issues
18. Add the seven language translations
19. Makes the Commission the final authority on boundaries
20. Add the appellate track to Council
Article V - Assessment, Boundaries, Complaints
21. Gives the Commission authority to arbitrarily add areas to a council
22. Adds a very detailed voluntary annexation procedure
23. Removes the "new development" clause from boundary adjustments
24. Adds an appeal track for rejected by-law changes
25. Adds the word "exhaustive" to DONE's responsibility to resolve complaints
26. Sets out a detailed set of procedures for voluntary de-certification
Article VI - DONE's Responsibilities
27. Formalizes the citywide Congress
28. Changes the "network" to a "database"
29. Requires action as a clearinghouse
30. Removes "subject to funding" clause from operational support
31. Adds quarterly reporting to the City Council
32. Adds "adequate staffing" with "consideration"
Article VII - Early Notification
Article VIII - Funding
33. Adds a budget for council operations
34. Adds grant funding for disbursement by DONE on an application basis
