Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - March 3, 2021 H-02AGENDA ITEM H*,2 0u CITY OF LODI i COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TM AGENDA TITLE: Adopt a Resolution Approving the Lodi Improvement Committee By-laws Amendment to Update the Committee's Specific Goals and Purposes MEETING DATE: March 3, 2021 PREPARED BY: Community Development Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt a resolution approving the Lodi Improvement Committee By- laws Amendment to update the Committee's Specific Goals and Purposes. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: As set -forth in the Lodi Improvement Committee ("Committee") by- laws ("By-laws"), the general purpose of the Committee is to be organized and created for the purposes of maintaining and improving the quality of life and appearance of Lodi by the coordinated efforts of a broad spectrum of the community. Over the course of 2019 and 2020, the Committee reflected upon its mission, and its specific goals and purposes. Through implementation of its mission, the Committee found that the purpose articulated in the By- laws could be revised to better reflect current community needs and member skills. Furthermore, Committee members found the current By-laws to describe what negative conduct or circumstances to stop, while being less helpful and instructive on actions necessary to prevent the undesired conduct. In order to clarify the language, the Committee deliberated at regularly scheduled Committee meetings in fall of 2019, to prepare revisions to the purpose and goal language in the By-laws. As a result, the Committee presented draft amendments to the City Council on January 15, 2020, to gather direction and input. Council's direction to the Committee was to strike a balance between the existing goals that prioritize regulatory compliance, and new goals that provide direction on prevention and new community -driven projects. The Committee revised and finalized in fall of 2020 the proposed amendments to the By-laws as included in Attachment "A" and "B" attached hereto ("Amendments"). In Staff's assessment, these proposed amendments are a significant revision from existing regulatory compliance goals to reflect goals geared toward prevention. These Amendments aim to make the By-laws directive in the preventive solutions and actions that the Committee members can take to promote safer neighborhoods, encourage community improvements, advocate for underrepresented groups, promote sustainable and equitable community, support transparency and accessibility, build relationships and collaborate with the community, support the implementation of the City Community Development Block Grant program, identify potential resources, and promote participatory government, FISCAL IMPACT: Not applicable. FUNDING AVAILABLE: Not applicable. John R. Della Monica, Jr. Community Development Director APPROVED: Steve Schwabauer Stephen Schwabauer, City Manager BY-LAWS OF THE LODI IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE ARTICLE I ORGANIZATION SECTION 1. ADOPTED — MAY 2018 Under the auspices of the City of Lodi, there is hereby created the Lodi Improvement Committee. ARTICLE II PURPOSES SECTION 1. GENERAL PURPOSE The Lodi Improvement Committee is organized and created for the purposes of maintaining and improving the quality of life and appearance of Lodi by the coordinated efforts of a broad spectrum of the community. SECTION 2. SPECIFIC GOALS/PURPOSES The Committee will: A) 01 C) D) Promote safer neighborhoods by encouraging neighborhood communication and collaboration, and increasing awareness of community resources and support structures. Encourage the community to improve its properties, services, social impact, and quality of life through positive recognition and support new and existing programs that do the same. Advocate for underrepresented groups in our community, including the underprivileged and those experiencing homelessness. -1- E) F) G) ADOPTED — MAY 2018 Promote a sustainable and equitable Lodi with regards to food, housing, transportation, energy, jobs, public facilities, utilities, public spaces, and other vital aspects of a thriving community. Be transparent and accessible to the community about these goals and our progress towards them (including non -English-speaking residents and culturally -relevant communication channels). Build relationships and collaborate throughout the community to achieve these goals. Support the implementation of the Community Development Block Grant's national objectives and similar programs and the City's efforts to fairly review and distribute program funding, as directed by the Community Development Department. H) Identify potential resources that support these goals, and others that foster community development, and present them to the community. I) Promote participatory government throughout the community regarding awareness, advocacy, and policy, particularly towards the programs and activities of this committee. ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP SECTION 1. GENERAL MEMBERSHIP General membership shall be open to all persons. SECTION 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors shall be comprised of five (5) to seven (7) members. A quorum of the Board for voting or meeting purposes shall consist of fifty percent (50%) plus one of all directors then serving on the Board. Directors shall serve three year staggered terms, based on their original date of appointment. SECTION 3. SUBCOMMITTEES -2- ADOPTED — MAY 2018 There may be as many subcommittees as deemed necessary by the Board to accomplish any specific goal to be achieved by the Improvement Committee. ARTICLE IV OFFICERS SECTION 1. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The Executive Officers shall consist of a Chairperson and a Vice -Chairperson. New officers shall be elected by the Board annually at the first meeting in April. SECTION 2. The Chairperson or Vice Chairperson shall serve as spokesperson for the Lodi Improvement Committee and liaison with the Lodi City Council. SFCTION 3_ Any Executive Officer or Board of Directors member who misses three (3) unexcused meetings within a one year period without the consent of one of the Executive Officers shall be deemed to have vacated the office. ARTICLE V FINANCIAL MATTERS SECTION 1. REVENUES All revenues of the Lodi Improvement Committee shall be administered through the City of Lodi Finance Department, and into which all donations, gifts, or other revenues raised by the Lodi Improvement Committee shall be placed. All expenditures must be approved by a majority vote of the Board, subject to City Council overview and signed by one Executive Officer. SECTION 2. AUDITING The fund account for the Lodi Improvement Committee shall be audited as part of the City's regular annual audit. -3- ADOPTED — MAY 2018 ARTICLE VI TERM OF EXISTENCE/DISSOLUTION SECTION 1. CONTINUOUS OPERATION The Lodi Improvement Committee shall continue and be permanent until dissolved by action of the City Council or the Improvement Committee Board of Directors. ARTICLE VII BOARD PROCEDURES SECTION 1. PROCEDURES After the transition described in Article III, Section 2 above is complete, fifty percent (50%) plus one of all directors then serving on the Board shall constitute a quorum and may conduct business at any regular meeting. A majority of those present may act by affirmative vote. No proxy voting is allowed. SECTION 2. MEETING Regular meetings of the Board shall be held once a month, on the second Tuesday of each month, at a location to be determined by the Board and opened to the public. Special meetings shall be held as necessary. All meetings shall be subject to the provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (Gov. Code §54950 et. Seq.), SECTION 3. COMMUNICATIONS All external communications to the public or media shall be through or authorized by the Chairperson, or in his/her absence, by the Vice -Chairperson or a designated Board Member. ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS SFCTION 1 _ ADOPTED — MAY 2018 These Bylaws shall constitute the empowering documents for the Lodi Improvement Committee and may be revised by the City Council or a majority vote of the Board of Directors, at a regular meeting previously announced for the purpose, subject to ratification by the Lodi City Council. ADOPTED BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THE LODI IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE ON APRIL 10, 2018, AND RATIFIED BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 16, 2018. APPROVED AS TO FORM JANICE D. MAGDICH CITY ATTORNEY -5- CHAIRPERSON LODI IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE BY-LAWS Current Proposed SECTION I. GENERAL PURPOSE SECTION 1. GENERAL PURPOSE The Lodi Improvement Committee is organized and (No change proposed.) created for the purposes of maintaining and improving the quality of life and appearance of Lodi by the coordinated efforts of a broad spectrum of the community. SECTION 2. SPECIFIC GOALS/ PURPOSES SECTION 2. SPECIFIC GOALS The Committee will: (Add.) A) To combat illegal drugs, prostitution, and other crimes A) Promote safer neighborhoods by encouraging by such measures as cooperation with or establishment neighborhood communication and collaboration, and of groups such as Crime Stoppers and Neighborhood increasing awareness of community resources and Watch. support structures, (This focuses on the positive aspects of community building, and providing support, rattier than using negative words like "combat" and tasking the committee with responsibilities that we are not equipped to handle (drugs, prostitution). Based on community feedback, we have specifically not mentioned any group or program as some, have been perceived as racist. B) To eliminate blight and encourage the maintenance, B) Encourage the community to improve its properties, improvement, or rehabilitation of properties throughout services, social impact, and quality of life through positive Lodi, with the cooperation of residents, property owners, recognition and support new and existing programs that business, and government. do the same, (Reworded for positivity and brevity, added services.) C) To act as an advocate for residents in issues dealing C) Advocate for underrepresented groups in our with the upgrade, improvement and maintenance of all community, including the underprivileged and those infrastructure, including streets, alleys, water, sewer and experiencing homelessness, storm drainage systems. (Refocused on those who most need a voice. Public works issues are addressed in other areas.) D) To encourage compliance with building, housing, fire, D) Promote a sustainable and equitable Lodi with and other health and safety laws, and local property regards to food, housing, transportation, energy, jobs, public facilities, utilities, public spaces, and other vital maintenance ordinances by property owners, residents, aspects of a thriving community, and businesses. (Added.) E) To coordinate with churches, civic and community E) Be transparent and accessible to the community about groups, and other community based organizations to these goals and our progress towards them (including educate and inform the public on ways of achieving these non -English-speaking residents and culturally -relevant goals, and to keep the public informed of the efforts. communication channels). (Split into E, F and I, and repositioned to the end.) F) To work with business community to encourage a F) Build relationships and collaborate throughout the healthy business climate. community to achieve these goals, (Refocused to the community rather than fust the business community which is the focus of the Lodi Chamber of Commerce.) G) Provide acknowledgement to properties and (Merged with 0-) businesses throughout the City that show marked improvements in service and appearance that contributes to the image and quality of the community. G) Support the implementation of CDBG's national objectives and similar programs and the City's efforts to fairly review and distribute program funding, as directed by the Community Development Department, (Added, as we have already been doing this.) H) Identify potential resources that support these goals, and others that foster community development, and present them to the community, (Added, as we have already been doing this.) 1) Promote participatory government throughout the community regarding awareness, advocacy, and policy, particularly towards the programs and activities of this committee, (Added.) Bylaws Revision 20211 1 fOF 16 1 Mai '. Lt. Background WHO, WHAT, AND WHY The Lodi Improvement Committee is organized and created for the purposes of maintaining and improving the quality of life and appearance of Lodi by the coordinated efforts of a broad spectrum of the community. 1993: Established as "East Side Improvement Committee" 2005: Renamed "Lodi Improvement Committee" 2018: Bylaws Revised (Increased Membership 5 4 7) 7 Members ► Volunteer Positions Appointed by the Mayor chair Three -Year Terms i Meetings 2nd Tuesday each Month, 6 PM Zoom and Facebook Live A - - I Collective Volunteer Efforts 0, Projects 336 h Meetings 210 h CDBG 49 h Assist ABCD Support CDBG Public Outreach Project Scoring Assist Committee on Homelessness HEAP Funding and Harmony Homes Point in Time Count Recognize Improvement Projects Improve Active Transportation Bike Lines AT Grants Improve Healthcare via WorkNet AIP r '7 LL-- Draft Revisions to Bylaws 2021 New Faces New Ideas "Held Back" by Specific Goals �i CAUTION u Concerned by Specific Wording --MOMM Now A2 1 3 14 I z/ S /9 'Zp 'ZS,26 1 PQ Sign of the Times Original The Lodi Improvement Committee is organized and created for the purposes of maintaining and improving the quality of life and appearance of Lodi by the coordinated efforts of a broad spectrum of the community. Proposed (No change proposed.) Goal A Goal B Goal C Goal D Goal E Original Proposed Identify potential resources that support these goals, and others that foster community development, and present them to the community, Goal G G) Promote participatory government throughout the community regarding awareness, advocacy, and policy, particularly towards the programs and activities of this committee, H) Build relationships and collaborate throughout the community to achieve these goals, 1) Be transparent and accessible to the community about these goals and our progress towards them (including non- English -speaking residents and culturally - relevant communication channels). Safer Community Advocacy for Sustainability and Transparency and Neighborhoods Improvement Underrepresented Equity Accessibility Build Relationships Implement CDBG Identify Resources Promote Participation 1001 IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE BY'L"3 SECTION 1, GENERAL PU COMMttee Is organized and The Lodi Improvement and Improving eated for the Purposes of maintaining the quaflty of life and appearance of Lodi by the s of a broad spectrum of the coordinated effort community' SECTION 2. SPECIFIC GOALS/ PURPOSES The Committee Is organized and created to: Sr— SECTION S. GENERAL PVR POSE (No cFaMt Prof°�) I drugs, Prostitution , and other crimes on A) To combat illegal atlon with or establishment by such measures as cooper rs end Neighborhood of groups such as Crime Stoppe I watch. SECTION 2. SPECIFIC GOALS The Committee will: r ,,Ju ianry) orlweda by encouraging e eaternelghb collaboration, and hood commu0, commu H resourcesand g awareness of can ;uPPort structures, h buildi^g. (chis fauns o^ the asinvt aspects tf co'^ au tivt w°^ds p likt androvidiry support' Y°[�r thorn using ^ 9° yfli[its tMc P [F Kspo^sy ^cowba[" a.d Wski^g [ht cowwitctt ori svt ere ao[ tq.;Fpt'd w i,a.dlt (d^'9s, Prosuwtio^T Basta °^ hedbetk. svt hew spanficdly rot ,,.t.uiontd e^V cow^"'^ny eKtiwd es rw[itt group or p,.oy,an, at nowt hww but^ p community to Improve Its properties, 81 Encourage the community of life through POsltive services, soclal Impact, and q ro ramsthat recognition and support new and existing P 8 do the same. µ( s ';C s) B) To eliminate blight and encourage the maintenance, or rehabilitation of Properties throughout Improverhent ro rty owners Loll, with the cooperation of residents, p pe business, and government. in issues ing en C) To ed as amderlmP mefor mentdand maln enance of ell with the uP8 sewer and Infrastructure, including streets, alleys water, storm drainage systems. (y ,dud for p°vI-" and 1`,;,9, wad resented group, In our C) community, for underthp rivileged and those communitV• Including the underp len Pedencing homelessness, u�tt (Rel'ocuseA o^ txost who mast ^eeA w voice nublic oro ,.e aAd+tsseA i^ otWr aKas ) le comPllance W1111 ln&housing, fire, Ith and safety laws, and local property ordinances by Property owners, residents, 7—We and equitable Lodi with 0) pforrote • sustainable an energy, lobs, regards to food, housing, transpo end other vital public facilities, utilities, public spaces, aspects of a thriving community, ,are with civic and community other communitV based organizations to I inform the public on ways a of achieving the ^ keep the public Informed of the efforts. — business community to encourage e MA dI he community about 11 So tran,,,Grn end accessible to t ro ress towards them (Including these goals end our p 8 no .English-speekin8 fesldents and culturally -relevant communication channels)• wneA to mt t^A ) (tiPl�r into H nnA I. nnA Kpositi throughout the Hl BuildraMU-'h and adlebo,te throng community to achieve these goals, Refocustd to tht eowwunity rntWr than hurt the bu<ians ( tadi cFwwbrr of tossw•uwty wNcF is eht Fetus of tM. Ca^wnte) fMr,yW win• 0) amen to I opertles and Aedg r show marked hour the City that appearance that contributes service and of the community. n of COgG's national quality the ImpIgms"Uti E) Support am, and the City's effort"' abjectly" end similar prop funding, as directed r ram fairly review and dl ul Its Department, nt by the Community beew dti^g tWs) (ndAed. as we xwv< alKady these goals, rewurces that support F) IdentBY potdevelopment, and h*",el end others tM the cocmm nity' present them IO W. (Added. a, we. haw M -19b articipotory sov.,,nt throughout the G) Prortraa p and Policy, conmunnY regarding awareness, advocacy, and activities of this particularly towards the programs committee, (Addtdl