Chapter 2.50
NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION PROGRAM
Sections:
2.50.010 Purpose of neighborhood program.
2.50.020 Neighborhood responsibilities.
2.50.030 County responsibilities.
2.50.040 Standards for recognition of neighborhood organizations.
2.50.050 Procedure for recognition of neighborhood organization.
2.50.060 Procedures for annual review of neighborhood organization status.
2.50.070 Notice of official recognition.
2.50.080 Notification of neighborhood action.
2.50.010 Purpose of neighborhood program.
It is the intent of this chapter to provide an effective mechanism whereby county citizens living and doing business outside incorporated city limits, and sharing common neighborhood identity, goals, and concerns, may form organizations and become officially recognized as neighborhood organizations, eligible to appear before the Marion County board of commissioners and all county boards and commissions concerning matters of interest to the organization, such as public safety, community planning and development. Such organizations shall be voluntary and shall receive no financial or staff support from the county. [Ord. 1072 § 1, 1997.]
2.50.020 Neighborhood responsibilities.
Responsibilities of an officially recognized neighborhood organization include:
A. Development of an organization which will maintain itself and further the intent and purpose of this chapter.
B. Representation of neighborhood opinion and concerns before public bodies and agencies.
C. Identification of neighborhood resources.
D. Gathering of general data concerning the neighborhood.
E. Identification of neighborhood problems and needs.
F. Holding of regular neighborhood meetings to disseminate information and determine opinions of area residents and property owners. Meetings shall be held at dates, times, and places publicized by the neighborhood organization. All neighborhood members present may vote on issues presented at the meetings. All regular and board meetings shall be open to the public.
G. Any other nonprofit, community service activities in which the membership of the organization may decide to engage.
H. Filing a copy of the bylaws and all amendments with the board of commissioners. [Ord. 1072 § 2, 1997.]
2.50.030 County responsibilities.
Once a neighborhood organization is officially recognized, it shall be accorded the following consideration by the county:
A. Timely notice to the neighborhood organization of proposals concerning planning, zoning and subdivision activities within its boundaries and amendments to the comprehensive plan that are to come before the county.
B. Recognition that the neighborhood organization has standing in land use cases within its boundaries or within adjacent areas where there is a direct impact.
C. Consideration of the neighborhood organization’s position and reasoning on any issue especially affecting that neighborhood. [Ord. 1072 § 3, 1997.]
2.50.040 Standards for recognition of neighborhood organizations.
A neighborhood organization shall meet and continue to maintain conformity with the following minimum standards for official recognition:
A. That one or more well-publicized general neighborhood meetings have been held for the purpose of information and approval of boundaries, organizational objectives, and bylaws.
B. That bylaws provide for the following:
1. Geographic representation on executive board.
2. When applicable, interest groups within the neighborhood shall have appropriate executive board representation.
3. Minutes of all official board, committee, and general meetings shall be taken, preserved and made available for inspection upon request.
4. All meetings shall provide a time for comment by neighborhood members. Materials to be presented at a meeting shall be made reasonably available for review by neighborhood members. Notices of the dates, times, places, and principal topics of discussion for all meetings shall be publicized.
5. Participation shall be open to any resident, property owner, or business in the neighborhood.
6. Participation shall not be limited by race, creed, color, sex, age, disability or any other like factor.
C. That the organization’s structure is capable of providing necessary communication between the neighborhood residents and elected and appointed county officials.
D. That the neighborhood organization has an awareness of its duties and responsibilities with respect to the neighborhood organization program.
E. That the geographical boundaries of the neighborhood organization are set at the centerlines of arterial streets or at some other clearly defined and relatively permanent natural or manmade feature.
F. That the territory of the neighborhood organization is logical, represents a community of interest and identity as a neighborhood. No area logically part of a neighborhood shall be excluded or separated from the neighborhood organization.
G. That the neighborhood organization has met with county staff and formally requested recognition by the board of commissioners. [Ord. 1264 § 2(10), 2008; Ord. 1072 § 4, 1997.]
2.50.050 Procedure for recognition of neighborhood organization.
A request for recognition should be made to the office of the board of commissioners. After informal meetings with county staff and representatives of the neighborhood organization, the request will be forwarded with a staff recommendation to the board of commissioners. Once the organization has been recognized by a board of commissioners resolution, the county will look to the neighborhood organization as an official citizen organization for that area of the county. Bylaws and boundaries of neighborhood organizations will be approved by this process, and may in the future be amended by the same procedure. [Ord. 1072 § 5, 1997.]
2.50.060 Procedures for annual review of neighborhood organization status.
A. Within 60 days following an annual general meeting for electing board members, the neighborhood organization will provide the office of the board of commissioners with evidence of compliance with the standards set forth above.
B. The report will be reviewed by the staff and the board of commissioners. If the report indicates noncompliance, the organization will be asked to take corrective action. If corrective action is found necessary, and such action is not taken within 60 days following notification of noncompliance, recognition of the neighborhood organization will be suspended. If corrective action is not taken within 120 days, recognition may be revoked. [Ord. 1072 § 6, 1997.]
2.50.070 Notice of official recognition.
Upon formal recognition by the county, the board of commissioners’ chair shall cause a letter to be sent to the board of the neighborhood organization. The chair shall also cause notice to be published, which shall include the following:
A. A statement recognizing the neighborhood organization.
B. A description of neighborhood boundaries.
C. The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all officers of the neighborhood organization. [Ord. 1072 § 7, 1997.]
2.50.080 Notification of neighborhood action.
A. It is the policy of Marion County that neighborhood organizations reasonably notify all affected property owners, residents, and businesses of meetings, studies, and other activities of recognized neighborhood organizations.
B. The notice of the annual general neighborhood meeting shall be distributed to all property owners, residents, and businesses in the designated neighborhood.
C. It is the policy of Marion County that neighborhood organizations reasonably coordinate and cooperate with county advisory land use councils, boards, commissions or committees having jurisdiction over all or part of the neighborhood organization’s territory. At a minimum, coordination and cooperation should include notice as provided in subsection (A) of this section. [Ord. 1072 § 8, 1997.]