Election Proceedures Working Group
Minutes - August 18, 2004

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NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
ELECTION PROCEDURES WORKING GROUP

MINUTES

MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2004

CITY HALL - TENTH FLOOR, CONFERENCE ROOM 1020 - 4:00 PM
200 NORTH SPRING STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
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WORKING GROUP MEMBERS PRESENT:

CITY CLERK, REPRESENTATIVE - FRANK MARTINEZ
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT (DONE), REPRESENTATIVE - GREG NELSON
CITY ATTORNEY, REPRESENTATIVES - RENEE STADEL and GWEN POINDEXTER
GRANADA HILLS NORTH NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVE - MARYANNA KIENHOLZ
GRASS ROOTS VENICE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVE - PAUL RYAN
HOLLYWOOD UNITED NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVE - MAURECE CHESSE
SHERMAN OAKS NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVE - KEN GERSTON
SILVER LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVE - MILT ROSENBERG

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MINUTES

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1. Discussion and consideration of the input received at various community forums on the draft Neighborhood Council Election Procedures.

Jamiko Bell of DONE reviewed her August 10, 2004, report which summarized the input received from the greater Neighborhood Council community at a series of public meetings. The Working Group (WG) considered the following issues raised in the report:

Complexity of Language: The WG agreed to have DONE staff review the procedures and simplify the language where possible, with the cautionary note that the ultimate legal status of the procedures could limit the level of simplicity that could be achieved. In a related matter, Ken Gerston volunteered to review the procedures to ensure consistency and clarity relative to the use of the term "Stakeholder" and "member" of a Neighborhood Council.

Codification of the Election Procedures: The WG voted to recommend that the Election Procedures be made a part of the Plan for Neighborhood Councils adopted by the City Council.

[Note: At approximately 5:00 p.m. the WG lost a quorum. For the balance of the meeting the decisions made by the WG reflect a consensus of those present.]

Transition/Implementation: The WG decided to recommend that full compliance with the Election Procedures become mandatory 8 months after adoption by the City Council. During the transition period, DONE will work with the NCs to comply with all provisions where it is practical.

Timelines: The WG decided to not alter the timelines contained in Version 21 for various election processes. DONE Approval of Election Procedures: The WG decided that DONE should retain the responsibility and authority to approve a Neighborhood Council's Election Procedures.

Role of the Independent Election Administrator (IEA): The WG decided that the IEA should retain the responsibility and authority to conduct Neighborhood Council elections with the understanding that the IEA can utilize the Neighborhood Council stakeholders to perform various functions as provided for in the Election Procedures.

Third Party Arbitration Panel: The WG directed DONE staff to add additional provisions to clarify how the Election Arbitration Panel will be established and how it will operate. The sense was that a "pool" of Arbitrators would be created from the persons put forward by the Neighborhood Councils. DONE would provide training for those individuals. DONE would then forward challenges to a 3-member panel drawn from the pool on a rotating basis. The pool and the panels drawn for specific challenges would be public.

The WG also considered various recommendations received via e-mail from Scott Burritt, a former DONE staff member who had experience in conducting and arbitrating Neighborhood Council elections. For the most part the WG decided that the Election Procedures already covered Mr. Burritt's issues or the WG disagreed with Mr. Burritt's suggestions except as follows:

	Election Procedure Content 1) J): The WG agreed to add to the end of the sentence "… and the boundaries of all districts, as applicable."
	Role of the IEA, Canvass of Votes,… 1): The WG agreed to add language to the effect of … "or as soon thereafter as possible."
	Recount and Challenge Provisions: The WG agreed to add language that a stakeholder requesting a recount or challenging the election must provide proof of their stakeholder status via the same method as voters in the election.

2. Discussion and consideration of Neighborhood Council Election procedures and related matters.

In addition to the issues discussed above, the WG decided to meet in 2 weeks to consider the revised Election Procedures and to discuss transmission of the Election Procedures to the City Council and the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners. Frank Martinez stated that he would have a draft transmittal letter ready for the WG members to review and consider.

3. Public comment on items of public interest within the Neighborhood Council Election Procedures Working Group's subject matter jurisdiction.

Public Comment was received throughout the meeting. One issue raised was the need to communicate to all members of a Neighborhood Council Governing Board in case some members are not inclined to share information received from DONE.