06 Draft Bylaw Amendments — original pdf

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ARTICLE 7. MEETINGS. (A) The board meetings shall comply with Texas Government Code Chapter 551 (Texas Open Meetings Act). (B) Board meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order. (C) The board may not conduct a closed meeting without the approval of the city attorney. (D) The board shall meet monthly. In November of each year, the board shall adopt a schedule of the meetings for the upcoming year, including makeup meeting dates for the holidays and cancelled meetings. (E) The chair may call a special meeting, and the chair shall call a special meeting if requested by three or more members. The call shall state the purpose of the meeting. A board may not call a meeting in addition to its regular scheduled meetings as identified in its adopted meeting schedule, more often than once a quarter, unless the meeting is required to comply with a statutory deadline or a deadline established by Council. (F) Six members constitute a quorum. (G) If a quorum for a meeting does not convene within one-half hour of the posted time for the meeting, then the meeting may not be held. (H) To be effective, a board action must be adopted by affirmative vote of the number of members necessary to provide a quorum. (I) The chair has the same voting privilege as any other member. (J) The board shall allow public communication to address the board on agenda items and during a period of time set aside for public communications. The chair may limit a speaker to three minutes. (K) The staff liaison shall prepare the board minutes. The minutes of each board meeting must include the vote of each member on each item before the board and indicate whether a member is absent or failed to vote on an item. (L) The city clerk shall retain agendas, approved minutes, internal review reports and bylaws. The Austin Transportation & Public Works Department shall retain all other board documents. The documents are public records under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 552 (Texas Public Information Act). (M) The chair shall adjourn a meeting not later than 10 p.m., unless the board votes to continue the meeting. (N) Each person and board member attending a board meeting should observe decorum pursuant to Section 2-1- 48 of the City Code. (O) A member of the public may not address a board at a meeting on an item posted as a briefing DRAFT ARTICLE 8. COMMITTEES/WORKING GROUPS /ASSOCIATED ENTITIES COMMITTEES (A) Each committee must be established by an affirmative vote of the board. A committee cannot meet until itscreation is approved by the Council Audit and Finance Committee. Each committee shall consist of at least three board members appointed by the chair. A staff member shall be assigned to each committee by the director of the Austin Transportation & Public Works Department. (B) The board chair shall appoint a board member as the committee chair, with the member’s consent. (C) A majority of the total number of appointed committee members constitutes a quorum. (D) Each committee shall meet on a regularly scheduled basis at least quarterly. (E) Each committee shall make an annual report to the board at the January board meeting. (F) Committee meetings must be posted in accordance with Texas Government Code Chapter 551 (Texas Open Meetings Act). (G) At each committee meeting, a committee member shall sign in on a sheet provided and shall indicate that the member has no conflict of interest with any item on the committee meeting agenda, or identify each agenda item on which the member has a conflict of interest. WORKING GROUPS (A) The board can determine the size of a working group but the number of board members serving on the working group must be less than a quorum of the board. (B) A working group may designate a chair, with the member’s consent, but is not required to do so. (C) Quorum requirements do not apply to working groups. (D) Staff support will not be provided for working groups. (E) Working groups are not required to post their meetings in accordance with the Texas Government Code Chapter 551 (Texas Open Meetings Act). (F) Participate in and improve communication with the Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Bicycle Advisory Committee. ASSOCIATED ENTITIES (A) Unless otherwise directed by the City Council, the board shall seek to participate and improve communication between the board, the Bicycle Advisory Council, and the Pedestrian Advisory Council. (B) The board chair shall appoint a board member, with the member's consent, as the Urban DRAFT Transportation Commission Liaison to the Bicycle Advisory Council and Pedestrian Advisory Council, respectively. (C) Liasons shall serve at the pleasure of the chair. (D) Liasons shall represent the board at the meetings of their respective associated entity and report to the board on any action taken by the entity at the board's next scheduled meeting. (E) Recommendations passed by the Bicycle Advisory Council and Pedestrian Advisory Council shall be circulated to members at the board’s meeting. (F) In determining whether action taken by the Bicycle Advisory Council or Pedestrian Advisory Council warrants a briefing, discussion, or action item at a future board meeting, the board shall consider impacts on staff time and city resources, as well as whether the item is within the scope of the board's purpose and duties. DRAFT