RESOLUTION RELATING TO AMENDMENTS TO THE CAL CITIES BYLAWS (2/3 vote at General Assembly required to approve)
Source : League of California Cities Board of Directors
WHEREAS, the League of California Cities (Cal Cities) is a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation under California law and, as such, is governed by corporate bylaws; and
WHEREAS, the Cal Cities Board of Directors (Board) periodically reviews the Cal Cities bylaws for issues of clarity, practicality, compliance with current laws, and responsiveness to membership needs and interests; and
WHEREAS, beginning in 2017, the Board directed Cal Cities to undertake a strategic planning process that resulted in the adoption of the “Powering Up for California Cities Strategic Growth Plan 2018-2021” (Strategic Growth Plan); and
WHEREAS, the Strategic Growth Plan set forth goals to enhance Cal Cities’ governance to: (a) achieve even higher levels of engagement and effectiveness; (b) ensure optimal engagement by members and effectiveness in supporting fulfillment of the Cal Cities’ mission; and (c) ensure the pathway to leadership is transparent and inclusive; and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of its governance goals, the Board engaged an expert in association governance who gathered and considered input from more than 350 Cal Cities members through advisory groups, roundtable discussions, interviews, and surveys to evaluate the Cal Cities governance system and make recommendations for enhancing Cal Cities’ governance; and
WHEREAS, in July 2021 the Board decided to move forward with certain recommendations made as a result of that governance evaluation, including a recommendation to establish a standing Governance Committee of the Board to assist the Board in fulfilling its governance function; and
WHEREAS, in February 2022 the Board approved Board policy establishing the Governance Committee and charging it with regularly reviewing the governance structures, policies, and practices of Cal Cities, and reporting its findings and making recommendations to the Board; and
WHEREAS, in 2022 the Governance Committee recommended, and the Board, approved certain changes to the bylaws that: (1) formalize the oversight of the Resolutions Committee; (2) ensure a more inclusive Nominating Committee by adding one committee member appointed from among Caucus Directors and one additional committee member appointed from among At- Large Directors; (3) clarify that, unless the board establishes otherwise, the Cal Cities President appoints the chair of board-established committees; and (4) make various non-substantive revisions; and
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WHEREAS, the Cal Cities Board offers the following proposed amendments and additions to the bylaws, as set forth in the attached redlined version of the bylaws specified below, which is hereby incorporated by reference:
1. Amend Article VI, section 3(c) to designate the Second Vice-President as the Resolutions Committee chair, while retaining the President’s authority to appoint the vice chair of the Resolutions Committee;
2. Amend Article VII, section 5(b) to adjust the composition of the Nominating Committee by adding one At-Large Director and one Caucus Director for a total of 13 Nominating Committee members;
3. Amend Article VII, Section 10(d) to provide that, unless the Board establishes otherwise, the Cal Cities President appoints the chair of board-established committees;
4. Replace the title “Second Vice-President/Treasurer” with “Second Vice President” in Article VII, sections 2(a), 5(e), and 10(b); and Article VIII, sections 1, 2(c), and 4;
5. Replace the term “board member(s)” with “Director(s)” in Article VII, sections 5(b), 5(e), and 8; Article XII, section 5(c); and Article XV, section 4; and now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, by the General Assembly of the League of California Cities assembled during the Annual Conference in Long Beach on September 9, 2022, that the proposed bylaws amendments are hereby approved and Cal Cities shall make the specified amendments to the Cal Cities bylaws set forth in the attached redlined version of the bylaws.
See ATTACHMENT 1 for redline of proposed changes to the bylaws. 6 ATTACHMENT 2
ATTACHMENT 1
Redline of Proposed Changes to Bylaws
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Bylaws for the
League of California Cities
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Article VI. Resolutions
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Section 3: Resolutions Committee for Annual Conference Resolutions.
(a) Resolutions Committee Composition. The Cal Cities President establishes a Resolutions Committee sixty days prior to each Annual Conference, which committee shall consist of:
(i) One elected official from each regional division, appointed by the regional division;
(ii) One elected official from each policy committee, appointed by the policy committee;
(iii) One member from each functional department, appointed by the department;
(iv) One elected official from each caucus, appointed by the caucus; and
(v) Up to ten additional members (at least five of whom are elected officials) as the Cal Cities President deems necessary to achieve geographic and population balance, as well as recognize the multiplicity of city functions not represented by the other appointments, including, but not limited to, the perspectives of board and commission members as well as professional staff.
(b) Presidential Appointments. In the event a regional division, policy committee, functional department, or caucus does not make its appointment to the Resolutions Committee, the Cal Cities President may make the appointment on the regional division’s, policy committee’s, functional department’s, or caucus’s behalf.
(c) Chair. The Cal Cities President shall also appoint to the Resolutions Committee a committee chair and vice chairSecond Vice-President shall serve as committee chair. The Cal Cities President shall also appoint to the Resolutions Committee a vice chair.
(d) Minimum Committee Size and Composition. In the event the full committee is not in attendance at the Annual Conference, the Cal Cities President shall appoint a sufficient number of city officials in attendance to achieve a total of thirty. No less than two-thirds of the members of the Resolutions Committee shall be elected officials.
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(e) Committee Consideration of Proposed Resolutions. Except for resolutions of courtesy, commendation, appreciation or condolence, no resolution expressing the opinion or policy of Cal Cities on any question may be considered or discussed by Cal Cities’ General Assembly, unless it has been first submitted to, and reported on, by the Resolutions Committee. …
Article VII: Board of Directors
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Section 2: Composition.
The Cal Cities Board is composed of the following:
(a) A President, First Vice-President and Second Vice-President/Treasurer, who each serve a term of one year;
(b) The Immediate Past President who serves for a term of one year, immediately succeeding his or her term as President;
(c) Twelve Directors-at-Large,
(i) Who serve staggered two-year terms, and
(ii) At least one of whom is a representative of a small city with a population of 10,000 or less;
(d) One Director to be elected from each of the regional divisions, functional departments, and caucuses of Cal Cities, each of whom serves for a term of two years; and
(e) Ten Directors that may be designated by the mayors of each of the ten largest cities in California to serve two-year terms.
(f) For purposes of this section, the population of each city is the most current population as determined by the California Department of Finance, Demographic Research Unit, or its successor agency or unit. If no successor agency or unit is named, the most current population used to determine these dues shall be used to determine future dues until such time as these bylaws are amended to designate a new source for determining city population.
(g) Directors hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.
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Section 5: Nomination Process.
(a) Timing. The Cal Cities President, with the concurrence of the Cal Cities Board, shall establish a nominating committee at the first Board meeting of the calendar year in which the election is to occur.
(b) Composition. The nominating committee shall be comprised of eleven thirteen Board membersDirectors. ThreeTwo nominating committee members shall be At-Large Directors, and one shall represent a functional department, and one shall represent a caucus. Regional divisions shall be represented on the nominating committee on the following rotating basis:
(i) Even-Numbered Years: In even-numbered years, the Central Valley, Imperial County, Monterey Bay, North Bay, Orange County, Redwood Empire, Sacramento Valley and San Diego County
Regional Divisions shall be represented on the nominating committee.
(ii) Odd-Numbered Years: In odd-numbered years, the Channel Counties, Inland Empire, Desert-Mountain, East Bay, Los Angeles County, Peninsula, Riverside County, and South San Joaquin Regional Divisions shall be represented on the nominating committee.
(c) Nominating Committee Chair. The Cal Cities President shall appoint the chair of the nominating committee.
(d) Candidates for Positions Ineligible. Candidates for officer and at-large positions on the Cal Cities Board are not eligible to serve on the nominating committee. In the event a regional division representative on the nominating committee wishes to be a candidate for an officer or at-large position, the Cal Cities President will appoint a substitute nominating committee member from the same regional division, if available. If one is not available, the President shall appoint a substitute from a nearby regional division.
(e) Duties. The duties of the nominating committee are to:
(i) Member Outreach. Publicize the qualifications for the offices of Second Vice Vice-President/Treasurer and the at-large members of the Cal Cities Board to Cal Cities’ Member Cities;
(ii) At-Large and Second Vice-President Recommendations. Make recommendations to the Cal Cities Board on the following year’s Cal Cities officers and at-large board membersDirectors; and
(iii) President and First Vice President Recommendation.
Recommend whether the previous year’s First Vice President 10 ATTACHMENT 2
becomes President and the previous year’s Second Vice-
President/Treasurer becomes First Vice President.
(f) Notice to Members. An explanation of the nomination process and relevant deadlines for submitting nominations to the nominating committee shall be publicized in Cal Cities publications and communications throughout the year, along with the identity of nominating committee members once such members are appointed. In addition, the nominating committee shall inform the membership of the opening of the nominations for the following year when it makes its report to the general membership as provided in Article VI, Section 5(g) below.
(g) Decision and Report. The nominating committee’s recommendations shall be communicated to the Cal Cities Board not later than 30 days prior to the date of Cal Cities’ Annual Conference and again at the Annual Conference.
In addition, the nominating committee shall make its report to the membership at the opening general session of the Annual Conference.
(h) Election. The election of Cal Cities Board officers and Directors-at-Large shall occur at a Cal Cities Board meeting at the Annual Conference as provided in Article VII, Section 4(c) and Article VII, section 3.
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Section 8: Meetings and Meeting Notice.
(a) Regularly Scheduled Board Meetings. The Cal Cities Board shall meet no fewer than four times a year. Notice of regularly scheduled Board meetings shall be mailed to each Director at least 14 days before any such meeting.
(b) Emergency Board Meetings. A good faith effort shall be made to provide notice of any emergency board meetings (for example, by first-class mail, personal or telephone notification, including a voice messaging system or other system or technology designed to record and communicate messages, telegraph, facsimile, electronic mail, or other electronic means).
(c) Telephonic or Electronic Participation. Members of the Cal Cities Board may participate in any meeting through the use of conference telephone or similar communications equipment, so long as all members participating in such meeting can hear one another. Participation in a meeting by this means constitutes presence in person at such meeting.
(d) Notice Content. All meeting notices shall include the meeting date, place, time, and, as applicable, the means by which a Cal Cities Board memberDirector may participate electronically.
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Section 10: Committees.
(a) General. The Cal Cities Board may establish committees to study city problems, advise on Cal Cities educational efforts, make recommendations with respect to Cal Cities advocacy efforts, or to engage in other appropriate Cal Cities service.
(b) Executive Committee.
(i) Composition. The Executive Committee of the Cal Cities Board consists of the following: the Cal Cities President, First Vice- President, Second Vice-President/Treasurer, Immediate Past President and Executive Director.
(ii) Authority. The Executive Committee has authority to act for the Cal Cities Board between Board meetings, provided that no action of the Executive Committee is binding on the Cal Cities Board unless authorized or approved by the Board.
(c) Standing Policy Committees.
(i) Charge. Cal Cities shall have a series of standing policy committees, whose charge shall be to make recommendations to the Cal Cities Board on matters within the committees’ jurisdiction, as well as fulfill other duties specified in these bylaws (see, for example, Article VI, section 4(b)).
(ii) Membership. Each Cal Cities Policy Committee shall be comprised of the following:
• Two members appointed by each regional division president;
• One member appointed by each functional department president;
• One member appointed by each caucus president;
• No more than 16 members appointed by the Cal Cities President, to provide population and geographic balance, as well as expertise; and
• Such representatives of affiliate organizations in the capacity authorized by the Cal Cities Board.
(iii) Feedback. Policy committees shall receive information on actions taken on committee recommendations and the reasons for those actions.
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(d) Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs. Unless the Cal Cities Board establishes otherwise, Tthe Cal Cities President appoints the chair of all Cal- Cities-wide committees. The term of such appointments coincides with the Cal Cities President’s term. The Cal Cities President may appoint vice chairs for such committees, as the Cal Cities President deems necessary. …
Article VIII: Officers
Section 1: Identity.
The officers of Cal Cities are a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice- President/Treasurer, an Immediate Past President, and an Executive Director.
Section 2: Duties of Cal Cities Officers.
(a) President. The President presides at all Cal Cities Board meetings and all General Assemblies. The President has such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by these bylaws or the Cal Cities Board.
(b) First Vice-President. The First Vice-President carries on the duties of the President in the President’s temporary absence or incapacity. The First Vice- President has such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by these bylaws or the Cal Cities Board.
(c) Second Vice-President/Treasurer. The Second Vice-President/Treasurer carries on the duties of the President in the President’s and First Vice- President’s temporary absence or incapacity. The Second Vice- President/Treasurer has such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by these bylaws or the Cal Cities Board.
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Section 4: Vacancies.
A vacancy in the office of President is filled by the Immediate Past President who shall serve for the unexpired term of office and, upon election of a new President at the next Annual Conference, shall subsequently serve a full term as Immediate Past President.
In the event the Immediate Past President is not available to fill the vacancy in the office of the President, or declines in writing, it shall be filled by the succession of the First Vice-President to that office. A vacancy in the office of First Vice-President, or Second Vice-President/Treasurer, is filled for the un-expired term by appointment by the Cal Cities Board of a member of the Cal Cities Board. A vacancy in the office of the Immediate Past President is filled for the un-expired term by the last Past President continuing to hold a city office.
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Article XII: Voting
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Section 5: Mail Balloting.
In addition to voting at Cal Cities meetings, Cal Cities may solicit member input by mail ballot.
(a) Mailing.
10 The question(s) to be voted upon, along with explanatory materials and a ballot, shall be mailed by first class mail to each Member City for consideration and action.
(b) Time Frame for Action. Member Cities shall have at least 45 days to cast their vote. Ballots shall be cast by returning the Member City’s ballot to Cal Cities’ principal office in Sacramento.
(c) Ballot Tabulation and Results Announcement. The Cal Cities President will appoint a counting committee of three board membersDirectors to count the votes cast by mail ballot. The counting committee will submit its count to the Cal Cities Board, which shall canvass the vote and announce the results.
(d) Functional Departments, Regional Divisions, and Caucuses.
Departments, divisions, and caucuses may also use mail balloting under procedures specified in their respective bylaws.
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Article XV: Prohibited Transactions
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Section 4: Ethical Considerations.
These restrictions, of course, represent the floor, not the ceiling, for ethical conduct as a Cal Cities board memberDirector or policy committee member. If a board memberDirector or policy committee member believes that there are circumstances under which Cal Cities’ members might reasonably question the board member’sDirector’s or policy committee member’s ability to act solely in the best interests of Cal Cities and its member cities, the prudent course is to abstain. As an example, typically Cal Cities board membersDirectors have abstained from participating in decisions on legislation that would affect organizations for which they work. Another example is legislation that would uniquely benefit a board member’sDirector’s city.
Policy committee members should also consider abstaining in similar circumstances.
10 The Administrative Services Committee recommends Cal Cities also include notice of the upcoming ballot in a variety of Cal Cities communications to alert Member Cities to make inquiry in the event a city’s ballot is lost in the mail.
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