A. Neighborhood associations shall be accountable to the membership of the neighborhood which they represent. They shall be responsible for notifying the membership about meetings, elections, and other association events. All meetings of a neighborhood association or its board shall be open to the public. A neighborhood association shall make a good faith effort to seek the views of the people affected by proposed policies or actions and shall consider all proposed options before adopting any final recommendations or actions. Officers will serve as liaison between city staff and the neighborhood association, and shall be elected by the neighborhood association membership.

B. All recognized neighborhood associations shall establish procedures through the adoption of bylaws which shall at a minimum provide that the general membership of such association have the ability to register support or opposition to any issue or proposed city action including, but not limited to holding of a special meeting if necessary to address such issue or action. When a neighborhood association presents its official position on an issue or proposed action to the city, it shall identify the date of the general membership meeting, and the vote tally for and against the position asserted by the association.

The consensus view of a dissenting minority or minorities on any issue considered shall be recorded and transmitted along with any recommendations made by a neighborhood association by the city.

C. VMC 20.180.060 provides for a reduced land use appeal fees for a recognized neighborhood association. In order to qualify for this reduced fee, the neighborhood association must be in compliance with this chapter including but not limited to the provisions of subsection (b) above and all applicable policies and procedures adopted by the city's planning agency. Provided, that if a neighborhood association officer files a timely appeal, the neighborhood association shall have a period of up to thirty (30) days thereafter to comply with the requirements of this chapter. Failure to comply will result in denial of the appeal and forfeiture of the fee.

D. Nothing in this chapter shall be considered as a limitation of any citizen's rights to participate directly in the decision- making process of the city government. (Ord. M-3696 §1, 2005)