Proposed Changes to Bylaws

In order to support a more robust General Membership and Steering Committee, your current Steering Committee proposes the following fives changes to the 22X bylaws:

1. NAME

Current Bylaw:

The name of this organization shall be the “22X Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council” (NCPC 22X)

Proposed Bylaw:

Change the name to “Neighborhood Council”

Reasoning:

1) Here is the language from the current City of Oakland Website:
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS (formerly known as NCPCs)
2) The current name is misleading. According to information about the Councils from the city:
This neighborhood-level program brings community members together by beat to work in partnership with the Oakland Police Department to solve problems that lead to crime. Neighborhood Councils emphasize leadership development, skill building, and strengthening relationships among residents.
The current name leads people to believe that we are to act as monitors of crimes about to happen, rather than as community-builders who work in partnerships to solve problems that lead to crime.

2. PURPOSE

Current Bylaw:

The purpose of NCPC 22X is to work together and in partnership with officials and agencies of the City of Oakland to reduce crime, promote public safety and enhance the quality of life in Oakland Community Policing Beat 22X.

Proposed Bylaw:

Using language from the original by-law as well as from updated language from the City, we propose that our stated purpose is:
To work together as 22X community members, in partnership with officials and agencies of the City of Oakland, to solve problems that lead to crime. Our Neighborhood Council emphasizes strengthening relationships among residents, promoting inclusive public safety, and enhancing the quality of life in our beat.

3. GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

Current Bylaw:

Membership is open to all those who live, work, or own property within one half mile of the confines of Beat 22X. The NCPC will strive to include community needs and interests, such as, but not limited to: community organizations, service groups, Neighborhood Watch groups, faith organizations, youth groups, labor unions, merchants associations, and school parent-teacher organizations.

Proposed Bylaw:

We propose to keep all the language from above, and add the line:
The Neighborhood Council should include diverse voices, particularly the voices of marginalized groups such as people of color and transgender people.

4. ELECTIONS of STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Current Bylaw:

NCPC 22X shall elect the members of the Steering Committee at the annual meeting of the general Membership.

Proposed Bylaw:

In order to keep the Steering Committee from getting too small, in years when the Committee numbers under 10 members, new members may be voted in at any General Meeting.

5. ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS

Current Bylaw:

The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of candidates and officers at the annual meeting of the general membership of NCPC 22X.

Proposed Bylaw:

The current system holds the Nominating Committee responsible for determining officers before new members have even been voted on to the Steering Committee, and in some cases before they have ever met or worked with each other. We propose that the Steering Committee be allowed to vote for officers at Steering Committee meetings, as opposed to General Meetings.