Bylaws & Standing Rules

Download the South Robertson Neighborhood Council bylaws (approved August 7, 2009)

SORO NC is also governed by a Code of Civility.

The Neighborhood Council system was created by Los Angeles City Charter, and so SORO NC is subject to a number of federal, state, and local laws and ordinances, most notably, the Ralph M. Brown Act.

Standing Rules

Standing rules supplement the official bylaws and may be revised at any time by a majority vote of the Board. The March 13, 2008 revision of the bylaws removed all standing rules prior to that date.

Standing rule to establish a runoff election system

Passed May 20, 2010

Applies to Board votes where more than two candidates stand for a seat, chair or office.

  • If no candidate wins a majority of votes cast in the first round, only the two candidates with the most votes proceed to a second round of voting.
  • Assuming that any potential ethical conflicts are resolved, all Board members are free to vote for either of the two candidates in the second round, even if they have abstained or recused themselves in the first round, or if it means voting for a different candidate.
  • A coin toss will be used to resolve a tie in either round.

Standing rule to increase SORO NC financial transparency

Passed July 10, 2009

In addition to any requirements in the Neighborhood Council Charter, the SORO NC bylaws, the Brown Act, or any other applicable law:

  • That all monthly financial statements be available to the public via the SORO NC website at least 72 hours prior to a general Board meeting;
  • That quarterly audits be reviewed (at a minimum) at the open Executive Committee meeting prior to submission;
  • That the SORO NC website include a Finance section that compiles the NC's monthly financial statements and audits and include a link to request full financial records from DONE.

Standing rule on abstentions

Passed January 14, 2009

Defines how abstenstions are to be handled on Board votes.

  • For purposes of whether a motion is to be considered as having passed, the Official Action as defined in our bylaws will be modified by not counting abstentions as a vote for the item under consideration.

Standing rule on minimum time requirement for Board notification

Passed August 13, 2008

The motion description was amended by Board vote to note that "at a minimum, this should be done by email."

  • To require that all Executive Reports (Board Minutes, Treasurer's Report) and all items requiring Board consideration (motions) be submitted to the Board Members at least 72 hours before a General Board Meeting or 24 hours before a Special Board Meeting. If the time limits are not met, the item will not be considered at that Board meeting but will be carried forward to the next meeting that will permit such time for consideration of the item.

Standing rule on Board vote recording

Passed August 13, 2008

Recording how each member voted allows for later reconsideration, per the bylaws.

  • To require all votes be recorded by a roll call.