BYLAWS

South Skyline FireSafe Council

Revised 7-6-10

1. MISSION STATEMENT
   
   The South Skyline FireSafe Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to the public benefit, whose mission is to provide education and outreach programs for fire prevention and preparedness to all South Skyline residents within the Council area in order to prevent the loss of lives and reduce losses of personal and public property and natural resources from wildfire.
   
   The goals of the Council are:
   • Educate the public about wildfire threat and fire mitigation measures.
   • Coordinate wildfire prevention efforts with the cooperation of local public fire agencies and relevant stakeholders.
   • Reduce the potential for fire loss damage.
   • Improve wildfire safety by aiding in the reduction of dangerous fuel loads.
   • Improve circulation for evacuation.
   • Operate through dedicated volunteer help, in-kind donations, financial contributions, and grants.
     
     
2. LOCATION
   
   Star Rt 2 Box 324, La Honda, CA 94020 is the mailing address of the South Skyline FireSafe Council.
   Monthly business meetings are normally held at one of the homes of the contributing members, officers, or member of the Board of Directors (see section V.)
   
   
3. AREA
   
   The area of the South Skyline FireSafe Council (subsequently denoted ‘the Council’) is defined in detail in the Appendix.  It includes portions of Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties.  The central feature of the area is Skyline Boulevard.  The Council area extends north from Bear Creek Road on the west side to Black Road, then generally both sides of Skyline Boulevard for a total of about 24 miles to the vicinity of Old La Honda Road.  The southern boundary of the Council area is contiguous to the established Lexington Hills Community Wildfire Protection Plan area.  The northern boundary is approximately contiguous to the Woodside Fire Protection District.  The area includes all residences and communities with access off Skyline Blvd.
   
   
4. POLICY
   
   Policies are discussed and approved by a Council majority vote (see section VI. D). All sides of an issue will be considered before a policy decision is made. 
   
   No member or group may express an opinion for, or solicit money for, or obligate the Council unless authorized by the Board of Directors or a Council vote.
   
   
5. MEMBERSHIP
   
   
   • The Secretary (see VI B 5) or appointee shall maintain meeting and event attendance records for the purpose of determining member status.
   • Contributing Member. A resident, property owner, or lessee, over 18 years old, living within the Council area, becomes a contributing member by attending 2 of 3 consecutive monthly business meetings.  That person maintains his/her contributing member status by performing significant service for the Council as determined by the Board of Directors, such as participating in one (1) or more major projects per year.  Similarly the Board may determine when a ‘contributing member’ status has lapsed to ‘member’ status.  Each contributing member has one vote.  Area Coordinators are automatically contributing members after attending two Council meetings.  Officers and Board Members are automatically contributing members.
   • Member.  A resident, property owner, or lessee, over 18 years of age living within the Council area who attends at least occasional Council meetings or Council events.  A member does not have the right to vote.  He/She may receive all regular e-mails and mailings.
     
   • Associate Member. An associate member is a person, group, or organization who has an interest in the Council activities and is ineligible for regular membership. Associate members do not have the right to vote or serve as officers or on the Board of Directors. They may receive all regular emails or mailings.
     
     
6.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS
   
   
   • Composition. The Board of Directors shall be composed of seven active members. These may include officers of the executive committee (the president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary) and three elected members.
   • Duties
     
   1. Board Members. The board members should attend business meetings and other Council functions. They will conduct the business of the Council including budgeting, fund raising, spending, deciding policy and positions, approve and publish materials relevant to the goals of the Council, organizing meetings, and planning events. Each board member should keep generally informed about issues before the board and about member opinion on these issues. Board members may be asked by the president to take on special assignments.
   2. President. The president shall be responsible for upholding the Bylaws, policies, and positions of the Council. The president or appointee shall be responsible for scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, presiding at meetings, executing the decisions of the board, appointing committees, signing letters and representing the Council at meetings with related FireSafe Councils.  He/she is responsible for coordinating programs with relevant Fire Departments and public land agencies.  He/she may appoint temporary replacements for officers as necessary, to be approved by the Board.
   3. Vice President.  The vice president shall assist the president and take the place of the president when he/she is unable to perform his/her duties. The duties of the vice president shall include program and event planning responsibilities, and coordinate education, outreach, and fuels reduction programs.
   4. Treasurer. The treasurer shall act as prudent custodian of the Council funds. The treasurer or appointee should be prepared to give a financial report at any meeting of the  Council. At his/her discretion, the treasurer is authorized to issue a check of up to one hundred dollars ($100) on any project previously approved by the Board of Directors. Any other expense over fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be specifically authorized by the board before payment.  He/she is to coordinate financial matters as appropriate with any outside fiscal sponsor of a Council grant.
   5. Secretary. The secretary or appointee shall attend all meetings of the Council, record attendees take minutes, maintain a notebook of all minutes, and conduct correspondence as directed by the board and maintain membership records.
   • Selection of Board of Directors
   1. Nominations. A nominating committee appointed by the president in September shall present a slate for all board positions to the Board of Directors at the October Council meeting. The approved slate shall be emailed/mailed to all contributing members not attending that meeting.  Other nominations, with two seconds, may be made by mail before, or in person at the November meeting. All nominees must consent to appear on the ballot.
   2. Elections. Members of the board are elected by the contributing members (majority of those present) at the November meeting. If there is more than one candidate nominated for a position, then voting for that position shall occur by secret ballot.
   3. Vacancies. Vacancies occurring mid-term may be filled by majority vote of the Board of Directors with a minimum of 4 present.
   4. Removal from Office. Any board member may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the contributing members.  The vote must occur at a scheduled meeting.
   5. Terms. The terms of board members shall be two (2) years starting with the November election meeting. The terms for the officers shall be one (1) year from the November business meeting until their successors are elected at the following November meeting. There is no limit to the number of terms a board member may serve.
   6. Council Startup.  Upon adoption of the Bylaws, the existing officers may choose to continue on the Board.  Nominations for other board member position(s) are to occur immediately and a Council vote may be taken immediately to fill the position(s) the contributing members determined informally for this purpose
   • Voting. All decisions are to be made at a meeting with a quorum (minimum of 3) of the Board present. Required is a ‘Council majority vote’ defined as a majority or tie vote of the Board Members present plus a tie or majority of the other contributing members present.  Exceptions to this voting procedure are:
   1. Annual elections of board members, when only a simple majority of the contributing members is required
   2. For amendment of the Bylaws (IX), when only a two-thirds majority of the contributing members is required
   3. When the Executive committee makes a necessary decision between business meetings.
   • Executive Committee.
     
   1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. The Executive Committee exists solely for the purpose of making decisions when they must be made before the next business meeting. At least three (3) votes are necessary to make a decision. When making a decision, the Executive Committee must keep in mind the policies, positions, and prior discussions of the board. All decisions made by the Executive Committee shall be reported at the next scheduled business meeting.
   2. Election of Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be elected from the members of the Board of Directors by the Board of Directors immediately after the completion of the election of the Board at the November meeting
      
      
7. MEETINGS
   
   Business meetings will be held monthly and as otherwise required. The membership of the Council shall be notified of meetings by email.
   
   
8. DUES
   
   The Council does not collect dues but relies upon donations, fund raising, and grants.
   
   
9. AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
   
   An amendment to the bylaws may be proposed to the board by any contributing member and must be seconded by any other contributing member. To pass, an amendment must be publicized to the active members and approved by a two-thirds vote of the contributing members at the next business meeting when a quorum of Board members are present.