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HomeMy WebLinkAboutemma.caucus.recognitionFIRST READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE PITKIN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZING THE EMMA CAUCUS TO: FROM: THRU: RE: MEMORANDUM Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting - March 23, 2005 Sassano, Senior Long Range Plmmer Cindy Houben, Community Development Director Establislm~ent of the Emma/Sopris Creek Neighborhood Caucus REQUEST: A group of interested citizens who reside in and/or own property in the Emma/Sopris Creek area wish to form the Emma/Sopris Creek Caucus as a forum for collectively reviewing and commenting on land use and other County issues affecting their neighborhood. The group's request is attached to this memorandum as Exhibit "1 ." Formation of a Caucus is permitted subject to compliance with Article Four of the Pitkin County Home Rule Charter, attached to this memorandum as Exhibit "B". After satisfying itself that the provisions of this article have been met, the Board of County Commissioners is authorized to recognize the caucus and establish the caucus area by resolution. CAUCUS AREA BOUNDARY: The Caucus area generally includes public and private lands accessed off of the Emma Road, Sopris Creek, and East and West Sopris Creek Roads in Pitkin County. It is adjacent to the Crystal River Caucus Boundary on the west, and to the Snowmass/Capitol Caucus Boundary on the south. The Town of Basah and its urban growth boundary lie to the northeast of the proposed Caucus. Please see the attached map (Exhibit "A') for a graphic depiction of the proposed Caucus area boundary. COMPLIANCE WITH PITKIN COUNTY CODE: The following provisions of the Home Rule Charter regarding the recognition of Caucuses have been addressed as required: On November 6, 2004 a mailing was sent to all property owners in the Emma/Sopris Creek area to notify them of a meeting on December 6, 2004, scheduled to discuss formation of the Caucus. All but one of 45 resident/property owners in attendance at the meeting voted to form a Caucus. Proposed bylaws were drafted by a subcommittee, mad reviewed and approved at a meeting of residents on January 10, 2005. As required by the Charter, the bylaws address all operating procedures, including composition, voting procedures and function of the Caucus as a recommending body "for all planning matters affecting the caucus area, as well as other County matters affecting the caucus area including, but not limited to, budgetary mad work program matters." A copy of the approved Bylaws are attached as Exhibit "C.' STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staffrecommends that the Board of County Commissioners recognize the Emma/Sopris Creek Caucus by formal resolution, as the Caucus complies with the intent and provisions of the Home Rule Charter, and facilitates neighborhood participation in land use and other County decisions affecting the area. The Resolution is attached to this memorandum for signature by the Chair. 2 EXHIBIT "B" ARTICLE 4 - PiTKIN COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER Article 4--CAUCUSES 4-1 Establishment of Caucuses: Initial Meeting 4-1.1 A caucus may be established by any qualified elector who calls a meeting at a convenient time m~d place within the proposed caucus area. An infom~ation campaign shall be conducted to ensure that all qualified electors and non-resident real property owners in the proposed caucus area know of the date, time, place and purpose of the meeting. 4-1.2 At the initial meeting it shall be decided by majority vote of the qualified electors (and non-resident real property owners) in attendance whether a caucus should be formed. 4-1.3 Each caucus shall adopt its own operating procedures and bylaws within the scope of this article. 4-2 Recognition of Caucuses The Board, after satisfying itself that the provisions of this article have been met, shall recognize the caucus and establish the caucus area by resolution. 4-3 Composition A recognized caucus shall consist of all the qualified electors who reside in the caucus area, together with the non-resident owners of real property within the caucus area. 4-4 Voting Each caucus member shall have one (1) vote on all matters appropriate for caucus voting. Voting on any other basis may be conducted on special matters for information purposes only, and must be clearly identified as such. 4-5 Recognized Caucus Area Recognized caucus areas to the greatest extent possible shall reflect geographically contiguous areas with social, economic, cultural and environmental communities of interest. There shaI1 be only one recognized caucus in each geographic area. Each caucus shall provide proposed definite boundaries for their caucus area to the Board. 4-6 Function A caucus, upon recognition by the Board, shall have a recommendatory function for all matters directly affecting the caucus area, and shall permit its members to report minority views, as well as majority views, and division of votes with any such recommendation. Further, a caucus shall have a recommendatory function for all planning matters affecting the caucus area, as well as other County matters affecting the caucus area including, but uot limited to, budgetary and work program matters. EXHIBIT "C" BY-LAWS OF THE EMMA CAUCUS I. FUNCTION The purpose of the Emma Caucus is to provide a forum in which residents of the caucus are, as defined in these by-laws, and come together for the express purpose of discussing topics of mutual concern and informing the commmaity and, when appropriate, formulating consolidated positions on matters which are then transmitted to appropriate private and/or public agencies, boards and organizations for their consideration. We are committed to taking a long-term view of matters and measuring the impact of current issues on our long-term vision. We recognize that change is inevitable. We will actively advocate positions that are respectful of the long-term vision. We seek to be an inclusive entity that welcomes all who express interest in participation in our community process. We are unified in our desire to enhance, preserve and protect fire specific interests of the community and improve the quality of life available to its residents. We wish to build and enhance a true "sense of community" among residents of the caucus area, and will plan activities that will increase the level of "knowing one another" and encourage amicable interactions. We are mindful of the wide diversity of views represented among our residents and will conduct our business in such a manner that divergent views are heard and acknowledged as we seek to reach agreement on what is right for our neighborhood. ']?he Emma Caucus may seek to align itself with other associations, caucuses or groups to the extent consistent with the long-term vision of the caucus. II. CAUCUS AREA The boundaries of the Emma Caucus shall be as follows: See Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein. III. MEMBERSHIP The membership of the Emma Caucus shall consist of all the qualified electors who reside in the caucus area, together with the non-resident owners of real property within the caucus area. IV. VOTING Each caucus member shall have one (1) vote on all matters appropriate for caucus voting. V. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of a Moderator, a Secretary/Treasurer and three to five representatives from the caucus area. The Executive Committee shall be formed with an odd number of representatives to reduce the possibility of a deadlock. The members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at a meeting of the caucus and shall serve for a term of one year. Members may be elected tO an indefinite number of terms. The job of the Executive Committee shall be to help organize meetings, set the agenda and to act as representatives of the above-mentioned areas of the caucus to promote a direct communication network within the caucus boundaries. The Executive Committee shall appoint from within its membership a Moderator and Secretary/Treasurer whose jobs shall be as defined herein. A majority of the Executive Committeee members present at any properly noticed regular or special meeting shall have the authority to issue a position statement, opinion or recommendation of the Caucus. VI. MEETINGS / NOTICE Executive Committee meetings shall be held monthly and shall be open to members of the caucus area. Special meetings shall be held as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee. Notice of special meetings will be provided by mail, facsimile or e-mall to caucus members. A quorum shall consist of five (5) caucus members present at any caucus meeting. VII. THE MODERATOR Duties will be to schedule the meeting time, run the meetings, and keep a copy of all information sent from the County regarding the caucus area. He/She will, together with the .Secretary/Treasurer, go over the information obtained from the county and sort out what is useful and u~portant enough to be sent to the caucus members, lie/She will make available all information obtained from the County to any caucus member wishing to see it. In addition, the Moderator shall act as spokesperson for the caucus unless another person is appointed for a specific issue. The Moderator shall make available his/her fax number and e-mail address to all caucus members. The Moderator will conduct all duties in a reasonably timely fashion. VIII. THE SECRETARY/TREASURER Duties shall be to handle the bulk of administrative duties such as to field phone calls and e- mails, contact all caucus members in advance of a scheduled meeting, maintain a current neighborhood mailing list, keep a record of the agendas from every meeting, including any voting results, handle all money matters, including collection, keep monies in an account separate from 2 personal funds, distribute funds for business purposes of the caucus approved by the Executive Committee, keep records regarding the distribution of funds and send out correspondence the Executive Cormnittee feels is necessary. He/She will make available his/her phone number fax number and e-mail address to all caucus members. The Secretary/Treasurer will conduct all duties in a reasonably timely fashion. IX. CONTRIBUTIONS Contributions will be sought from caucus members and will be expected based on each member's ability to contribute. X. AMENDMENTS These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any properly noticed special or regular meeting of the Caucus. 3 EXHIBIT 'T' January 15, 2005 Ellen Sassano Senior Long Range Planner Pitkin County Community Development 130 South Galena Aspen, CO 81611 RE: Establishment of the Emma Neighborhood Caucus To Whom It May Concern: A group of interested citizens who reside in and/or own property in the Emma/Sopris Creek area wish to tbrm a Neighborhood Caucus under the Pitkin County Home Rule Charter. We began meeting in the fall of 2004 after consulting with your office, and have completed the steps necessary as follows: A mailing was sent to all property owners in the Emma/Sopris Creek area on November 6, 2004, notifying people that we planned a meeting to form a Caucus on December 6, 2004. People unable to attend were invited to respond by mail with their comments and/or support. Public Service Announcements were submitted to all local newspapers the week prior to the December 6 meeting. As a result, the Aspen Times ran a front-page article on the formation of the Caucus. The meeting was held on December 6 and 45 neighbors attended. All but one Pitkin County resident/property owner voted to form a Caucus. Subcommittees were established to draft By-laws and a Boundaries Map. These subcommittees met during the next 2 weeks, and a second meeting was called to review the results on January 10, 2005. At this last meeting, the attached By-Iaws and Boundaries Map were presented and approved. In addition, an executive committee as required by the By-laws was nominated and elected. Please forward these documents to the Board of County Commissioners for their approval of the Emma Caucus. If you have any questions, please call me. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, George Newman 1108 East Sopris Creek Road Basalt, CO 81621 Resolution No. 2005 Page 1 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO, RECOGNIZING THE EMMA CAUCUS RESOLUTION NO. 2005 RECITALS The residents of the Enux2a/Sopris Creek area wish to form an officially recogmzed Caucus. The Caucus area generally includes public and private lands accessed off of the Ermna Road, Sopris Creek, and East and West Sopris Creek Roads in Pitkm County, as depicted on the map attached to this Resolution as Exhibit "A." Formation of a Caucus is permitted subject to compliance with Article Four of the Pitkin County Home Rule Charter. After satisfying itself that the provisions of this article have been met, the Board of County Commissioners is authorized to recognize the caucus and establish the caucus area by resolution. The following provisions of the Home Rule Charter regarding the recognition of Caucuses have been addressed by residents as required: On November 6, 2004 a mailing was sent to all property owners in the Emma/Sopris Creek area to notify them of a meeting on December 6, 2004, scheduled to discuss formation of a Caucus. All but one of 45 resident/property owners in attendance at the meeting voted to form a Caucus. Proposed bylaws were drafted by a subcommittee, and reviewed and approved at a meeting of residents on January 10, 2005. As required by the Charter, the bylaws address all operating procedures, including composition, voting procedures and function of the Caucus as a recommending body "for all planning matters affecting the caucus area, as well as other County matters affecting the caucus area including, but not limited to, budgetary and work program matters." A copy of the approved Bylaws are attached as Exhibit "B." NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners of Pitkin County, Colorado hereby officially recognizes the Emma/Sopris Creek Caucus, with boundaries shown on the map attached hereto as Exhibit "A;" and awards the Caucus all functions set forth in Article IV of the Pitkin County Home Rule Charter. INTRODUCED, FIRST READ AT A NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING ON'THE 23rt~ DAY OF MARCH, 2005. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PUBLISHED IN THE WEEKEND EDITION OF THE ASPEN TIMES ON THE 13th OF MARCH, 2005 Resolution No. 2005 Page 2 APPROVED UPON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC MEETING ON THE 13th DAY OF APRIL, 2005. PUBLISHED AFTER ADOPTION 1N THE WEEKEND EDITION OF THE ASPEN TIMES ON THE __ DAY OF ,2005. ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTYCOMMISSIONERS OF PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO Jeanette Jones Deputy Clerk Patti Kay-Clapper Chair Date APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED AS TO CONTENT: John M. Ely County Attorney Cindy Houben County Community Development Director es/emmacaucusreso.doc