Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager Office

TO:	David Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Michael Tubbs, Management Analyst
CC:	Jorgina Ross, Chair, Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board Debbie Van Saun, ACM, Community Development Services
Date:	July 18, 2007
RE:	Sister Cities Advisory Board new Bylaw Amendment

Please place the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at their July 24, 2007 meeting:

Sister Cities Advisory Board new Bylaw amendment concerning board members attendance.

Project History. 

The Sister Cities Advisory Board was created by authority of the City Commission of Lawrence, Kansas by Ordinance No.5759 on June 16, 1987. This ordinance was repealed on May 4, 1993, and replaced with Ordinance No. 6444. These amended bylaws were approved April 24, 2001 by the City Commission. Subsequent amendments were approved February 4, 2003 by the City Commission.

Project Status.

The Sister Cities Advisory Board voted 9-0 at its July 11, 2007 meeting to recommend the proposed new amendment to the bylaws concerning member attendance.  There have been some issues with member attendance in the past; however, the bylaws did not address the attendance issues.  If approved, this amendment allows for the removal of a member with excessive absenteeism and replacement of such member with a  new appointee.  Because the Board may request that the Mayor replace a member, the Board requested that this item be placed on the City Commission agenda for approval.  The new section reads as follows:

Article III. Section 9.  Any member who has three (3) consecutive unexcused absences from regularly scheduled board meetings shall be determined to be disinterested in membership on said board. The Chair shall contact board member to see if special considerations exist for excessive absenteeism. Lacking such considerations, the Board may request that the Mayor appoint a new board member.

Action Request.  The Sister Cities Advisory Board recommends that the City Commission approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the proposed new amendment to the Sister Cities Advisory Board Bylaws.

Thank you for your assistance.  Please advise if you have any questions.

Attach:                   Amended By-laws