ITEM TITLE:
Discussion Item: Final Discussion on Governance Structures and Recommendations on Future Bylaws
SUBMITTED BY: Elise Sorum-Birk, Deputy City Clerk
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: n/a
Unencumbered Balance: n/a
Funding Source: n/a
RECOMMENDATION:
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SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Valdez Tourism Task Force purview was expanded and timeline extended to assist with providing feedback on initial bylaws and policies of the future organization.
Draft Articles of Incorporation have been put together and presented to City Council (complete apart from final legal review and naming of initial board of directors) (attached for reference)
The goal of this conversation is to reach consensus on any outstanding questions related to governance of Destination Valdez for what underlying details related to oversight and membership should be incorporated into bylaws.
Outstanding questions related to governance structure include:
• What broad categories should be included in the Bylaws?
• What might the recruitment process and appointment process of a board of directors look like?
• How can it be guaranteed that members of the board of directors are adequately prepared to take on the role of managing a non-profit successfully?
• What standards should directors be held to and when should directors be removed? (code of ethics, attendance, etc.)
• What is the role of the executive director?
o How much of this should be in bylaws?
o How involved should City Council be in employment actions related to an executive director?
o Does the city have a role in the recruitment of an executive director?
o Should City Council have the ability to require the removal or firing of an executive director?
• What additional non-voting members should be included on the governing board?
• What does the structure of “business membership” look like?
• What operating policies should the organization develop?
Once consensus is reached on these items- staff will compile a formal recommendation document summarizing task force consensus views on governance (and highlighting areas where there still isn’t consensus).
This report will be reviewed by the task force members to determine if it accurately captures the group’s views or if an additional meeting is needed to discuss and finalize recommendations.
The goal is to have recommendations adopted by Thursday, July 2nd for presentation to Council on Tuesday, July 7th. Once reviewed by Council, these will be forwarded to the new board of Destination Valdez to use as they appoint a Bylaws Committee and stand up membership.