ARTICLE I. NAME

This organization shall be known has the Horner Park Advisory Council (hereinafter the “Council”).

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

1. The purpose of the Council shall be to provide advice and assistance to the Chicago Park District and/or other agencies on matters relating to the concerns and needs of the Horner Park Community (hereinafter called the “Community”) consisting of all users of Horner Park, Ravenswood Manor Park, Buffalo Park, Sunken Gardens Park and Jacob Park.

2. The Council is a charitable organization as defined by section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and its purpose is community recreational and cultural activities as defined by the Council’s Articles of Incorporation issued by the State of Illinois.

3. The Council shall meet its purpose by:

1. providing the Community with a vehicle by which information can be shared with and from the Community;

2. working with the Chicago Park District to determine and establish programs, policies and practices which will meet the Community’s needs;

3. providing advice and counsel and an evaluation of the programs policies and practices as they relate to Community needs.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

1. The Council shall consist of individuals indicating a desire to become members. Membership in the Council shall be unrestricted.

2. Membership will not be excluded because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, unfavorable discharge from military service, parental status, or sexual orientation.

3. Any member whose work involves contact with children or any finances must submit a Volunteer Application to the Chicago Park District and may be asked to submit to a criminal background check.

4. Any membership may be revoked for conduct deemed detrimental to the Council and/or for violations of the Chicago Park District Park Advisory Council Code of Conduct, upon a written motion to the Officers containing the reason for removal and approval by a majority vote of the voting membership.

ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. Election and Terms

1. The Executive Committee will consist of the following Officers who shall be elected by members of the Council: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

2. Each office may be shared by two people. In the event an office is held by two people their titles shall be preceded with “Co-.”

3. The Executive Committee shall serve two-year terms. Members may stand for re-election at the end of their terms.

4. Elections shall be held at the annual meeting on odd numbered years. Terms shall take effect immediately.

5. If an office if prematurely vacated, a special election to fill the position for the remainder of the term will be held as soon as practicable.

6. Any member of the Executive Committee absent from three scheduled consecutive meetings without reason(s) acceptable to the majority of the Executive Committee shall cease to be a member of the Executive Committee.

7. All Officers must submit a Volunteer Application to the Chicago Park District and may be asked to submit to a criminal background check.

8. Only Chicago residents may serve as officers in the Council.

B. Officers Roles

1. The President will preside at all meetings.

2. The Vice President will preside in the President’s absence, and assist the President.

3. The Secretary will be responsible for minutes of meetings, attendance records and any notices required by the by-laws.

4. The Treasurer will be responsible for the financial records of the organization and will provide monthly accounting reports to the Executive Committee and relevant committee chairs for review. The Treasurer will make oral reports at no fewer than two meetings per year.

5. The President and Treasurer must be signatories to any Council bank accounts. Only Officers can be signatories to the account.

ARTICLE V. COMMITTEES

1. The Council may vote to create committees that it deems necessary and appropriate.

2. The committees can be composed of any Council members.

3. The committee shall elect its own chair.

4. Committees shall make timely reports to the Council when requested.

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

1. Regular meetings of the Council shall be held on a monthly basis no fewer than eleven months per year. Membership shall jointly decide on the month that the regular meeting will not be held. The Council meetings will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Horner Park or at another date, site or time provided no less than one week notice is given to members.

1. The Council will post notice of any meeting cancellation immediately and inform the Park Supervisor and Area Manager. 

2. Meetings may be held virtually by use of a commonly accepted teleconferencing platform. Any notice of a virtual meeting shall include instructions on how to join the meeting.

3. An Annual Meeting of the Council will be held in the month of October.

4. Each meeting shall begin at the announced time and continue no longer than two hours. However, a two-thirds majority of Council members present may vote to continue any meeting for an additional amount of time.

5. The President shall be responsible for setting the agenda for the Council meetings. After all agenda items have been completed, any Council member shall be able to introduce new business to be discussed at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting.

6. If an emergency or special meeting is deemed necessary by the Executive Committee, 48-hour notice of the meeting will be provided. 

7. All meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, except in so far as such rules are inconsistent with these by-laws.

ARTICLE VII. VOTING

1. To be a member in good standing of the Council, a person must attend the two Council meetings immediately preceding the meeting at which the voting is to take place, or fifty percent (50%) of the Council meetings in the twelve-month period immediately preceding the meeting at which the voting is taking place.

2. A member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the Council.

3. An affirmative vote by a simple majority of all Council members in good standing at ana Council meeting shall be required to pass any matter which is up for a vote (excepting provision X.2. below for change of by-laws).

4. There will be no voting by proxy.

5. Votes taken at virtual meetings shall be considered equivalent to votes taken in person.

6. Chicago Park District staff may not vote on Council matters.

ARTICLE VIII. OTHER PROVISIONS

1. Inurement of Income
   No part of the net earnings of the Council shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, officers, or other private persons except that the Council shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for professional services rendered and reimbursement of Council-approved purchases and expenses.

2. Legislative or Political Awareness
   The Council shall not participate in, or intervene in, (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office as stipulated by section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

3. Operational Limitations
   Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the Council shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on:

1. by an organization exempt from Federal Income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or

2. by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

4. Dissolution Clause
   Upon the dissolution of the Council, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Council, dispose of all the assets of the Council exclusively for the purposes of the Council in such manner, or to such organization(s) under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Executive Committee shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Circuit Court of Cook County, exclusively for such purposes of to such organization, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

ARTICLE IX. CONFLICT RESOLUTION

1.    The Conflict Resolution process herein is for the purpose of reviewing complaints regarding actions of members acting on behalf of the Council.

2.    The Council has the right to review the actions of an individual member, officer, or group of members or officers acting on behalf of the Council. The Council may consider removal of a member, officer, or group of members in accordance with the terms contained in these by-laws.

3.    The President or Vice President should respond to any complaints about members acting on behalf of the Council in writing and retain a copy of the response. Should the complainant be dissatisfied with the response, the complainant should have the right to appear before the Council’s general membership in order to be heard. 

4.    If the Council is unable to successfully remedy a complaint or the complainant is dissatisfied with the response after being heard by the general membership the matter can be presented to the Chicago Park District PAC Governance Committee for consideration. The decision of the Chicago Park District PAC Governance Committee, in partnership with the Chicago Park District’s Department of Legislative and Community Affairs, will be final and binding upon all the parties involved. 

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENT OF THE BY-LAWS

1. Any Council member in good standing may submit a proposal to amend the by-laws by filing an original of the said amendment with the Secretary of the Council.

2. By-law amendments may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at a monthly meeting, provided that the proposed language of any by-law amendment is included in the meeting notice

Adopted on 03/08/2024