Wicker Park Advisory Council By-Laws
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of the organization is the Wicker Park Advisory Council, Inc., hereinafter referred to as Council. The Council has been organized as a 501c3 corporation.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The Purpose of the Council is to:
- foster cooperation through inclusive planning, securing sponsorship and other funding for unique programming, activities and maintenance of Wicker Park facilities for all users.
- increase community cooperation and awareness through independent programming, inclusive planning and sponsorship funding.
- ensure ample resources for unique activities and facility maintenance.
- provide advice and assistance to the Chicago Park District on matters relating to the concerns and needs of the Wicker Park community and all users of Wicker Park.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. General Membership
General members of the Council shall be Chicago residents. 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.
Section 2. Voting Membership
Voting members of the Council shall be those who, in addition to meeting the qualifications of Section 1 of this article, are eighteen (18) years of age or older and shall:
- have attended two (2) Council meetings in the twelve (12) month period prior to and including the date on which the vote is to be taken; or
- have been elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Council.
Section 3: Restrictions
The Council will not discriminate 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.
Section 4: Member Removal
Any member may be removed as a member of the Council by failing to remain in good standing and violating the Chicago Park District Park Advisory Council Code of Conduct, upon a written motion by any officer containing the reason for removal and approval by a majority vote of the members.
Section 5: Ethical Obligations
While acting as members of the Council, members are under a duty to act ethically and in the best interests of the Council. To exemplify, members shall abstain from voting at any Council or Board meeting on any issue in which they have a financial interest or other conflict of interest. While acting in their official capacities, members of the Board shall act in compliance with the votes of the general membership and/or the Board. Members of the Board shall not use their title when expressing their personal opinions, but only when representing the views of the Council.
ARTICLE IV. DUES
The Council will not charge annual dues.
ARTICLE V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Composition
The Board of Directors shall be composed of the officers designated in Article V Section 3 of these Bylaws, and committee chairpersons as designated by Article VII, and At-Large Members appointed by the Officers and the committee chairpersons. The Immediate Past President shall be an ex officio member of the Board without the right to vote, unless they remain an Officer in another position, chair a committee, or are appointed as an At-Large Member of the Board.
Section 2. Duties and Powers
- The executive power of the Council shall be vested in the Board of Directors. B. The Board of Directors shall:
- take actions necessitated by deadlines or other emergency conditions between meetings of the Council;
- take action at meetings of the Council when a quorum cannot be established; and 3. designate the places of meetings of the Council.
Section 3. Officers
The officers of the Council shall be:
The President, who shall prepare an agenda and preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and Council, and shall perform such other duties as the Council or Board shall direct.; The President can assign duties to other officers from time to time.
The Vice President, who shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President, and shall perform such other duties as the Council or Board shall direct; If the President cannot complete their term for whatever reason, the Vice President is the successor to the President for the remainder of the past President’s term.
The Secretary, who shall record minutes of all Council and Board meetings; shall keep a permanent file of all Council, Board, and membership records; shall maintain a record of member attendance to Council meetings; shall issue notices of all Council and Board meetings; and shall perform such other duties as the Council or Board shall direct.The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Council; receive receipts and give monies due and payable to the Council from any source whatsoever, and deposit all such funds in the names of the Council in such banks or other depositaries directly or with the assistance of a fiscal agent. The Treasurer shall give financial statements at each meeting, and an itemized report twice a year, at the September and March meetings.
All officers shall complete and file a Registration Form with the Chicago Park District. Section 4. Eligibility
To be eligible to be a voting member of the Board of Directors, a person shall be a voting member of the Council as defined in Article III, Section 2 of these Bylaws.
Unexcused absence from any three (3) regular meetings of the Board in one (1) year shall constitute resignation from the Board on motion of any Board member and with the approval of the Board. The President shall send written notice of such resignation to the Board member.
Section 5. Term of Office
Voting members of the Board of Directors shall serve for two (2) years, or until their successors are elected. Officers shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office.
Section 6. Nomination
Voting members of the Board of Directors shall be nominated at the January meeting of the Council by members of the Council.
Each nominee shall submit a biography not to exceed one (1) page, one (1) week following nomination. The biographies shall be distributed to Council members on the day of election.
Section 7. Election
Voting members of the Board of Directors shall be elected at the February meeting of the Council by voting members of the Council. The new Board of Directors shall begin serving upon adjournment of the meeting at which the Election occurs.
At least one (1) representative of the Chicago Park District shall be present at the election.
Officers shall be elected by majority of the votes cast. If no candidate receives a majority, there shall be a run-off election between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes. Said run-off shall be held immediately following the initial vote.
Ballots shall be counted in view of the Council and results shall be announced at the meeting. Proxy voting or absentee ballots shall not be permitted.
Section 8. Vacancies
Voting members of the Council shall fill vacancies on the Board at the next monthly meeting after the vacancy occurs, provided that at least ten (10) days written notice of election shall be given to Council members. This notice will be posted at the Field house and posted on the WickerPark.org website.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
Section 1. Council Meetings
A schedule of Regular Meetings of the Council will be announced at the March meeting each year. If any meetings are called or changed, notices will be made available to the public in the Field house and posted on the WickerPark.org website ten (10) days in advance of said meeting. The Board of Directors may cancel meetings of the Council due to emergency conditions. All meetings of the Council shall be open to the public. Emergency or Special meeting require a 48 hour notice. If a meeting is cancelled notice must be posted immediately and posted on the WickerPark.org website and the Park Supervisor or Area Manager should be notified.
Virtual meetings, with a phone-in option, may be held in lieu of in-person meetings. The agenda of the meeting and the minutes of the prior meeting will be made available three (3) days before the virtual meeting takes place. Any notice of a virtual meeting will include instructions on how to join the meeting. Furthermore, in order to improve public accessibility, the Council may also provide on-line meeting access to any of its regular or emergency Council meetings. Any notice of a regular or emergency that is offered on-line will include instruction on how to join the meeting.
All votes from any member participating in person or on-line at a virtual meeting or a regular or emergency council meeting shall be counted as a vote.
Section 2. Agenda
The Secretary shall prepare an agenda for each meeting of the Council in consultation with the President.
Section 3. Quorum
Seven (7) Voting Members of the Council constitute a quorum for Council meetings. Five (5) members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for Board meetings. Proxies shall
not be permitted to constitute a quorum at Council or Board meetings. If a quorum is not achieved at a meeting of the Council, actions may be taken by the Board.
Section 4. Minutes
The Secretary shall take minutes of Council and Board meetings and shall provide each member of the respective body with a copy of the respective minutes at the next meeting. Minutes of Council and Board meetings shall be available to all members on request. Council meeting minutes will also be made available to the public at the field house within two (2) weeks of being approved by the Council.
Section 5. Voting
Only voting members of the Board or Council who are present at meetings of the Board or the Council shall vote. Proxy or absentee voting shall not be permitted. It is expected that Council members will excuse themselves from voting on issues where there is a conflict of interest such as where an issue would affect their personal or organizational interest.
ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors shall create committees deemed necessary and appropriate to fulfill the purposes of the Council. Committees shall be composed of Council members.
ARTICLE VIII – CONFLICT RESOLUTION
The officers of the Council have the responsibility of monitoring the actions and activities of their PAC as a whole. 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 Article III, Section 4.
The President or Vice-president of the Council should respond to any complaints in writing and file a copy of the response in the file kept at its respective park. 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.
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 PAC Governance Committee for consideration. The decision of the PACGC will be final and binding upon all the parties involved.
ARTICLE IX – REGISTRATION
The Council acknowledges that each park shall have only one registered PAC, there shall be no joint PACs or combined representation unless approved by the Chicago Park District. The Council will register with the Chicago Park District by completing and submitting to the Chicago Park District Department of Legislative and Community Affairs, a Registration Form, and the yearly Council Report.
ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws shall be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting council members present at the Council meeting at the time of the vote, provided a quorum is present and written notification has been made available to the public at the Field house and posted on the WickerPark.org website fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be considered.
ADOPTED: October 15, 2001; as amended March 14, 2024