Provo outlines rules and limits for Neighborhood District Executive Boards

An unidentified presenter outlined the structure and rules for Provo City’s Neighborhood District Executive Boards, which are intended to enable resident participation and provide a channel for neighborhood feedback to the city council and planning commission.

The presentation explained that each Provo resident lives in a neighborhood and that adjoining neighborhoods are grouped into five districts. The city council appoints members to each district executive board; from those appointees, residents elect a chair, two vice chairs and a secretary. "Voting at neighborhood district meetings is limited to people who are 18 years or older whose primary provo domicile is within the boundaries of the neighborhood district," the presenter said, adding that voters must sign a declaration of residency before participating.

Why this matters: the boards are a formal avenue for neighborhood input into planning and council decisions, but they are limited in authority. "The executive board members are not elected officials and do not have implied legislative or executive authority," the presenter said. The presenter also emphasized that recommendations submitted to the planning commission or city council must show the number of residents who voted in favor, voted against, and those who abstained.

Practical rules covered included quorum requirements (a majority of members must be present to conduct business), chair term limits ("Chairs may not serve more than 12 consecutive months and may not be elected again as chair within 12 months of having served as chair"), and attendance-based vacancy (a seat is vacated if a member misses three or more consecutive meetings or 50% or more of meetings in any eight-month period without majority approval).

The presenter noted four residency exceptions to board membership: an appointee from Brigham Young University for the university neighborhood, a Downtown Provo Incorporated nominee for downtown, at least one student housing property owner representing the Joaquin neighborhood, and a business-owner appointment by the city council for each district. All official communications to the city council and planning commission are to be coordinated through the board chair and the neighborhood coordinator, and communications must be approved by a majority of the executive board.

The presentation closed with a reminder that the neighborhood coordinator sets meeting schedules and creates agendas with input from the board and residents and that agendas will include city information and presentations on land use applications and projects.