Staff recommends the Yellowstone County Board of Planning amend its by-laws to adjust the schedule for election and seating of officers. The Board will follow Section 5. By-Law Amendments, which states that amendments to the by-laws may be initiated by any member of the board. Such amendments must be submitted, in writing, at a regular meeting and approved by a two-thirds vote of the members present. The proposed amendments are provided in writing attached to this memo to be reviewed and acted upon at this regular meeting of the Board.

 

Election and seating of Planning Board officers currently involves a three-step process across three Board meetings at the end and beginning of each year. The President of the Board must first appoint a nominating committee made up of three members of the Board. This is done at the first meeting November. The nominating committee then presents its recommendations to the full Board at the first meeting in December. Further nominations may also be made at that meeting. The Board then elects the officers at its first meeting in January and the officers take their seats as of February 1 of each year.

The Board has reviewed this process in the By-Laws and discussed the need to streamline the process to fewer steps at fewer meetings. The Board has directed staff to adjust the process to have the Nominating Committee still be formed in November by the Board President, but the Nominating Committee will make its recommendations at the first meeting in December and the Board will vote on the officers at that meeting. The process is also changed so that the officer terms will begin as of January 1 each year. The attached By-Laws draft has the proposed amendments under Article VII, Section 2 and Article IX, Section 1 B. to the process that the Board agreed to consider. The Board must approve the amendments by a two-thirds vote of the members present.

This amendment to the Board By-Laws does not really affect the public or the public actions the Board takes when reviewing land use applications, transportation plans or other projects or policies. However, the public is able to attend or participate in all Planning Board meetings and may do so for this meeting and agenda item.

The Yellowstone County Board of Planning may:

• Approve the amendments to the By-Laws for the process of selection and action on election of Board officers; or,
• Not Approve the amendments to the By-Laws for the process of selection and action on election of Board officers.

There is no fiscal effect from this By-Laws amendment.