By Laws
First adopted January 10, 1991; revised February 22, 1994; June 21, 1999; July 19, 1999; September 21, 1999; April 16, 2001; October 21, 2002; February 10, 2003; May 19, 2003; January 9, 2006; June 21, 2016
Table Of Contents
Article I. Name
Article II. Duties And Responsibilities
Article III. Commissioners
Article IV. Officers
Article V. Meetings
Article VI. Voting
Article VII. Committees
Article VIII. Parliamentary Authority
Article IX. General Finances
Article X. Legal Status; Other Powers And Limitations
Article XI. Amendment Of By-laws
Appendix A. Legal Description Of Anc 3f And Smd Boundaries
Appendix B. ANC 3f Map From The Board Of Elections And Ethics
Article I. Name
There is established by the Council of the District of Columbia ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 3F (Van Ness, North Cleveland Park, Wakefield, and Forest Hills). Boundaries of Commission 3F and of component Single-Member Districts (SMDs) are as described in D.C. Code § 309.03 note (2005) (Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Boundaries. as of June 12, 2003).
Article II. Duties And Responsibilities
Section 1. Advice to the Government
ANC 3F may advise the Council of the District of Columbia, the Mayor and each executive agency and all independent agencies, Boards and Commissions of the Government of the District of Columbia with respect to all proposed matters of District governmental policy including but not necessarily limited to decisions regarding planning, streets, recreation, social service programs, education, health, safety and sanitation which affect and/or are of concern to the ANC 3F area.
Section 2. Required D.C. Government Notice
Proposed District Government actions that ANC 3F shall have the opportunity to comment upon shall include, but shall not be limited to, actions of the Council of the District of Columbia, the Executive branch, independent agencies, commissions, or other entities of the government of the District of Columbia. ANC 3F may also advise each agency, Board or Commission before the awarding of any grant funds to a citizens organization or group, or before the formulation of any policy decision or guideline with respect to grant applications, comprehensive plans, requested or proposed zoning changes, variances, public improvements, licenses or permits affecting the ANC 3F area, the District budget and city goals and priorities, proposed changes in District government service delivery and the opening of any proposed facility or system in accordance with notice received pursuant to D.C. Code § 1-309.10(b) (2005).
Section 3. Scope
ANC 3F may present its views to any Federal or District agency and may initiate its own proposals for District government action.
Section 4. Citizen Comment
ANC 3F shall monitor complaints of ANC 3F area residents regarding the delivery of District government services and may file comments on same with the appropriate District government entity as well as the Council.
Section 5. Annual Report
On or before November 30 of each year, ANC 3F may file an annual report with the Chairperson of the Council of the District of Columbia and the Mayor for the preceding fiscal year. Copies shall be made available to public. The report shall include but shall not be limited to:
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Summaries of important problems perceived by the Commission listed in order of their priority;
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Recommendations for actions to be taken by the District government;
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Recommendations for improvements on the operation of the ANC;
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An annual financial report; and
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A summary of ANC 3F activities.
Section 6. Programs
ANC 3F may conduct neighborhood or community enhancement campaigns. It may also conduct programs in conjunction with existing governmental activities, provided that such activities on behalf of the Commission do not duplicate already available programs or services. Commission programs may not be conducted on a contractual basis with existing governmental agencies.
Section 7. Federal Advisory Mechanisms
ANC 3F may, where appropriate, constitute the citizen advisory mechanism required by any Federal statute.
Article III. Commissioners
Section 1. Composition of the Commission
ANC 3F shall be composed of those persons certified by the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics to represent the Single Member Districts (SMDs) of ANC 3F.
Section 2. Term of Office
Commissioners shall serve for a term of two years as prescribed by D.C. Code § 1-309.06(b)(1) (2005).
Section 3. Vacancies
Vacancies shall be filled in accordance with D.C. Code § 1-309.06(d) (2005).
Section 4. Compensation of Commissioners
Commissioners serve without compensation; however, they may be reimbursed with the approval of the Commission for expenses for the conduct of official ANC business, in accordance with Article IV, section 9(c) of these By-Laws.
Section 5. Conflict of Interest
No Commissioner shall use his or her official position or office to obtain personal or financial gain for himself or herself, any member of his or her household, or any business with which he or she or a member of his or her household is associated.
Section 6. Commission Policy Statements
Individual Commissioners, unless authorized by a majority vote of the Commission, shall not make public policy statements for the Commission or assume obligations for the Commission.
Section 7. Records
ANC 3F, as well as each Committee of the Commission, shall maintain a record of meetings, including the attendance of its members. Such records shall be forwarded to ANC 3F Secretary and shall be available for public inspection.
Section 8. Votes of the Commissioners
All Commissioners shall have equal voting rights following the principle of one person, one vote. There shall be no proxy voting.
Section 9. Commissioner Correspondence
Communications by individual Commissioners (i.e., requests for information, inquiries on behalf of constituents, etc.) on Commissioner stationary will be properly identified as personal and distinguished from Commissioner notices. Copies of all such communications by Commissioners will be filed with the Secretary or Administrator and will be kept as part of the record of Commission-related activities.
Section 10. Quorum
The Commission may declare a quorum and take official action if a majority of elected representatives of the Commission is present (i.e., four out of seven elected representatives; four out of six elected; three out of five elected; or three out of four elected), so long as a majority (four or more) of the seven single-member districts in ANC 3F have representatives on the Commission pursuant to D.C. Code § 1-309.06 (2005)
In the absence of a quorum, Commissioners present at a duly noticed meeting may fix the time to which to adjourn, adjourn, recess or take measures to obtain a quorum.
Section 11. Commission Equipment and Supplies
Equipment and supplies purchased with Commission funds or donated to the Commission belong to the Commission as part of the Government of the District of Columbia and are not to be appropriated for personal use.
Article IV. Officers
Section 1. Election of Officers
ANC 3F shall elect a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and such other officers as may be necessary from among the Commissioners. The election of officers shall take place at the first ANC meeting in January of each year except that election for the first officers shall be held at a meeting not later than thirty days following certification of a majority of the members of the Commission by the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics.
Section 2. Term of Office
Officers shall be elected to serve for a term of one year or until their successors are elected. Terms of office shall begin at the close of the regular meeting in which the election was held. No Chairperson may serve more than two consecutive terms in that office.
Section 3. Nominations
Each candidate shall be nominated by a Commissioner and must be seconded by another Commissioner. A Commissioner may nominate her/himself but may not second the nomination.
Section 4. Voting
Officers of the ANC shall be elected by a majority vote. In the event that no candidate has a majority vote of all Commissioners, there shall be a run-off election between the two candidates having received the most votes. Voting on each office shall occur before the floor is open for nominations for another office.
Section 5. Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy among the Officers of the Commission, an election shall be held within 30 days to fill that vacancy. If there is no regularly scheduled Commission meeting within the 30 days, a special meeting shall be called to fill the vacancy.
Section 6. Duties of the Chairperson
Convener: The Chairperson shall serve as the convener of the ANC and shall chair its meetings.
Ruling on Procedural Matters: The Chairperson may rule on procedural questions. Such rulings may be overturned by a majority vote of the ANC.
Supervision of ANC Staff: The Chairperson shall be responsible for supervision of the ANC staff.
Section 7. Duties of the Vice Chairperson
Represent Chairperson: The Vice-Chairperson shall fulfill the obligations of the Chairperson in his or her absence.
Section 8. Duties of the Secretary
Preparation of the Minutes: The Secretary shall be responsible for preparation of the minutes for all meetings of the ANC, for the distribution of copies of the minutes to all Commissioners, and for making copies available at the ANC office to residents of the Commission area on request.
General Correspondence: The Secretary shall be responsible for the general correspondence of the ANC. Furthermore, the Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining records of all activities, including a record of notices received and Commission responses to these notices.
Section 9. Duties of the Treasurer
Annual and Quarterly Financial Reports: The Treasurer shall develop an annual fiscal budget and such revisions as may be required during the year, for approval by the ANC and submission to the Council and the Mayor. Quarterly financial reports will also be prepared within 45 days of the close of each fiscal quarter, for approval by the ANC and filing with the D.C. Auditor. These reports shall be available for public inspection.
Bonding of the Treasurer: The Treasurer and Chairperson shall be bonded in accordance with D.C. laws and regulations.
Authorization of Commission Expenditures: The Treasurer shall authorize in writing and record in the ANC books of accounts each expenditure of funds by the ANC. The Treasurer may disburse to another Commissioner or employee of the ANC amounts not in excess of $200 out of petty cash funds.
Cosigning Checks and Other Withdrawal Documents: The Treasurer shall with the Chairperson cosign all checks or withdrawal documents from any ANC account. In the absence of either or when one of them is also the payee, any other officer listed in the records of the bank may cosign.
Article V. Meetings
Section 1. Public Meeting Requirement
All meetings of the Commission at which official action of any kind is taken shall be open to the public.
Section 2. Official Action
No official action may be taken by the ANC unless a majority of the Commissioners is present and voting at that public meeting.
Section 3. Types of Meetings
Business Meetings: Regular business meetings shall be held not less than nine (9) times a year, to consider matters before the ANC which may include but not be limited to consideration of actions or proposed actions of the D.C. Council, the Executive Branch or any independent agency, Board or Commission. Voting will be limited to the Commissioners. Participation in the discussion by citizens will be at the discretion of the Chairperson. A separate agenda item allowing time for citizens’ input shall be part of each Business meeting.
Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson, by request of two (2) Commissioners or upon petition of ten (10) residents, 18 years or age or older, of the ANC area. A majority of the Commissioners can then cancel the scheduled month’s meeting provided that, in that month, at least one meeting is held.
Town Hall meetings: Town Hall meetings may be held to hear residents’ views on problems in the ANC area and on proposed District Government action of interest or concern to the community. Town Hall meetings may be held in conjunction with Business meetings; however, a separate agenda will be prepared and reported in the minutes of the Commission.
SMD meetings: A commissioner may schedule and hold a SMD [=Single Member District] meeting, open to the general public but with an agenda focused on matters of special concern to his or her SMD.
Representativeness: The Commission shall make a good faith effort to involve all segments of the Commission population in its deliberations regardless of but not limited to race, sex, age, voting status, religion, disability, national origin, or economic status.
Section 4. Meeting Places
Meeting places may be varied so as to be held in all geographical areas of the Commission.
Section 5. Public Notice of Meetings
No less than seven (7) days notice shall be given by the Commission of its meetings, except where shorter notice for good cause is necessary, by any two means allowed by law.
Section 6. Agenda
The Chairperson is responsible for distribution of proposed agenda to Commissioners in advance of each Business and Special meeting. The Chairperson shall distribute the proposed agenda at least five days in advance of the scheduled meeting. The Chairperson shall determine whether new business which is raised on the floor and which requires a vote shall be voted upon immediately, deferred to a time certain or directed to a committee. However, upon a motion carried by a majority vote of the Commission, new business shall be permitted to be discussed and voted upon at the current meeting.
Section 7. Recommendations of the ANC
The Commission shall forward its written recommendations, if any, with respect to proposed District government actions to the Council of the District of Columbia, the Mayor, appropriate agency, Board, or Commission.
Section 8. Incorporation of Resident Views
Resident Views, in the form of letters, discussions, debate and votes, should be considered in all positions taken by the Commission.
Section 9. Dissemination of Information
The Commission shall establish such mechanism as will insure the broadest dissemination of information with respect to the Commission meetings, positions and actions.
Section 10. Commission Actions
Commission actions, except for amending these By-Laws, shall be approved by a simple majority of the votes cast. In the case of a tie vote, the motion for Commission action shall fail.
Section 11. Joint Meetings
ANC 3F may hold joint meetings with other ANCs or co-sponsor meetings with other civic organizations to deal more effectively with citizen concerns or to solicit constituent views on matters that transcend Commission boundaries. The Chairperson may designate another Commissioner or a member of a standing or ad hoc committee to represent ANC 3F at these meetings and to act as a liaison to other Commissions on matters of mutual interest. Individuals so designated shall be considered on official business while performing such functions.
Article VI. Voting
Section 1. Form of Vote
Voting shall be in the form of “Yes”, “No”, or “Present”. A vote of “Present” shall be deemed the equivalent of an abstention or a non-vote. All votes shall be recorded.
Section 2. Definition of a Voting Majority
For a measure to pass, it must receive more than half of the votes.
Article VII. Committees
Section 1. Categories
Standing Committees: Standing Committees are those established as permanent bodies by a majority vote and which shall be composed initially of at least one Commissioner. The Standing Committees shall correspond to the areas of greatest ANC concern. If a non-Commissioner is Chairperson, a Commissioner shall be designated as a member of the Committee.
Ad Hoc Committees: Established as temporary bodies by a majority vote, to address internal matters or a specific issue or need.
Section 2. Chairperson’s Role
The ANC 3F Chairperson shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.
Section 3. Committee Responsibilities
Committees shall receive materials and act on requests from the Commission as a whole, and may develop additional information as needed in order to make recommendations to the Commission. They shall not act on behalf of the Commission, or represent their recommendations as official Commission policy to others, without having obtained formal authorization of the Commission.
Section 4. Appointment and Removal of Committee Members
The Commission shall appoint the committee Chairperson and members of each Committee. The Commission shall have the power to remove standing committee and ad hoc committee Chairpersons. Any resident of the Commission area shall be eligible to be appointed as a committee member or Chairperson.
Article VIII. Parliamentary Authority
Roberts Rules of Order (Simplified) shall govern the Commission in all cases in which they are not inconsistent with these By-Laws and any special rules of order the Commission may adopt.
Article IX. General Finances
Section 1. Solicitation or Acceptance of Funds
ANC 3F may not solicit funds unless expressly authorized by the D.C. Council but may accept individual contributions of $1000 or less. No person may contribute more than $1000 per calendar year.
Section 2. Pooling Funds with Other ANCs
The Commission may pool its funds with other ANCs within the Ward in accordance with agreements mutually established between Commissions.
Section 3. Depositories
The Commission shall by a resolution approved by a majority of its members designate financial institutions within the District of Columbia as depositories of Commission funds.
Section 4. Treasury Vacancy
No expenditure shall be made by the Commission during a vacancy in the Office of the Treasurer or at any time when a current and accurate budget is not on file with the District of Columbia Auditor.
Article X. Legal Status; Other Powers And Limitations
Section 1. Legal Redress
Should the Commission feel legal redress is required, it shall petition the Council through its special committee on Advisory Neighborhood Commissions or any successor committee. Any Commissioner may initiate a legal action as a private citizen in the courts of the District of Columbia or in the Federal courts, but the Commission itself shall not have such power.
Section 2. Incorporation and Commissioner Liability
ANC 3F has no authority to incorporate; however, no Commissioner may be held liable for actions taken as an elected Commissioner.
Section 3. Hiring
ANC 3F may hire employees and accept volunteer services on a full or part time basis. Employees shall serve at the pleasure of the Commission and preferably, but not necessarily, be residents of the District of Columbia. Persons hired by the Commission shall meet the qualifications established in a position description drawn up by the Commission. Employees of the Commission shall be considered employees of the District of Columbia government only for the purposes of subchapters XXI, XXII, and XXIII of chapter 6 of Title 1 of the District of Columbia Code. In addition, the Commission shall not hire present members of the Commission nor any member’s immediate family.
Section 4. Grant Guidelines
Funds may be expended only in conformity with applicable D.C. laws and regulations.
Requests for funding must be submitted in writing by District residents. Detailed explanation or proposed expenditures and purposes must be included. Project goals and objectives must be clearly specified. Persons requesting such grants must appear at a public meeting of the ANC to present the request and to respond to questions of the ANC and the community prior to the Commission rendering a decision on the request. Grant recipients are required to submit progress reports. and At the termination of the project the final report will show amounts spent and the results achieved.
Grants should never duplicate existing services already provided by the government or other agencies of the community.
Grants should be awarded on a one-time basis for specific community projects. Funds should be used on projects benefiting a substantial part of the ANC 3F community or a segment of the residents with clearly identified needs. The request could, however, come from a broader based organization so long as it also serves the ANC 3F community.
Grants cannot be used to purchase food, beverages, entertainment or other categories of expenditures deemed inappropriate by the D.C. Auditor’s office.
Funds may be allocated for projects at any time during the fiscal year.
Within 60 days following the issuance of grant funds, the grant recipient shall forward to the Commission a statement as to the use of the funds consistent with the grant application, complete with receipts that support the expenditures and other requested documentation.
Article XI. Amendment Of By-laws
Section 1. Copy of By-Laws to Council
The Commission shall file an up-to-date copy of these bylaws and all amendments thereto with the Council of the District of Columbia and the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions within thirty days of their adoption.
Section 2: Revision of By-Laws
Revision of these By-Laws shall be made by a majority vote of the Commissioners after each reading at two regularly scheduled business meetings.
Section 3. By-Laws Consistent with Current D.C. and Congressional Legislation
These By-Laws shall be consistent with all Congressional and District legislation, and other applicable laws regarding ANCs and any inconsistencies are to be held null and void.
Section 4. Public Access to By-Laws
A current copy of these By-Laws and amendments shall be available for public inspection.
Section 5. Effective Date
Unanimously approved by Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3F on January 10, 1991.
[Consolidated together with amendments approved on second reading on February 22, 1994, and on June 21, July 19, and September 21, 1999, and April 16, 2001, October 21, 2002, February 10, May 19, 2003, and January 9, 2006.]
Appendix A: Legal Description Of Anc 3f And Smd Boundaries
Description of ANC 3F Boundaries
Beginning at the intersection of Nevada Avenue, N.W., and Military Road, N.W.; then east along
Military Road, N.W.; then southeast along Broad Branch Road, N.W.; then northeast along 27th
Street, N.W.; then east along Military Road, N.W.; then south along Rock Creek; then west along
Tilden Street, N.W.; then southwest along Springland Lane, N.W.; then north along Reno Road, N.W.;
then west along Upton Street, N.W.; then north along 37th Street, N.W.; then east along Yuma
Street, N.W.; then north along Reno Road, N.W.; then no11heast along Chevy Chase Parkway, N.W.;
then east along Jocelyn Street, N.W.; then northwest along Nevada Avenue, N.W., to the point of
beginning.
Description of SMD 3F01 Boundaries
Beginning at the intersection of Cumberland Street, N.W., and Connecticut Avenue, N.W.; then
southeast along Connecticut Avenue, N.W.; then west along Albemarle Street, N.W.; then south along
35th Street, N.W.; then west along Alton Place, N.W.; then south along 36th Street, N.W.; then
south along Reno Road, N.W.; then west along Upton Street, N.W.; then north along 37th Street,
N.W.; then east along Yuma Street, N.W.; then north along Reno Road, N.W.; then east along
Chesapeake Street, N.W.; then north along 36th Street, N.W.; then east along Cumberland Street,
N.W., to the point of beginning.
Description of SMD 3F02 Boundaries
Beginning at the intersection of Ellicott Street, N.W., and Linnean Avenue, .W.; then southeast
along Linnean Avenue, N.W.; then south along 30th Street, N.W.; then east along Davenport Street,
N.W.; then southeast along Linnean Avenue, N.W.; then west along Albemarle Street, N.W.; then
northwest along Connecticut Avenue, N.W.; then east along Chesapeake Street,
N.W.; then north along 32nd Street, N.W.; then east along Ellicott Street, N.W., to the point of
beginning.
Description of SMD 3F03 Boundaries
Beginning at the intersection of 27th Street, N.W., and Military Road, N.W.; then east along
Military Road, N.W.; then south along Rock Creek; then west along Tilden Street, N.W.; then no1th
along 29th Street, N.W.; then west along Upton Street, N.W., to its intersection with the southwest
corner of the property identified as Square 2049, Lot 81O; then north along the western boundary of
said Square 2049, Lot 810, to its intersection with Yan Ness Street, N.W.; then west along Van Ness
Street, N.W., to its intersection with the boundary of the property identified as Square 2049, Lot
806; then north and west (counterclockwise) along the boundary of Square 2049, Lot 806 to its
northwest corner; then northwest along an unnamed alley to its intersection with Veazey Terrace,
N.W.; then west along Veazey Terrace, N.W.; then northwest along Connecticut Avenue, N.W.; then
east along Albemarle Street, N.W.; then northwest along 28th Street, N.W.; then east along
Brandywine Street, N.W.; then northwest along Broad Branch Road, N.W.; then northeast along 27th
Street, N.W.; then east along Mi Iitary Road, .W., to the point of beginning.
Description of SMD 3F04 Boundaries
Beginning at the intersection of Ellicott Street, N.W., and 32nd Street, N.W.; then south along
32nd Street, N.W.; then west along Chesapeake Street, N.W.; then northwest along Connecticut
Avenue, N.W.; then west along Cumberland Street, N.W.; then south along 36th Street, N.W.; then
west along Chesapeake Street, N.W.; then north along Reno Road, N.W.; then east along Ellicott
Street, N.W., to the point of beginning.
Description of SMD 3F05 Boundaries
Beginning at the intersection of Albemarle Street, N.W., and Connecticut Avenue, N.W.; then
southeast along Connecticut Avenue, N.W.; then east along Veazey Terrace, .W., to its intersection
with an unnamed alley to the south; then south along said unnamed alley to its intersection with
the northwest property corner of Square 2049, Lot 806; then east and south (clockwise) along the
boundary of said Square 2049, Lot 806, to its intersection with Van Ness Street, N.W.; then east
along Van Ness Street, N.W., to its intersection with the western boundary of the property
identified as Square 2049, Lot 81O; then south along the western boundary of said Square 2049, Lot
810, to its intersection with Upton Street, N.W.; then east along Upton Street, N.W.; then south
along 29th Street, N.W.; then west along Tilden Street, .W.; then southwest along Springland Lane,
N.W.; then north along Reno Road, N.W.; then north along 36th Street, N.W.; then east along Alton
Place, N.W.; then north along 35th Street, N.W.; then east along Albemarle Street, N.W., to the
point of beginning.
Description of SMD 3F06 Boundaries
Beginning at the intersection of Nevada Avenue, N.W., and Military Road, .W.; then east along
Military Road, N.W.; then southeast along Broad Branch Road, N.W.; then west along Brandywine
Street, N.W.; then southeast along 28th Street, N.W.; then west along Albemarle Street, N.W.; then
northwest along Linnean Avenue, N.W.; then west along Davenport Street, N.W.; then north along 30th
Street, N.W.; then northwest along Linnean Avenue, N.W.; then west along Ellicott Street, N.W.; then northwest along Reno Road, N.W.; then northeast along Chevy Chase Parkway, N.W.; then east along Jocelyn Street, N.W.; then northwest along Nevada Avenue, N.W., to the point of
beginning.
Appendix B: Anc 3f Map From The Board Of Elections And Ethics
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