Sec. 738. advisory neighborhood councils
564 words·~3 min read·
/statute-compilations/comps-709/sec-738A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
## Sec. 738 advisory neighborhood councils ###
(a)The Council shall by act divide the District into neighborhood council areas and, upon receiving a petition signed by at least 5 per centum of the registered qualified electors of a neighborhood council area, shall establish for that neighborhood an elected advisory neighborhood council. In designating such neighborhoods, the Council shall consider natural geographic boundaries, election districts, and divisions of the District made for the purpose of administration of services. ###
(b)Elections for members of each advisory neighborhood council shall be nonpartisan, shall be scheduled to coincide with the elections of members of the Board of Education held in the District, and shall be administered by the Board of Elections. Advisory neighborhood council members shall be elected from single member districts within each neighborhood council area by the registered qualified electors thereof. ###
(c)Each advisory neighborhood council— ####
(1)may advise the District government on matters of public policy including decisions regarding planning, streets, recreation, social services programs, health, safety, and sanitation in that neighborhood council area; ####
(2)may employ staff and expend, for public purposes within its neighborhood council area, public funds and other funds donated to it; and ####
(3)shall have such other powers and duties as may be provided by act of the Council. ###
(d)In the manner provided by act of the Council, in addition to any other notice required by law, timely notice shall be given to each advisory neighborhood council of requested or proposed zoning changes, variances, public improvements, licenses or permits of significance to neighborhood planning and development within its neighborhood council area for its review, comment, and recommendation. ###
(e)In order to pay the expenses of the advisory neighborhood councils, enable them to employ such staff as may be necessary, and to conduct programs for the welfare of the people in a neighborhood council area, the District government shall apportion to each advisory neighborhood council, out of the revenue of the District received from the tax on real property in the District including improvements thereon, a sum not less than that part of such revenue raised by levying 1 cent per $100 of assessed valuation which bears the same ratio to the full sum raised thereby as the population of the neighborhood bears to the population of the District. The Council may authorize additional methods of financing advisory neighborhood councils. ###
(f)The Council shall by act make provisions for the handling of funds and accounts by each advisory neighborhood council and shall establish guidelines with respect to the employment of persons by each advisory neighborhood council which shall include fixing the status of such employees with respect to the District government, but all such provisions and guidelines shall be uniform for all advisory neighborhood councils and shall provide that decisions to employ and discharge employees shall be made by the advisory neighborhood council. These provisions shall conform to the extent practicable to the regular budgetary, expenditure and auditing procedures and the personnel merit system of the District. ###
(g)The Council shall have authority in accordance with the provisions of this Act, to legislate with respect to the advisory neighborhood councils established in this section. ###
(h)The foregoing provisions of this section shall take effect only if agreed to in accordance with the provisions of section 703(a) of this Act.