Section 4 - - Neighborhood Councils.

a)

Purpose: There shall be neighborhood councils. The councils shall act in an advisory capacity to the City Commission, the City Manager and to other City advisory bodies, and may contribute information, opinions, advice, suggestions and recommendations to the City Commission, City Manager and other City advisory bodies on all governmental affairs and services having an effect on the area the neighborhood council represents, including, but not limited to, public finance, public works, public safety, planning and zoning, and public health and sanitation.

b)

Provision of Neighborhood Districts; Composition of Councils; Election: The City Commission shall, by ordinance, divide the City of Great Falls into no less than nine (9) and no more than thirteen (13) neighborhood council districts. The residents of a district shall comprise the electorate for that district. Each district shall have a council comprised of five (5) members; elected to a two (2) year term at the election held in conjunction with the City general election. Nominees for election to a neighborhood council must be residents of their designated neighborhood district.

c)

Organization: Each council shall select from its members a chairman, secretary, and an official delegate to attend City Commission meetings, and may appoint a Vice Chair or other officers as it deems necessary. The chairman must be one of the five elected council members. In the event of a vacancy on the council, the remaining members shall appoint a person eligible to hold the position to fill the vacancy until the next general election. In the event that the Council cannot agree upon the appointment of a replacement member, the City Commission shall fill the vacancy. On or before January 30, after each election, or within thirty (30) days after new council member(s) elected in a special election receive the oath(s) of, and are sworn into office, each neighborhood council shall meet to organize as provided in the section. Each council shall adopt by-laws prescribing additional duties of the council, meeting criteria and times, and such other provisions as the council may deem appropriate and which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this charter and the laws of Montana. The City Commission may provide model by-laws for use by the councils in drafting their own by-laws.

d)

Open Meetings and Right to Know: All meetings of the neighborhood councils shall be open to the public. All records maintained by the council shall be available for public inspection.

e)

Organization of a Great Falls Citizen's Council: A majority of the neighborhood councils may provide for the creation of a Great Falls Citizen's Council, consisting of one (1) member from each of the participating neighborhood councils. The Citizen's Council may determine its rules of organization and operation, except that no rules adopted shall be inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter or the laws of Montana. The City Commission may provide model by-laws for use by the Council in drafting its own by-laws. The purposes of the Citizen's Councils shall be set forth in paragraph (a) of this section.

f)

Obligations of the City Commission; City of Great Falls: Nothing in this section shall obligate the City Commission to appropriate funds to any council for its operation, or to the Great Falls Citizen's Council authorized in paragraph (e). The City of Great Falls shall not be liable for any obligations incurred by the councils or the Citizen's Council during their existence except as provided for by the City Commission.