ARTICLE I - NAME AND OBJECTIVES
Section 1. The Association shall be called the CHICO PUBLIC SAFETY ASSOCIATION and shall be a non-profit, non-partisan, independent employee association, formed under the laws of the State of California.
Section 2. The principal office of the association for the transaction of its business is located in the City of Chico, Butte County, California.
Section 3. The purpose and objective of the association is to improve and advance public service, to represent its members in all matters relating to employment conditions and benefits, and to promote harmony among members for their mutual protection.
Section 4. The association may affiliate and disaffiliate with other local, state or national organizations in order to advance the purpose of the association upon the majority vote of the members to do so.
Section 5. Upon the dissolution or winding up of the organization, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of this organization shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or corporation, which is organized and operated exclusively for social welfare purposes and which has established its tax-exempt status under IRC Section 501(c)(4).
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The members of the association shall be classified as regular or associate members.
Section 2. Regular membership is limited to employees of the Chico Police Department whose job classification is included in a bargaining unit for which CPSA is the recognized employee organization for representation purposes pursuant to State of California Government Code Section 3500. Such membership allows full participation in the business of the association including the right to vote and hold office.
Section 3. Associate membership is limited to other persons not eligible for regular membership. Associate members may not vote or run for association office but may, subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors, attend general membership meetings. Associate members are entitled to attend Association-sponsored social functions.
Section 4. Membership in the organization shall terminate upon death of a member, voluntary withdrawal of a member, leaving the employ of the City of Chico or nonpayment of dues as specified in Article III.
ARTICLE III - DUES
Section 1. Dues for the regular members of this association shall be set by majority vote of the regular members.
ARTICLE IV - GENERAL ORGANIZATION
Section 1. The officers of the association shall be a PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, TREASURER, and DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS.
Section 2. The governing body of this association shall be a Board of Directors consisting of five (5) Directors elected by and from the regular members as specified in Article VII.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall have the powers, duties, responsibilities, and limitations provided herein, and general authority not inconsistent herewith, to formulate the policies and programs of the association.
Section 4. The Board shall establish committees as needed to assist in the planning and development of association policies, programs and operations.
Section 5. The President of the association shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the general membership. In the absence of the President the Vice President shall preside. In the event both are absent, a quorum of the Board may proceed with business.
Section 6. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Board of Directors and of the membership, give notice of all minutes and sign documents as required.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall keep complete records of all monies received and disbursed. All monies made or collected by the association shall be deposited with the Treasurer. The signature of any two among the President, Vice President or Treasurer shall be required for all checks disbursed.
Section 8. The Director of Special Projects shall be responsible for coordinating those activities authorized by the Board of Directors to be preformed by the various standing committees, or individual member(s), and shall report to the Board of Directors the progress of said activities. The Director of Special Projects shall ensure that all proposed projects have been reviewed, and approved by the Board of Directors before implementation, and that no duplication of projects occurs. The Director of Special Projects shall facilitate the work necessary to complete the project properly.
Section 9. The property of this organization is irrevocably dedicated to social welfare purposes and no part of the net income or assets of this organization shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer, or private person.
ARTICLE V - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. In the performance of its duties and responsibilities the Board shall:
a) Recruit and retain the highest possible percentage of eligible employees as members of this association.
b) Provide communication to keep the membership informed of the activities of the association.
c) Represent the membership in appropriate forums to advance the interests of the membership.
d) Meet as often as necessary to further the goals of the association.
Section 2. Each member of the Board of Directors is required to attend all meetings of the Board of Directors except in the event of extenuating circumstances.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
Section 1. Three (3) members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all Board meetings.
Section 2. There shall be an annual meeting which shall be held at a time and place set by the Board of Directors. Additional general membership meetings may be called as often as necessary by the Board of Directors in order to further the objectives of the association. Those regular members of the association present shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business at regular membership meetings.
Section 3. The conduct of business at Board of Directors and regular membership meetings shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order.
ARTICLE VII - ELECTION OF OFFICERS, VOTING AUTHORITY
Section 1. Election of the Board of Directors will be conducted by ballot by the end of the first week of December of a given year. One Director shall be elected by and from Dispatcher classifications. One Director shall be elected by and from Community Service Officer classifications. One Director shall be elected by and from Animal Control Officer classifications. Two directors shall be elected by and from all classifications.
Section 2. Election of officers shall follow election of the Board of Directors and conducted by and from the general membership by the end of the second week in December of a given year..
Section 3. The President shall assign the positions of office to the remaining Board of Directors.
Section 4. The President shall only vote to break a tie among the Board of Directors.
Section 5. In the event a vacancy on the Board of Directors occurs during the term of office, the remaining Board members may, by majority vote, appoint an Acting Board Member from among the regular members of the association to serve the remainder of the term.
Section 6. Directors and Officers shall be seated on January 15th of a given year. Term of Directors shall be for two years with designated Directors elected on even numbered years and at large Directors elected on odd numbered years. Term of Officers shall be for one year.
ARTICLE VIII - Ratification of Labor Agreements
Section 1. Meetings and voting to ratify a Memorandum of Understanding shall be held in compliance with Article VI with the additional requirement that such voting be conducted so that only those regular members of a particular employment classification shall vote on those items of the Memorandum of Understanding that are determined to apply solely to that particular employment classification. Acceptance and ratification of general provisions, and of the Memorandum of Understanding in its entirety, shall be by a combined vote of all regular members in attendance. Such voting shall be conducted by a show of hands unless there is a specific request by a regular member in attendance to conduct a secret ballot in which case the ranking Association officer in attendance at the meeting will conduct such secret ballot. Proxy votes will not be allowed on such votes.
ARTICLE IX - Standing Rules
Section 1. The Board of Directors may establish Standing Rules as provided by these Bylaws and as deemed necessary to effectively further the goals of the Association as long as no Standing Rule is adopted that in any way conflicts with these Bylaws.
a) Standing Rules (S.R.) may be amended or suspended by a majority vote of the Board of Directors if thirty (30) days notice to the regular members is given prior to a meeting of the Board of Directors to consider such Standing Rule or by three fourths (3/4) of the Board of Directors without such thirty (30) day notice to the regular members.
b) These Bylaws, with all Standing Rules attached, and any changes or additions to Standing Rules, shall be distributed to all members.
ARTICLE X - Amendments
Section 1. The Bylaws of this organization may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those members present at an annual or special meeting, or ballot held for that purpose.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of December, 2004 by the
CHICO PUBLIC SAFETY ASSOCIATION.
As amended and approved by written ballot on March 8, 2008.
