Development Committee Charter

I. Mission Statement

To provide a forum for residents to advocate on city planning and development in Hillcrest to preserve and enhance quality of life. 
                       
II. Vision Statement
By 2017, Hillcrest will be a model of responsible development that is sustainable and enhances comfort, beauty and safety in the community.    

III. Functions
A.  Address pedestrian, wheelchair and bicycle safety and encourage safe alternative modes of transportation.
B.  Review and make recommendations on planned and potential construction and development in Hillcrest.
C.  Address the impact of new development on green space, trees, parks, infrastructure, affordable housing, traffic congestion, historical preservation, etc.
D.  Participate in the Uptown Community Plan update process.
E.  Monitor traffic problems and suggest ways to improve transportation, public transit and parking.
F.  Insist on adequate infrastructure for both existing development and planned development. Infrastructure includes but is not limited to:  water supply and delivery, sewer systems, parks, street maintenance, fire and police protection and clean air.     

IV. Operating Principles
A.  Support for development is dependent on a corresponding improvement in existing infrastructure.
B.  Increases in the population of Hillcrest should only occur to the extent that infrastructure is adequate for both existing residents and the new residents, who would be housed by new development in Hillcrest. Support for new development should be withheld if this condition is not met. 
C.  Planning and development in Hillcrest should preserve our historic resources. There must be improved community oversight of the demolition permit process including notification of the Development Committee and the Uptown Planners when a demolition permit is requested and the opportunity for review and public comment prior to issuance of a permit.  
D.  Development in Hillcrest should be compatible with existing structures in regard to size, green space and housing density and should respect the existing character of the neighborhood.  
           
V. Membership
A.  The Committee shall be composed of no fewer than three and no more than nine members.
B.  Members must reside in Hillcrest, as defined by the Hillcrest Town Council. 
C.  Members shall serve a minimum one year term, from February 1 through January 31.  
D.  To ensure continuity of committee activities, each October current members determine who will serve an additional term. The goal is to stagger terms and have half of the membership comprised of members who have served at least one year.    
E.  Open member positions are posted each November at the Hillcrest Town Council meeting. 
F.  In the event that there are more than nine candidates interested in serving on the Committee, an election will be held at the January Hillcrest Town Council meeting. 
           
VI. Chair
A.  The Chair will be selected by the committee each January to serve a one year term, from February 1 through January 31.
B.  The Chair is responsible for:  facilitating the meeting; preparing the meeting agenda, distributing the agenda to the members via Email, one week prior to the meeting and maintaining a copy of the member roster, minutes and attendance roster.   
C.  The Chair may amend the agenda after distribution and bring revised copies to the meeting if time does not permit distribution via Email (less than 72 hours).

VII. Recorder
A.  The Recorder will be selected at the end of each meeting for the following meeting. 
B.  The Recorder is responsible for: recording the minutes in the agreed format and distributing the minutes to the members via Email, within ten days of the meeting.

VIII. Timekeeper
A.  The Timekeeper will be selected at the end of each meeting for the following meeting.
B.  The Timekeeper is responsible for: monitoring the established time limits and notifying the group when it is reached to ensure meetings begin and end on time. 

IX. Committee Liaison to the Steering Committee
A.  The Liaison to the Steering Committee is selected each January to serve a term of one year, from February 1 through January 31.
B.  The Liaison is responsible for providing the Hillcrest Town Council Steering Committee with periodic updates on the Committee’s activities and reporting back to the Development Committee. 

X. Meetings
A.  The Committee will meet at least monthly on the second Thursday of each month, except for the month of December which will be dark. 
B.  Robert’s Rules of Order will serve as the basis for structural meeting procedure.
C.  A quorum consists of 50% plus one of the membership present and is required for a motion to pass. 
D.  The members will control the appropriateness of agenda items by determining the agenda for the following meeting at the end of each meeting. 
E.  Non-members may attend a meeting with prior notification or if there is an opening for an additional committee member, to determine if s/he wants to join the committee, or at the  invitation of the committee to make a presentation.   

XI. Relationship to Other Committees
A.  The Development Committee Liaison to the Steering Committee provides periodic updates to the Hillcrest Town Council Steering Committee.
B.  The Chair or a member of the Development Committee is responsible for reporting to the Hillcrest Town Council periodically and presenting recommendations for approval.  
       

XII.  Accountability Expectations
A.  Come to meetings prepared.
B.  Notify the committee via Email if unable to attend a meeting. 
C.  Utilize Email for communications, but save discussion of topics for meetings.
D.  Safeguard the Member Contact Information provided to all committee members.
E.  Submit any urgent agenda items to the Chair prior to the meeting. 
F.  Respect the established time limits:  discussion on any motion is limited to two (2) minutes per person, and after everyone has been given a turn to speak a second round of comments may start with each person allotted one (1) minute each. Additional discussion may only occur at the discretion of the Chair.
H  Attend one meeting in the last two months in order to vote in the current meeting.
I.  Observe the established Ground Rules: 
    1.  Make everyone feel safe
    2.  No personal attacks in any communications
    3.  Keep debates focused                                                                       

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