YAC Bylaws

Article 1 – Mission and Purpose

Section 1. The Cornelius Youth Advisory Council (YAC) was formed in 2017 by a resolution of the Cornelius City Council. The mission of the YAC is to represent the common good of the Cornelius community through a positive attitude, desire to serve, promoting diversity, forming community partnerships, and serving as a voice between the youth, residents and businesses in Cornelius.

Section 2. The Purpose of the YAC is to provide youth in Cornelius an opportunity to become involved in city government, advise the Cornelius City Council and other leaders in the community, and represent issues of importance to youth in Cornelius.

Article 2 - Membership

Section 1. The Cornelius YAC membership shall consist of up to 20 students from local schools that are in or near Cornelius, and members must also be Cornelius residents. The members can also be home schooled, but must be Cornelius residents. The students shall be equivalent to grades from 9-12 during their appointed terms of service. Terms shall consist of two years and members are eligible for reappointment. During the first year of appointments, the terms will be staggered to ensure that there will be returning members the next year with experience serving on the YAC.

Section 2. The membership will reflect the cultural and geographic diversity of Cornelius residents.

Section 3. Members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.

Section 4. Attendance is expected for every meeting. If members can’t attend, notification to the Co-Chairs or Advisor is required by the day of the meeting and/or event. More than two unexcused absences will result in a review by the YAC Officers and Advisor. Three or more unexcused absences may result in removal from the YAC. The Executive Board will vote whether to dismiss the member for unexcused absences.

Section 5. Any vacancies on the YAC will first be filled by those who applied and weren’t chosen. If there are no qualifying applicants, then a public notification and request for applicants will commence. If the vacancy is after January of any year, the seat will not be filled until the next fall.

Article 3 - Officers and General Powers/Participation Standards

Section 1. The Officers include Co-Chairs, Vice Chair, Secretary and Social Media Officer. The Officers shall comprise the Executive Board. The Co-Chairs will co-lead the YAC and work in cooperation to prepare meeting agendas, plan activities and coordinate a yearly plan for the YAC. The Vice Chair will serve in the capacity of managing meetings when neither Co-Chair is available. The Vice Chair will also serve the board as needed. The Secretary will compile minutes of the meetings. The Social Media Officer has the responsibility of updating the YAC Facebook page at least once a week, unless instructed otherwise. The Social Media Officer is also responsible for taking, posting and maintaining pictures of events.

Section 2. Officers can have no more than two unexcused absences from meetings. The other Officers and Advisor will review the status of the Officer who has more than two unexcused absences. If needed, an Officer will be removed for having excess unexcused absences from meetings.

Section 3. General participation standards include the following:

a. Sign and abide by YAC By-Laws.

b. Participate in at least three fourths of YAC events and meetings.

c. When volunteering or being assigned tasks, members must follow through and complete their assignment by the set deadlines.

d. Member serve two-year terms, except terms will be staggered the first year to ensure that there will be returning members the next year with experience serving on the YAC.

Section 4. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of the members. If less than a quorum is represented at a meeting, the members present hold the right to discuss the business of the meeting at hand, but no voting can occur until a quorum may be assembled.

Section 5. Meetings shall be managed by the Co-Chairs and utilize Roberts Rules of Order for standard operating procedures of the meeting.

Section 6. The YAC will meet regularly during the traditional school year. The YAC meetings should be held regularly at least once a month, on a prescribed day designated annually at the start of the school year, at City Hall. Individual board members may participate and help in other City events all year.

Article 4- Committees

Section 1. The YAC may form committees or task forces as needed. They can be formed to organize events, activities, programs or distribute information that aligns with the YAC Mission and Purpose statements. Committee Chairs will be appointed by the YAC Co-Chairs and the committees may meet outside regular YAC meetings for work parties or to organize special 3 events. The Committee Chairs or other committee members shall provide regular reports on the work of the committees.

Article 5 – Amendments to By-Laws

Section 1. After initial approval by the Cornelius City Council, the By-Laws may be modified or changed annually. The amended By-Laws must be approved by a majority of the YAC at a public meeting of the YAC. Once approved by a majority of the YAC members, the modified By-Laws will be forwarded to the Cornelius City Council for approval.

Article 6 – Public Meeting Notification Required

Section 1. Meetings of the full YAC are considered a standard public meeting and must follow normal meeting notification processes required of city-sanctioned boards and commissions.

Section 2. Written or electronic notices of YAC meetings must state the place, time, and date of special or regular meetings and shall be sent out no less than 48 hours before the date of the meeting to each member of record. The notice of the special or regular meetings shall specify the purpose of the meeting, which will include an agenda of items to be discussed.