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BYLAWS NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY ARTICLE 1 - POLICY COMMITTEE 1. The
Northwest Arkansas Regional Transportation Study Policy Committee shall elect a
Chairman and Vice Chairman biannually at the first meeting of the calendar year
in even numbered years. The
Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be from different jurisdictions. Nominations
will be received from the floor and seconded until nominations are closed. 2. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings and public
hearings of the Policy Committee, shall decide all points of order or procedure,
and shall certify Policy Committee adoption of plans and reports. 3. The Vice Chairman shall assume the duties of the
Chairman in the absence of the Chairman. 4. In the event that the Chairman is unable to serve, the
Vice Chairman shall assume the office of Chairman and call a special election at
the next meeting to fill the office of Vice Chairman for the remaining portion
of the term. Should the Vice
Chairman be unable to serve, the Chairman shall call a special election at the
next meeting to fill the office of Vice Chairman for the remaining portion of
the term. If both Chairman and Vice
Chairman are unable to serve, the Study Director shall call a special election
at the next meeting to fill these vacancies for the remaining portion of the
term. 5. The Policy Committee shall meet as frequently as
necessary to perform its functions and shall meet at least once a year to review
the status of planning within its jurisdiction. 6. Meetings of the Policy Committee shall be called at the
initiative of the Chairman, or by any 3 members of the Policy Committee, who
shall instruct the Study Director to convene the Committee. 7. It shall be
the duty of the Study Director to send written notices of meetings, which shall
state the date, time, and place, including an agenda, copies of minutes of the
previous meeting, copies of proposed resolutions and reports, to all members of
the Committee. Such notices shall
be distributed by mail, fax, or email by the Study Director to reach members of
the Committee not less than five working days in advance of the meeting.
The Study Director shall arrange a place for the meeting and shall assure
that the time, place, and date of the meeting shall be convenient for the
members. 8. The Study
Director shall arrange for adequate public notice of meetings of the Policy
Committee according to the Public Involvement Procedures and in accordance with
the Freedom of Information Act. 9. For a
meeting to begin, a simple majority of the entities that make up the committee
must be present in person or by a designated representative. A person may not represent more than one entity for the
purpose of this entity quorum. 10. The Policy Committee shall be comprised of the highest
elected official or an official designee from each participating unit of
government. Representation will be based on the following formula according to
the most recent decennial census population: Population Number of Members 1-15,000 one member 15,001-25,000 two members Over 25,000
three members Each member
shall have one vote. There shall be a maximum of three voting members
representing any participating entity. The
Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department shall have two voting members on
the Policy Committee. These members
shall be the Division Head of Planning and Research and the District 4 Engineer.
In case of absence, each designated voting member may be represented by
an official proxy. A majority vote of the authorized membership or designated
proxy shall be sufficient to authorize any action to be taken on behalf of the
Committee. 11. The Policy
Committee is responsible for establishing policies and procedures for conducting
the continuing phase program consistent with the Regional Transportation Plan,
and related Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration
Guidelines. The Policy Committee
will seek recommendations from the Technical Advisory Committee on technical
issues. No report or document
generated through the transportation planning process shall be published without
approval of the Policy Committee and the Arkansas State Highway and
Transportation Department, as so noted in the Section 112 (PL) Agreement. Drafts
of all published reports and documents will be made available to the Federal
Highway Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration for comment
before final approval. 12. All
meetings and records of the Policy Committee shall be open to the public. 13. The Study Director shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Committee and conduct correspondence and necessary administrative duties. ARTICLE II - TECHNICAL
ADVISORY COMMITTEE 1. The
Northwest Arkansas Transportation Study Technical Advisory Committee shall elect
a Chairman and Vice Chairman biannually at the first meeting of the calendar
year in odd numbered years. The
Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be from different jurisdictions. Nominations
will be received from the floor and seconded until nominations are closed. 2. The
Chairman shall preside at all meetings and public hearings of the Technical
Advisory Committee, shall decide all points of order or procedure, and shall
certify plans, reports, and recommendations approved by the Technical Advisory
Committee. 3. The Vice
Chairman shall presume the duties of the Chairman in the absence of the
Chairman. 4. In the
event that the Chairman is unable to serve, the Vice Chairman shall assume the
office of Chairman and call a special election at the next meeting to fill the
office of Vice Chairman for the remaining portion of the term. Should the Vice Chairman be unable to serve, the Chairman
shall call a special election at the next meeting to fill the office of Vice
Chairman for the remaining portion of the term.
If both Chairman and Vice Chairman are unable to serve, the Study
Director shall call a special election at the next meeting to fill these
vacancies for the remaining portion of the term. 5. The
Technical Advisory Committee shall meet as frequently as necessary to perform
its functions. 6. Meetings of
the Technical Advisory Committee shall be called at the initiative of the
Chairman, or by any three members of the Technical Advisory Committee, who shall
instruct the Study Director to convene the Committee. 7. It shall be
the duty of the Study Director to send written notices of meetings, which shall
state the date, time, place, including an agenda, copies of minutes of the
previous meeting, copies of proposed resolutions and reports, to all members of
the Committee. Such notices shall
be distributed by mail, fax, or email by the Study Director to reach members of
the Committee not less than five working days in advance of the meeting.
The Study Director shall arrange a place for the meeting and shall assure
that the time, place, and date of the meeting shall be convenient for the
members. 8. The Study
Director shall arrange for adequate public notice of meetings of the Technical
Advisory Committee according to the Public Involvement Procedures and in
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. 9. For a
meeting to begin, a simple majority of the entities that make up the committee
must be present in person or by a designated representative. A person may not represent more than one entity for the
purpose of this entity quorum. 10. The
Technical Advisory Committee shall be comprised of officially designated
representatives of member jurisdictions. Representation will be based on the
following formula according to the most recent decennial census population: Population Number of Members 1-15,000 one member 15,001-25,000 two members Over 25,000
three members There shall be
a maximum of three voting members representing any participating entity.
Each entity can have up to two non-voting members.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department shall have three
voting members on the Technical Advisory Committee.
One member shall represent District 4.
The other two members shall be from the Planning and Research Division;
one shall be from the Statewide Planning Section and one from the Public
Transportation Section. In case of absence each designated voting member may be
represented by an official proxy. The
two non-voting members should have a background such as engineering, planning,
or street construction etc. A
majority vote of the authorized membership or designated proxy shall be
sufficient to authorize any action to be taken on behalf of the Committee. 11. The
Technical Advisory Committee shall serve as a study team composed of technical
and professional personnel from local governments, and participating agencies.
The Technical Advisory Committee shall guide all technical aspects of the
continuing planning process. The
Technical Advisory Committee will conduct all business and submit
recommendations as requested by the Policy Committee and/or the Study Director. 12. All
meetings and records of the Technical Advisory Committee shall be open to the
public. 13. The Study Director shall keep a record of the proceedings of the committee and conduct correspondence and necessary administrative duties. ARTICLE III - NORTHWEST ARKANSAS REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
STUDY DIRECTOR 1. The Study
Director shall be appointed by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning
Commission. 2. The Study Director shall: a. Notify the Policy Committee concerning decisions on routine matters, made by the Technical Advisory Committee. b. Prepare and present to the Policy Committee a written annual progress report at the end of the State fiscal year. c. Coordinate the continuing multi-modal transportation planning process with all governmental entities and maintain liaison between all organizations. d. The Study Director will be responsible for all U. S. Department of Transportation regulations and requirements necessary to meet annual certification. e. The Study Director will follow the guidelines of the Public Involvement Procedures. f. The Study Director will insure that the MPO annually certifies to the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration that the planning process is addressing the major issues facing the area and is being conducted in accordance with all applicable requirements. ARTICLE IV - AMENDMENTS These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the authorized membership or designated proxy of the Policy Committee and of the Technical Advisory Committee, provided that official notice of the proposed amendment is included in the notice of the meeting. December 6, 2001 _____________________________________ Date Adopted Bob Crafton, Chairman Policy Committee November 15, 2001 _____________________________________ Date Recommended Robert Alguire, Chairman Technical Advisory Committee
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