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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-15-2011 - 7cORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 15, 2011 Action Agenda Item No. ~ - G SUBJECT: Proposed Changes to the Upper Neuse River Basin Association Bylaws DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No & Recreation (DEAPR), County Attorney ATTACHMENT(S): - Draft UNRBA Bylaws - Draft UNRBA Document: - "The Path Forward: Organizational Guidance to Implement the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy Consensus Principles" INFORMATION CONTACT: John Roberts, County Attorney, 245- 9630 David Stancil, DEAPR, 245-2510 Tom Davis, DEAPR, 245-2513 PURPOSE: To consider proposed changes to the Upper Neuse River Basin Association bylaws and related information. BACKGROUND: Members of the Upper Neuse River Basin Association (UNRBA) have recently considered proposed changes to the bylaws governing the organization. These changes are a result of: 1) the General Assembly's passage of HB1765 in 2010, which included details concerning the establishment of the Falls Lake Watershed Association; 2) the adoption of the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy by the NC Environmental Management Commission (EMC) in 2010; and 3) the 2010 adoption of the Consensus Principles to Guide Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy by Triangle area local governments. The UNRBA was founded in 1996 as a 501(c)(3) corporation to provide a means for local governments located in the upper reaches of the Neuse River basin, including Orange County, to work together on preserving water quality in the upper Neuse River basin. Orange County is along-standing member of the UNRBA, and Commissioner Pam Hemminger is currently the Chair of the UNRBA Board of Directors. Recently, some directors of the UNRBA expressed concern that as a 501(c)(3) organization, the UNRBA was effectively prohibited from conducting significant lobbying activities, per the IRS code concerning non-profit organizations. Several UNRBA jurisdictions have concluded that lobbying various state agencies such as the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) and the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) concerning Stage II of the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy may be beneficial. As a reminder, the fiscal note developed for the Falls 2 Lake nutrient management strategy estimated the total cost of implementation of the rules to be approximately $1.5 billion, most of which would "kick in" at Stage II of the Falls Lake rules. Approximately $1.25 billion dollars of this total is estimated as the cost to local governments in the upper Neuse River basin. Most of this figure is estimated to be the cost to comply with two areas of the nutrient management strategy: • the rules associated with stormwater emanating from existing development, and • the upgrading of wastewater treatment plants to reduce the nutrient loading in their discharges. The final Nutrient Management Strategy requires that the EMC re-evaluate the nutrient management strategy prior to the initiation of Stage II of the strategy in the year 2026. The collection of necessary data to permit a re-examination of the Nutrient Management Strategy could begin as early as this year. The re-examination of the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy is likely to include consideration of the conditions of the lake, and the effectiveness of the nutrient management strategy versus the cost of complying with the Stage I and Stage II nutrient management rules as currently written. The re-examination could also include evaluation of the current uses of the lake, the cost of achieving (or attempting to achieve) the Stage II nutrient reduction goals, and whether alternative water quality standards may be sufficient to protect the existing uses of the lake. Some directors of the UNRBA have indicated that lobbying DWQ and the EMC to revise the nutrient management rules should occur as part of this re-examination period. As a result, the UNRBA is considering developing a new 501(c)(4) organization in order to legally lobby DWQ and EMC. A working group composed of attorneys and UNRBA directors has concluded that this may be necessary in the near future to permit the association to continue its current activities as well as begin to undertake additional activities, including possibly lobbying. Additional activities which the UNRBA is likely to undertake in the near future include directing the development and oversight of a water quality monitoring project in the entire Falls Lake watershed, and possibly even conducting water quality monitoring of Falls Lake itself. In addition, the UNRBA is likely to also consider contracting with a national consulting firm to complete independent modeling of Falls Lake in order to gauge the effectiveness of Stage 1 of the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy prior to the initiation of Stage II of the Strategy, or even go so far as to engage a consultant to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a Use Attainability Assessment (UAA) of Falls Lake in an attempt to modify the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy. Conducting the UAA would be an expensive undertaking. However, given the estimated cost of complying with the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy as currently written, especially for urban areas in the Falls Lake watershed, expending funds to explore alternatives to the current nutrient management strategy may appear to be a reasonable expense. However, the cost/benefit ratio of such activities for more rural jurisdictions such as Orange County may be very different. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There are no financial impacts at present, although additional financial impacts are likely in coming years as a result of additional activities likely to be undertaken by the UNRBA. Currently, Orange County's dues to the UNRBA are approximately $13,000. This amount could double next year as a result of some of the additional activities discussed above. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: 1) Approve the proposed changes to the UNRBA bylaws as outlined; 2) Remain generally supportive of the establishment of a separate 501(c)(4) organization subject to the final determination of structure and purpose; 3) Remain supportive of further testing of water quality within the lake to verify contaminant levels and establish measurable quality improvement standards; and 4) Acknowledge and support the need to increase dues as outlined so that the organizational goals can be pursued effectively. 4 January 27, 2011 draft UPPER NEUSE RIVER BASIN ASSOCIATION, INC. BYLAWS ARTICLE I -IDENTITY These are the Bylaws of the Upper Neuse River Basin Association, Inc. ("Bylaws"), a North Carolina non-profit corporation hereinafter referred to as the "Association", the Articles of Incorporation ("Articles") of which have been filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State. The Upper Neuse River Basin Association, Inc. also operates under the assumed name of the Falls Lake Watershed Association. ARTICLE II -OFFICES The initial principal office of the Association shall be located at 4307 Emperor Boulevard, Suite , 100, Durham, North Carolina 27703. The Association may have such other offices, either within or without the State of North Carolina, as the Board of Directors may designate.. or as the business of the Association may require from time to time. The registered office of the Association required by the North Carolina Nonprofit Corporation Act (the "Nonprofit Act") to be maintained in the State of North Carolina may be, but need not be, identical with the principal office of the Association, and the address of the registered office may be changed from time to time by the Association. ARTICLE III =ORGANIZATION The Association shall be a nonprofit organization (i) established and operated in accordance with the provisions of 26 U.S.C. (the "Internal Revenue Code") Section 501(c)(3) and the regulations thereunder, and (ii) incorporated under the Nonprofit Act. The Association shall be an independent and autonomous organization. Its period of duration shall be perpetual unless terminated in accordance with Article XIII below. ARTICLE IV -PURPOSES The purposes for which the Association is established and shall operate are as follows: 1. The Association is organized and shall be operated exclusively for purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; provided, however, that no part of the net earnings thereof shall inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws; the Association shall not carry on any activities. not permitted to be carried on by an organization described in Internal Revenue Code Sections 501(c)(3). 2. The Association is organized and shall operate exclusively as anon-profit corporation to assist its member local governments in their efforts to jointly address issues of concern to the member local governments relating to water quality and waste water management in the Upper Neuse River Basin and the Falls Lake Watershed. As set out in North Carolina General Statutes §§77-119 through 77- 121, the purposes of the Association include, but are not limited to: (a) providing a forum for {A0076878. DOC}{A0076878. DOC}{i 5 January 27, 2011 draft sharing information in order to assist local governments in complying with State and Federal laws that pertain to the water quality in the Falls Lake Watershed; (b) providing a mechanism for participating local governments to coordinate and fund common technical resources; (c) planning for and conducting water quality monitoring in the Falls Lake Watershed in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; (d) coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the development of a transparent and accessible system for recording and maintaining nutrient offsets and credits that complies with any rules adopted to protect and restore water quality in the Falls Lake Watershed; (e) providing a public forum to review and discuss innovative approaches to restore, protect, and maintain water quality in the Falls Lake Watershed; and (f) conducting and evaluating scientific research that describes or predicts conditions related to or affecting water quality in the Falls Lake Watershed, including the reservoir. In addition, the Association, as directed by its board of directors, may advocate on behalf of its members for changes in legislation, rules, or administrative policy related to or affecting the Falls Lake Watershed, may engage in other activities otherwise allowed by law that relate in any way to water quality and wastewater management in the Falls Lake Watershed,... and may conduct and exercise all powers, rights and privileges granted to non-profit corporations under the Nonprofit Act; provided, however, that the Association shall not engage in any activity authorized by this provision that would jeopardize the federal income tax exemption of the Association under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 3. The Association is organized and shall operate `exclusively for the aforesaid purposes, and in connection therewith its. scope. of activities shall include accepting, buying, selling, owning, holding, operating, mortgaging, insuring, pledging, assigning, transferring or otherwise receiving or disposing of real and personal property; provided, however,... that the Association shall not engage in any activity authorized by this provision that would. jeopardize the federal income tax exemption of the Association under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 4. The Board of Directors may authorize, amend or_restate operating guidelines, plans, practices, procedures, and rules and regulations from timer to time in order to effectively implement the purposes of the Association. ARTICLE V -FINANCES The Association shall raise funds by the collection and receipt of membership dues, gifts of money and property, grants, contributions, donations, bequests, and receipts for services performed; provided, however, that all such funds must be accepted by the Board of Directors on behalf of the Association. All funds collected and received by the Association, together with the income therefrom shall be deposited, held, retained, managed and conserved in a capital fund (or funds) and administered, used and applied by the Association in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors in accordance with the purposes described in Article IV of these Bylaws and the Articles and as provided in Article VI. The Board of Directors may accept revenues and properties that are qualified, conditioned, limited or restricted in their use; provided, however, that such qualifications, conditions, limitations and restrictions shall not conflict with the purposes of the Association set forth in these Bylaws and the {A0076878. DOC}{A0076878. DOC}{2 6 January 27, 2011 draft Articles. Unless otherwise specifically required, such restricted revenues and/or property may be mingled with other funds of the Association. Membership dues for services provided shall be determined as follows: 1. Dues. Members shall pay annually to the Association an amount in accordance with the current dues formula attached as Appendix A. 2. Dues Proration for New Members. New Members joining after July 1 of any year shall pay prorated dues for their first year of membership based on the number of quarters of such year in which they were a Member. 3. Dues Changes. The Board of Directors shall determine what, if any, changes shall be made in the dues formula effective as of July 1 during subsequent years. Any changes made to the dues schedule will be reflected in Appendix A. Special assessments may be made for undertaking special- initiatives or projects from time to time subject to approval of the Directors. No special assessment will be due and payable for 180 days unless it is approved unanimously by all of the Directors in attendance at a properly noticed and called meeting at which a quorum of the Directors is present. The fiscal year of the Association shall end on June 30 of each calendar year unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. ARTICLE VI -APPLICATION AND USE OF FUNDS Revenues received by the Association shall be held in an account (or accounts) in the name of the Association. in such location(s), as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Association shall hold,... manage, invest and ..reinvest its funds in accordance with the investment policies of the Association and shall collect and receive the income therefrom. After deducting all necessary expenses incident to the operation -and administration of the Association, such funds shall be utilized in accordance with the purposes set .forth in these Bylaws and the Articles. The Board of Directors may establish a committee of Directors for the purpose of supervising and managing investments. All such revenues received and held by the Association shall be distributed to such persons and in such amounts as the Board of Directors of the Association shall deem appropriate in keeping with the purposes of the Association. The Association shall be solely responsible for the application and use of its assets, including payment of its expenses in accordance with such operating guidelines as may. be established by the Board of Directors, and shall operate as an independent and autonomous entity for the purposes of meeting its financial obligations. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, no expenditure shall be made in any manner or for any purpose whatsoever that may jeopardize the status of the Association as an organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder. {A0076878. DOC}{A0076878. DOC}{3 7 January 27, 2011 draft ARTICLE VII -BOARD OF DIRECTORS 7.1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the Association shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors, which is vested with the powers and authority to do and perform all acts and functions not inconsistent with law, the Articles and these Bylaws. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for attainment of the objectives specified in the Articles and the Bylaws. Specifically, the Board of Directors shall be responsible for the governance, maintenance, operation, and conduct of the affairs of the Association; and the fmancial oversight of the Association, including, but not limited to, the preparation and implementation of an annual budget and a long-term capital expenditure plan. In addition to its general management responsibilities, and without limitation, the Board of Directors shall perform the following specific duties: (a) establish annual organizational goals; (b) manage the Association's finances, including approving the annual budget and recommending an appropriate dues structure to the membership; (c) allocate the Association's resources; (d) approve programs and activities of the Association's committees, including any studies to be conducted by such committees, and provide oversight of such committees; (e) adopt organizational positions and-policy statements; (f) manage the Association's activities; {g) establish relationships with other organizations, provided, that such relationships shall be in the interest of the Association;. (h) hire or contract with such persons, firms, or entities as the Directors may determine to provide' services for or an behalf of the Association; (i) authorize participation' in litigation to protect the Association's interests; provided, however, that the Association shall not initiate or join in any litigation as an amicus or in a similar capacity without the approval of 3/4 of the Directors in attendance at a properly noticed and called meeting at which a quorum of the Directors is present; (j) authorize participation in lobbying to protect the Association's interests; provided, however, that the Association shall not engage in any lobbying without the approval of 3/4 of the Directors in attendance at a properly noticed and called meeting at which a quorum of the Directors is present; and (k) ensure orderly long-range planning for the organization. {A0076878. DOC}{A0076878. DOC}{4 8 January 27, 2011 draft 7.2. Number, Tenure and Qualifications. The Board of Directors shall consist of one Director appointed by each Member as described below. In addition, each Member shall appoint one alternate who shall have full voting authority in the absence of the appointing Member's regular Director. Each Director shall serve for athree-year term until said Director's resignation, retirement, removal, disqualification or until said Director's successor is appointed and qualified. 7.3. Ex Officio Directors. The Soil and Water Districts located in whole or in part in the Falls Lake Watershed jointly shall designate an individual to serve as an ex officio director and another individual to serve as an alternate ex officio director. In addition, the Board of Directors may, by majority vote, create other ex officio director and ex officio alternate director seats. Ex officio directors may participate in all discussions held in open meetings.: but shall not have a vote on any matter. Ex officio directors shall not participate in closed sessions. 7.4 Annual Meeting. Annual meetings of the Board of Directors shalt be held in the month of January each year, beginning in 2012, or at any reasonable time thereafter at the discretion of the Board of Directors, at a time and place to be determined by the Board of Directors, for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting. The secretary shall give notice of each ratified resolution to any Director who was not present at the time it was adopted. No further notice of an annual meeting need be given. 7.5. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places, within or without the State of North Carolina; as the Board 'of Directors may, by resolution, determine. The Secretary shall give notice of each ratified resolution to any Director who was not present at the time it was adopted. No further notice of a regular meeting need be given. All resolutions adopting regular meeting schedules shall filed with the Secretary at least seven days before the first meeting held pursuant to the revised schedule pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. §143-318.12(a)(4). The schedule of regular meetings shall also be posted to the Association's website, if any, in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. ~ 143-318.12(d). 7.6.-Special and Emergency Meetings: Special and emergency meetings may be called in accordance with Article 33C, Chapter 143 of the North Carolina General Statutes. 7.7. Notice of Meetings. Except as set out in Section 7.5 above, no notice need be given of regular meetings of the. Board of Directors. Notice of special and emergency meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given in accordance with Article 33C, Chapter 143 of the North Carolina General Statutes. 7.8. Quorum; Voting. A majority of the' number of Directors presently comprising the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of such Board. If quorum is present when a vote is taken, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors present is the act of the Board of Directors unless these bylaws specifically require a supermajority vote. A Director who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors when corporate action is taken is deemed to have assented to the action taken unless that Director votes against the action taken or is excused from voting by the Board. The Board may excuse a Director from voting, but only upon questions involving the Director's own financial interest or official conduct or on matters on {A0076878. DOC}{A0076878. DOC}{5 9 January 27, 2011 draft which the Director is prohibited from voting under G.S. 14-234. 7.9. Telephonic Meetings. The Board of Directors may permit any or all Directors to participate in a regular or special meeting by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which all directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting in accordance with Article 33C, Chapter 143 of the North Carolina General Statutes. 7.10. Compensation. No director shall be entitled to any compensation for his services as a Director; provided, however, that a Director may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by him in performing services requested by the Board of Directors. 7.11. Removal: Vacancies. Any Director may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the Member that appointed said Director.. if a Member's membership interest is terminated pursuant to §9.7 of these Bylaws, then such termination 'shall also serve to remove any Director appointed by said Member from the Board of Directors. ARTICLE VIII- COMMITTEES 8.1. Board Committees. To assist the Board in its management, the Board may appoint Board committees and assign Directors thereto from among the Directors and shall designate the chairperson and vice chairperson of such committees from among such Directors. The Board may also appoint ex officio directors and non-directors to serve on Board Committees in anon-voting capacity. 8.2. Authority of Board Committees. To the extent specified by the Board of Directors, each Board committee may exercise the authority of the Board_of Directors, except that a Board committee may not: (i) approve or reconunend to Members ..action that is required by law to be approved by Members; (ii) fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or on any of its committees; (iii) amend or restate the Articles; (iv) adopt, amend, or repeal these Bylaws; (v) adopt a plan of merger or consolidation with another corporation; (vi) elect, appointor remove any member of any such committee or any Director or Officer of the Association; or (vii) take any other action prohibited by the Nonprofit Act. The creation of, delegation of authority to, or action by a Board committee does not alone constitute compliance by a Director with the standards of conduct required of a Director. 8.3. Tenure. Board committee members shall serve for one-year terms and may be reappointed without limitation. 8.4. Oversight. The Board of Directors shall ensure that Board committees perform in accordance with the basic goals. of the Association and any specific goals and objectives approved by the Board of Directors for each Board committee, and shall oversee Board committee utilization of resources. 8.5. ~ecial Committees. In addition to Board committees, the Board of Directors, in its judgment, may create such special committees as will facilitate the efforts of the Association in achieving its basic goals. The Board of Directors shall appoint the members of such special committees from among representatives of the Members or outside agencies and shall designate a chairperson and vice chairperson of each such special committee. {A0076878. DOC}{A0076878. DOC}{6 10 January 27, 2011 draft The Board of Directors may also establish one or more subcommittees of any special committee as necessary to further the goals of the Association. The Board of Directors may delegate the selection of subcommittee or special committee members to any such subcommittee or to the chairperson of a special committee. 8.6. Special Committee Programs and Reports. Upon request of the Board of Directors, each special committee shall submit to the Board of Directors following the annual meeting its program and agenda for the next year, and upon request shall report in writing on its activities, including any recommendations the special committee may have for the Board of Directors' consideration. 8.7. Committee Meetings; Miscellaneous. The provisions of these Bylaws governing meetings, action without meetings, notice and waiver of notice, and. quorum and voting requirements of the Board of Directors shall apply with equal force to committees of directors and their members as well. ARTICLE LY -MEMBERSHIP 9.1. General Membership Provisions. Any local government located in whole or in part within the Falls Lake Watershed may become a member of the Association on the terms. and conditions designated herein. For the purposes hereof, a "local government" means a county, city, town, or incorporated village that is located in whole or in part with the Falls Lake Watershed. Local government also includes any water or sewer authority that is created pursuant to Article 1 of Chapter 162A of the North Carolina General Statutes that provides service within the Falls Lake Watershed. Local governments that are members in good standing,of the UpperNeuse River Basin Association, Inc. at the time of adoption of these By-laws shall remain members of the Association so long as they continue to meet the requirements of membership set out herein below. 9.2. Election of Members. Each candidate for. membership shall make application on a form specified by the Board of Directors. All.. completed applications shall be considered by the Board of Directors 'at its neat regular meeting following. submission of the application. Approval of an application shall be granted by the .Board of Directors to any local government located in whole or in part within .the Falls Lake Watershed provided the local government requesting membership pays its initial dues as required herein.'. Membership shall become effective upon (i) payment of initial dues by the applicant in an amount established by the Board of Directors based on a formula or policy applicable to all Members, and (ii)a vote by the. Board of Directors admitting such candidate which vote must be in the affirmative if the candidate is a local government located in whole or in part within the Falls Lake Watershed and the applicant pays its dues. 9.3. No Capital Stock. The Association shall have no issued or authorized shares of capital stock and no shareholders. 9.4. Voting Rights of Members. Members shall have no voting rights. As stated elsewhere herein, each Member shall have the right to appoint one Director and one alternate who shall have full voting authority in the absence of the appointing Member's .regular Director. All of a Member's rights to take part in the management of the Association shall be by and through its Director and alternate Director. {A0076878. DOC}{A0076878. DOC}{7 11 January 27, 2011 draft 9.5. Obligations and Duties of Members. (a) Members shall pay their annual membership dues within sixty (60) days after statements are mailed by the Association. (b) Members shall adhere to the Bylaws and other rules and regulations as established from time to time by the Board of Directors, its committees, or other Members. (c) In the event that a Member is delinquent in the payment of any amounts owed, the Member shall be notified within sixty (60) days of the date of such delinquency. If the Member receives two (2) consecutive notices of delinquency_ and if payment has not been made by the third month after such amounts become due and' payable, the membership status of such Member shall be terminated. Such termination of membership status shall not relieve the Member of its obligation to make all payments due before the date of the termination. 9.6. Resignation of Members. Any Member may resign at any time upon one hundred twenty days prior written notice by submitting a written resignation to any officer of the Association or Member of the Board of Directors. Such resignation shall relieve the Member so resigning from obligations to pay dues or make contributions accruing after the date of such resignation. Any resigning Member must satisfy all payment obligations arising before. such resignation. 9.7. Termination of Membership. In addition to having its membership terminated for nonpayment of dues as set out above, a Member's membership in the Association shall also be terminated if the Member is no longer a local government located in whole or in part within the Falls Lake Watershed. 9.8. Restrictions on Transfer. Memberships in the Association are not transferable. ARTICLE X -OFFICERS 10.1. Number. The officers of the Association shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be Directors. The Secretary and Treasurer may, but need- not be, Directors. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined... 10.2. Election, Term of Office and Qualifications. Each Officer shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall hold office `until the annual meeting of the Board of Directors held next after such officer's election, or until such officer's successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified, or until death, or until such officer shall resign, or shall have been disqualified, or shall have been removed from office. 10.3. Removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board may be removed by the Board by a majority vote of the Directors present at a properly noticed and called meeting at which a quorum is present whenever in its judgment the best interest of the Association would be served thereby. New officers may be elected at the same meetings to fill the unexpired term of the removed officer. {A0076878. DOC}{A0076878. DOC}{8 12 January 27, 2011 draft 10.4. Resi ation. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the Chairperson or the Secretary of the Association. Any such resignation shall take effect upon its being accepted by the Board of Directors. 10.5. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the Board of Directors, by a majority vote for the unexpired portion of the term. 10.6. Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The Chairperson shall enforce these By-laws and perform all duties incident to the office and which are required by law, and generally shall supervise and control the. day-to-day business and affairs of the Corporation. The Chairperson shall perform whatever additional duties and have whatever additional powers the Board of Directors may from time to time assign. 10.7. Vice Chairperson. During the absence or incapacity of the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson and when so acting shall have all the powers and be subject to all the responsibilities of the office of the Chairperson and shall perform such duties and functions as the Board of Directors may prescribe. 10.8. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep accurate records of the acts and proceedings of all Directors meetings and shall give all notices required by law and by these Bylaws. The Secretary shall have general charge of the corporate books and records, and of the corporate seal, and shall affix the corporate seal to any lawfully executed instrument requiring it. The Secretary shall have general charge of the books of the Association. and .shall keep at the registered or principle office of the Association a record of Directors signatures, and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be assigned the Secretary from time to time by the Chairperson or the Board of Directors. 10.9. Treasurer.. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds and securities belonging to the Association and shall receive, deposit, or disburse the same under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall keep full and accurate accounts of the finances of the Association in books especially provided for that purpose; and shall cause a true statement of its assets and liabilities as of the close of each fiscal year and of the results of the operations and of changes in surplus for each fiscal year, all in reasonable detail,.. to be made and filed at the registered or principle office of the Association within four months after the end of such fiscal year. The statement so filed shall be kept available for inspection by any. Director for a period of ten years; and the Treasurer shall mail or otherwise deliver a copy. of the' latest such statement to 'any Member upon such Member's written request therefore. The Treasurer, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of treasurer and such other duties as may be assigned to the Treasurer from time to time by the Chairperson or by the Board of Directors. 10.10. Executive Director. The Board of Directors may employ or contract for the services of an Executive Director. The Executive Director shall perform those administrative duties assigned to the Executive Director by the Board of Directors in a resolution appointing the Executive Director or in such other resolutions as the Board of Directors may adopt. {aoo~6s7s. roc}{aoo~6878. roc}{9 13 January 27, 2011 draft 10.11. Duties of Officers May Be Delegated. In case of absence of any officer of the Association or for any other reason that the Board may deem sufficient, the Board may delegate the powers or duties of such officer to any other officer or to any Director for the time being, provided a majority of the entire Board of Directors concurs therein. 10.12. Bonds. Any or all officers and agents, respectively, shall, if required by the Board of Directors, give bonds for the faithful discharge of their duties in such sums and with such surety as the Board of Directors shall determine. ARTICLE XI -CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS 11.1. Contracts. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers or agent or agents to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instruments in the name and on behalf of the Association, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Specific approval by the Board of Directors shall be required before any officer enters into any contract the total value of which is over $10,000.00. 11.2. Loans. Except for loans that are incurred iti the ordinary course of business, no loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Association and no evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Such authority may be general or limited to specific instances. 11.3. Checks and Drafts. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Association shall be signed by such officer(s) or agent(s) of the Association and, ' in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. 11.4. Deposits. All funds of the_Association not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Association in such banks, trust companies or other depositaries as the Board of Directors may select. ARTICLE XII -INDEMNIFICATION In the event that the Association purchases directors and officers insurance or other similar insurance, the Association shall to the fullest extent permitted by the Nonprofit Act up to the limits of its insurance coverage indemnify all. persons whom it may indemnify pursuant thereto so long as such persons have conducted themselves in good faith and reasonably believed their conduct not to be opposed to the Association's best interests. The Association may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person, who is or was a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Association who, while a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Association is or was serving at the request of the Association as a director, trustee, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against liability asserted against or incurred by him or her in that capacity or arising from his or her status as such, whether or not the Association would have the power to indemnify him or her against the same liability under the Nonprofit Act. {A0076878. DOC}{A0076878. DOC}{10 14 January 27, 2011 draft ARTICLE XIII -AMENDMENTS These Bylaws may be amended or repealed, and new Bylaws may be made at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors by an affirmative majority vote of Directors then holding office. ARTICLE XIV -MISCELLANEOUS 14.1. Audit. The Association shall have an independent audit prepared detailing the fmancial condition of the Association at least once every three years. The Association may have an independent audit done more frequently as determined by the Directors. 14.2 Dissolution. The Association may be dissolved only by the vote of the majority of the Directors of the Association at a meeting to which due notice of such purpose has been given to the Directors. Upon the dissolution of the Association, the Board of Directors shall first pay or make provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the Association and then shall dispose of all the assets of the Association exclusively for the purposes of the Association in such manner or to such organization or organizations operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes as. the Board of Directors shall determine, and any such assets not so disposed of shall be remitted to the Members in proportion to their respective dues contribution percentages for the then current fiscal year, or, alternatively, each Member may direct that its portion be contributed and given to a 501(c)(3) organization for use in furthering the health, safety and welfare of the public in the Falls Lake Watershed, its jurisdiction, or North Carolina. None of the assets shall be disposed of or diverted to any other purpose, nor shalt any asset be disposed of in such manner so as to accrue to the benefit of any Director of said Association. 14.3. Interpretation of By-laws. These By-laws shall be construed and interpreted under the laws of the State of North Carolina. '.Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, these By-laws shall at all times be construed and interpreted as consistent with .all federal laws and regulations governing the activities of the Association and governing the tax exempt status of the Association, and in the event that these By-laws may be inconsistent with such. laws and regulations, the same shall be deemed amended to comply therewith. Whenever used in these By-laws, unless the context otherwise indicates, a pronoun in the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender and the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa. 14.4 All other by-laws repealed and replaced. Upon adoption of these Bylaws by the association, all other bylaws of the Upper Neuse River Basin Association, Inc. are repealed and replaced. {A0076878. DOC}{A0076878. DOC}{11 15 January 27, 2011 draft ATTACHMENT A -DUES FORMULA A Member's dues, which shall be that Member's share of the total dues assessment for all Members which is included in the annual budget ("Total Annual Dues"), shall be determined as follows: 1. Base participation rate: Ten percent of the Total Annual Dues shall be allocated equally among all Members. For example, if there are ten Members and the Total Annual Dues are $100,000.00, the base participation total will be $10,000.00 and each Member will pay $1,000.00 as its share. 2. Member's Falls Lake Watershed water demands. Fifty percent of the Total Annual Dues shall be allocated among those Members having water demand from the Falls Lake Watershed based upon each such Member's share of the total annual (365-day) daily average raw water demand for the preceding calendar year in millions of gallons per day from the Falls Lake Watershed. For example, if the Total Annual Dues are. $100,000.00 and the total water demand from the Falls Lake Watershed is 100,000,000 gallons per day and Member A used 60,000,000 gallons per day for the last year for which such records are available from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (the "Relevant Period"), Member B used 34,000,000 gallons per day during the Relevant Period; Member C used 4,000000 gallons per day during the Relevant Period; and Member D used 2;000,000 gallons per day during the Relevant Period, then each Member's share of the Total Annual Dues based upon water demand would be as follows: Member A: $30,000.00; Member B: $17,000.00; Member C: $2,000.00; and Member D: $1, 000.00. 3. Member's Pr~ortion of Land Area in Falls Lake Watershed. Forty percent of the Total Annual Dues shall be allocated among those Members with land area in the Falls Lake Watershed within their corporate limits (for a municipality) or county limits (for a county). Each jurisdiction's contribution shall be based upon a fraction having as its numerator that jurisdiction's total acreage within the Falls Lake Watershed. and as its denominator the total acreage in the Falls Lake Watershed. For example, if the Total Annual Dues are $100,000.00 and Member A has 72,000 acres in the Falls Lake Watershed and there are a total of 494,000 acres in the Falls Lake Watershed, then that Member's share of the Total Annual Dues based upon proportion of land area in the Falls Lake Watershed would be as follows: $5,829.96 [(72,000/494,000) * (.40 * $100,000.00) _ $5,829.96]. The examples above are given for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be indicative of the Total Annual Dues that may be required or of any individual Member's level of contribution. Members' contributions will be rounded to the nearest whole dollar. {A0076878. DOC}{A0076878. DOC}{12 DRAFT The Path Forward: Making the Upper Neuse River Basin Association Effective in the Era of the Falls Lake Rules January 28, 2011 The Upper Neuse River BasirrAssociation (UNRBA) has existed since 1446 to provide an ongoing forum for cooperation on water quality protection and water resources planning and management..UNRBA has participated in multiple state and regional forums on behalf of the member governments. UNRBA staff has provided UNRBA Member Governments technical assistance to member governments on ordinances, low-impact development practices, lake management, and other areas supporting water quality and quantity. Now that the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Rules (Falls Lake Rules) are in effect, there are many new needs that UNRBA can and should serve. Overall, the UNRBA needs to move from a Planning, Coordination, Partnering role, to a more active role Town of Butner Town of Creedmoor City of Durham Durham County Franklin County Granville County Town of Hillsborough Orange County Person County City of Raleigh Town of Stem Wake County Town of Wake Forest South Granville Water and Sewer Authority including water quality monitoring and assessment, training, and providing a forum for mitigation credits and pollution trading, and offering new technical assistance, while continuing to provide past services to member governments. The Falls Lake Rules were adopted by the NC Environmental Management Commission on November 18, 2010. The rules became effective on January 15, 2010. These rules include requirements for newly developing lands, lands that are currently developed (i.e., existing development), agriculture, and wastewater. The state estimates that the cost of the Falls Lake Rules will be approximately $1.3 billion dollars over the next 30 years. Some individual.communities assert that the costs are higher than the state has estimated. Regardless of which figure is ultimately accurate, it is clear that the cost of these rules will be a large burden on the residents and businesses of the watershed draining to Falls Lake. In light of these daunting responsibilities, there are several items that UNRRA member governments can collaborate an to make the implementation of these rules as cost effective as possible. Some of these items were identified in the Consensus Principles that were adopted by most of the UNRRA member governments. Future UNRBA Direction `,__ fun _sdictlon_size and:epstl~ rams_ -- A r~examina4on at the= nutrienk , _ management strategy That answers key questions about the impacts of reductions ~ ` grid the. fea9ibirity _of Skage U'.; [Consensus;`: ~_Pangples~lSA NCAC 028.02750] 16 Clearly, there are many needs for the UNRRA. However, the most time-sensitive need is associated with the re-examination of the nutrient management strategy. The Consensus Principles outlined a clear set of goals for a re-examination of the strategy. Legislation requires the NC DWQ to collaborate.with local 17 governments, but also outline a set of expectations to scientifically support a re-examination. There are many potential outcomes to the re-examination of the strategy, including a new set of reduction targets for Stage II of the rules, an alternate method of evaluating the aquatic life use in the upper portion of the lake, an alternative water quality standard for the upper lake, or a new regulatory classification of the upper reservoir. The Clean Water Act provides a process for evaluating such potential outcomes, including not only evaluations of water quality and aquatic life, but also the social and economic impacts of any such outcome. This process, called a Use Attainability Analysis (UAA), is comprehensive and takes years to complete. The Consensus Principles provide a goal of completing the re-examination before Stage II takes effect. The multi-year nature of the re-examination assuming a UAA process makes this a time-sensitive need for the regulated Falls Lake communities. :~~f2p1. DEermme~mvtia#monitonng =~andadvaneed technical analyses - -~:_ are~eeded to reexamine #ha ~, ~=',nptr~ent management strategy Steps to a Re-examination of Falls Lake ~i, The local governments do not currently have the in-house expertise to design or undertake this type of study. The UNRBA is the appropriate framework for collaboration to undertake this task. Technical staff of the member governments believes the guidance of a national firm that has completed these types of studies and has experts in Limnology, Environmental Science, and Environmental Law is needed now to accomplish Step 1 ofthe re-examination. UNRBA, through a special technical committee, can develop the needed scope to accomplish Step 1. This partnership can continue through proposal review and contracting with one or multiple contractors. The path forward will be complex and expensive, and will require additional funding to complete. However, given the costs faced by the UNRBA member governments to implement the rules, particularly Stage II, the potential benefits to completing a comprehensive re-examination of Falls Lake far outweigh the costs of the rules themselves. Given the long history of local government collaboration in the Upper Neuse Basin, a re-examination presents another opportunity to undertake a project that provides a collective benefit to all UNRBA member governments.