SIOUX FALLS DIVERSITY COUNCIL BYLAWS

ARTICLE I - OFFICES

Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the Diversity Council is located at 224 West Ninth Street, P.O. Box 7402, Sioux Falls, SD 57117-7402.

Section 2. Other Offices. The Diversity Council may have other offices at such other place or places, as the members may from time to time determine, or as shall be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the affairs of the Diversity Council.

Section 3. Geographical Area. The Diversity Council shall be within the established city limits of Sioux Falls in scope and work.

Section 4. Executive Support Staff. The Diversity Council shall be jointly funded and administered by the City of Sioux Falls and the Sioux Falls School District. The City Human Relations Manager and the Director of Instructional Support Services shall serve as executive staff to the Diversity Council.

ARTICLE II - MISSION, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 1. Mission. The Diversity Council mission is to create an inclusive community.

Section 2. Duties and Responsibilities. The Diversity Council duties and responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to:

a) Developing and facilitating awareness activities.
b) Convening stakeholders to identify challenges and solutions.
c) Establishing a clearinghouse for diversity activities.
d) Exploring partnerships that support the mission of the Diversity Council.
e) Promoting and celebrating the enrichment that comes from a diverse community.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERS

Section 1. General Powers. All powers of this Diversity Council, including the power to adopt bylaws and amend and alter the same, are vested in the members.

Section 2. Standing Members. A standing member category in the Diversity Council shall be representatives of a specific organization. A standing member may send a designee to meetings for purposes of information gathering/sharing, quorum, and voting. The designee shall have the same authority to act for the specific organization for purposes of serving on the Diversity Council. The nine standing members shall be as follows:

1. City of Sioux Falls Mayor
2. Sioux Fall School District Superintendent
3. Minnehaha County Commissioner
4. Lutheran Social Services President
5. City of Sioux Falls Chief of Police
6. Multi-Cultural Center Executive Director
7. Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce President
8. North Central Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America Government Relations Director
9. Sioux Empire Chapter Society for Human Resource Management Diversity/Volunteerism Coordinator

Section 3. At-Large Members. An at-large member category in the Diversity Council shall be made up of three community representatives. If representing a specific organization, the at-large member shall have the authority to act for that organization for purposes of serving on the Diversity Council. When current members are voting on the establishment of an at-large member, notice of no less than ten calendar days, prior to the next regular or special meeting, shall be given. A vote shall be made by a majority of the members present at the next scheduled meeting.

Section 4. Resignation. Any at-large member of the Diversity Council may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Diversity Council chairperson. The resignation of the at-large member shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later date as shall be specified in such notice.

Section 5. Removal of At-Large Members. Any at-large member of the Diversity Council may be removed, for any reason, by a majority vote of current members present at the next scheduled meeting, providing ten days notice has been given.

Section 6. Removal of Standing Members. Any standing member of the Diversity Council may be removed, for any reason, by amendment to these bylaws.

Section 7. Voting Rights. Each member as defined in Section 2 and Section 3 of this Article shall be entitled to one vote.

Section 8. Terms. Each at-large member of the Diversity Council shall serve a term of three years with three members to initially serve one-, two-, and three-year terms, so that there will be a staggering of terms. Each at-large member may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.

Section 9. Filling Vacancies. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term of the member vacating in the same manner as is required for a regular appointment.

Section 10. Compensation. Members of the Diversity Council shall serve without compensation.

ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular Meetings. The members shall hold regular quarterly meetings at such time as the chairperson may specify. All meetings shall be open to the public, unless closed pursuant to state law.

Section 2. Special Meetings. Notice of special meetings of the members shall be held whenever called by the chairperson. A special meeting shall be held at the time and place designated by the chairperson. Notice of each special meeting shall state the purpose of the meeting.

Section 3. Quorum. At any meeting of the members, a majority of the current members shall constitute a quorum. A quorum is required for conducting business.

Section 4. Order of Business.

a) At all meetings of the members, business shall be transacted in such order as the members, from time to time, may determine.
b) At all meetings, the chairperson, or in his or her absence the vice chairperson, shall preside.
c) Each member, as defined in Section 2 and Section 3 of Article III, present shall be allowed to vote.

Section 5. Places of Meeting. The members may hold its meetings at a location as the Diversity Council may determine.

Section 6. Agenda. The City Human Relations Commission executive staff shall prepare and distribute an agenda for all regular and special meetings, with the consultation of the chairperson and the School District executive staff.

Section 7. Minutes. The City Human Relations Commission executive staff shall prepare and distribute minutes of all regular and special meetings and shall be the keeper of all records of the Diversity Council.

Section 8. Committees. The chairperson may establish one or more committees. Such committees shall serve at the will of the members.

Section 9. Public Input. The public is encouraged to give input to the Diversity Council members. The Diversity Council will hold periodic stakeholder (public input) meetings to solicit and gather public input. If the public intends to give input outside the stakeholder meetings, this may be done individually to members, during a scheduled Diversity Council meeting at the discretion of the chairperson, or through the Diversity Council office. Upon receipt of public input, which is not received during the stakeholder meetings or directly to the Diversity Council at a Diversity Council meeting, the following steps will be taken:

a) The Diversity Council staff or member receiving the public input will notify the chairperson or relay the public input at the next regular meeting of the Diversity Council.

b) The chairperson, upon receipt of a notice of public input will either assemble a Diversity Council subcommittee to assess the appropriate response to public input or add as an agenda item the dissemination of the public input to the next regular meeting of the Diversity Council.

c) Each regular meeting of the Diversity Council will also have a designated time in the agenda in which Diversity Council members or staff may communicate public input which has been received.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

Section 1. Number. The officers of the Diversity Council shall be a chairperson and a vice chairperson.

Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Diversity Council shall be elected by the members at its first meeting of the calendar year, or within forty-five (45) days thereafter. Each such officer shall hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting of the members and until his/her successor shall have been duly chosen and shall qualify, or until he is no longer able to serve. The term of office is one year. There is no limit to the number of terms an officer may serve.

Section 3. Resignation. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice of such resignation to executive staff at the offices of the Diversity Council. Any such resignation shall take effect upon receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein.

Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office by reason of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or any other cause shall be filled by the members in the next scheduled meeting.

Section 5. Chairperson. The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Diversity Council and shall appoint members of committees as necessary. The chairperson shall place all matters on the agenda for presentation to the members, and from time to time report to the members all matters affecting the interests of the Diversity Council which, in his or her judgment, should be brought to their attention.

Section 6. Vice Chairperson. In the absence of the chairperson, or whenever requested by the chairperson, the vice chairperson may perform all the duties of the chairperson. The vice chairperson shall perform such other duties as are given by these bylaws or as may be assigned, from time to time, by the chairperson.

ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

Section 1. Vote by Members. Amendments, alterations, or repeal to any of these bylaws shall be made by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a regular or special meeting.

Section 2. Notice. No amendments, alterations, or repeal shall be considered unless the members have received notice of such proposed amendments, alterations, or repeal at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting.