The document provides guidelines for Neighborhood Councils regarding lobbying and advocacy. It states that Neighborhood Councils may take positions on ballot measures and local legislation, but cannot spend public funds to advocate for those positions. Neighborhood Councils are also limited in their ability to lobby or advocate to non-city agencies. The document outlines appropriate and prohibited uses of public funds and resources for Neighborhood Council advocacy and lobbying activities.

1. Neighborhood Councils and
Ballot Measures I Lobbying I State and Federal Legislation
Neighborhood Councils may take positions Neighborhood Councils may not spend
on a ballot measure (City or state) before it public funds to publicize their position on
is placed on a ballot and communicate the ballot measure (City or state) after it
their Dositions to the City Council. qualifies for the ballot.
Neighborhood Councils may state their Neighborhood Councils may not spend
position taken on a proposed ballot public funds to publicize their position to
measure (City or state) in their minutes members of the public on a proposed
and may post the minutes on its website if ballot measure (City or state) such as:
the Neighborhood Council regularly posts paying for ads in newspapers, posting the
its minutes on its website. position on its website, disseminating
flyers, orQanizinQ rallies. etc.
Neighborhood Councils may host Neighborhood Councils may not provide
informational forums about ballot only one side of the issue when providing
measures (City or state). The forums information about the ballot measure (City
must provide equal time to each viewpoint or state) at informational forums. If a
to enable all sides to present their representative supporting or opposing the
positions. Neighborhood Councils should issue is unable to attend the meeting,
refer and adhere to the guidelines provided another meeting should be scheduled to
by the City Attorney regarding forums. * allow the unrepresented side to be
presented. No Neighborhood Council
*See, Neighborhood Council Training Manual, tab 7, boardmember may participate as an
Neighborhood Council Guidelines for Hosting City
advocate for or against a ballot measure at
Candidates.
the forum.
Neighborhood Councils may use public Neighborhood Councils may not use public
funds to provide neutral and objective funds to provide a slanted, biased or
factual material about a ballot measure inaccurate description about a ballot (City
only upon request. For example, or state) measure. Neighborhood Councils
Neighborhood Councils may provide the may not use public funds to disseminate
text of the ballot measure and provide information about a ballot measure through
information on where and when people newsletters or other mass mailing devices.
may vote. Neighborhood Councils may
place this type of factual, content-neutral
information on their website.
, Neighborhood Councils may take positions Neighborhood Councils may not hold
! on a ballot measure (City or state) after it is ! special meetings to take a position on a
placed on a ballot, provided the position is I ballot measure (City or state) after it
taken at a regular meeting, opposing and appears on the ballot; they should
su ortin views are treated e uall , and it I a endize the item at a re ular

2. is made clear that the Neighborhood Neighborhood Council meeting and ensure
Council is only directing its position to the that supporting and opposing views on the
City Council (although there is greater risk measure are treated equally and should
in doing so as court cases are unclear on direct their position to the City Council, not
this point).* the public.
.See, Neighborhood Council Training Manual, tab 7,
Neighborhood Councils may advise the Neighborhood Councils may not advocate
City's decision makers regarding what their positions on state and federal
position the City should take on state or legislation to non-City governmental
federal legislation. Individual Neighborhood agencies. (Only the Mayor and the City
Council members may lobby or advocate Council have power over
their personal position on state or federal intergovernmental relations, which include
legislation, provided no public funds are advocating the City's position on laws that
used. are pending with state or federal agencies
or before the state legislature or federal
Qovernment. )
Neighborhood Councils may advise the Neighborhood Councils may not advocate
City's decision makers on their actions their positions to non-City governmental
taken and reflect those actions in their agencies because Neighborhood Councils,
minutes. pursuant to the Charter, are advisory to the
City's decision makers.
Neighborhood Councils may encourage Neighborhood Councils may not use public
stakeholders to attend public meetings to funds to advocate to members of the public
gather information and provide public input their position taken. Accordingly,
on an issue coming before the City's Neighborhood Councils may not use public
decision makers. funds to urge members of the public to
support the Neighborhood Council's
position, e.g., by sending flyers asking
them to support a certain position, posting
"Vote No on Project X" on its websites. etc.
Neighborhood Council boardmembers, Neighborhood Council boardmembers may
may, in their individual capacities, and not use public resources or funds to
outside of Neighborhood Council meetings, advocate, in their individual capacities, for
advocate for or against any issue, or against any issue, including ballot
includinQ ballot measures. measures.
Neighborhood Council Advice Division April 2009
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