About Us
By Laws
(Revised, Updated & Adopted August 19, 2025)
ARTICLE I
Name, Logo, and Boundaries
1. The name of this Rural Neighborhood Preservation Overlay District volunteer community association will be NORTHWEST AREA RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (NARA).
2. The neighborhood association will have a common design bearing the words “NORTHWEST AREA RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION, with the beginning organization date of March 30, 1995. The Association Board may adopt a "logo" for use to promote organization identity and
mission objectives.
3. The NARA community volunteer association will be filed with the State of Nevada as a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation.
4. The geographical boundaries of NARA within the City of Las Vegas, County of Clark, State of Nevada will be:
North Boundary - West Craig Road
South Boundary - West Cheyenne Avenue
West Boundary - North Rancho Drive & North Jones Blvd. (Excluding the D.R. Horton Mosaic Falls HOA)
East Boundary - North Decatur Blvd. - (This is also the boundary for the City of North Las Vegas).
ARTICLE II
Principal Office
The principle office/location of this neighborhood association for meetings will be at a designated site in agreement with the Association Board. Every effort will be made to maintain this location in a consistent manner to facilitate familiarity and promote association operations. A permanent NARA mailing address will be established for the purpose of association correspondence. If this provision requires a fee, the Association Board will act on this requirement.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Active Membership with full voting and office-holding privileges:
a. Any person who is:
(1) A homeowner or resident within the defined boundaries of this neighborhood association, which includes the historic Title #19 zoned R-PD-3 and current RD zoned HOA neighborhoods as part of a "RNP Community of Common Interest."
(2) A property owner of other real estate, including commercial businesses and vacant parcels within the NARA neighborhood association boundaries.
b. Any NARA resident or commercial property owner who is current with membership dues.
ARTICLE IV
Dues
1. Dues for membership in the Northwest Area Residents Association are voluntary and appreciated as a means to defray basic administrative and operational costs. Membership without dues may be made upon request of the resident. The goal is to maximize membership for the NARA e-mail listing for both routine and acute information dissemination to the community.
a. Active Membership: The membership dues will be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per household per year.
b. Five Year Memberships: Residents who anticipate a long-term NARA affiliation with the association may pay in advance at a five-year reduced rate of one hundred dollars ($100.00), receiving a free bonus year membership.
2. An inventory of dues paid and membership in the association will be reviewed annually with a report by the Treasurer presented to the Association Board.
3. Dues are refundable upon written request and prorated to the end of the paid-up period.
4. From time to time the Association Board may request additional donations to help defray costs and expenses of promoting and/or upholding association goals in preserving and protecting the integrity of the Rural Neighborhood Preservation community lifestyle and culture.
ARTICLE V
Management Style
Unlike Homeowners Associations (HOAs), most Non-Profit Organizations, private business, and government models with a "top down" management hierarchy and authority, as a volunteer Rural Neighborhood Preservation Overlay District association, NARA will strive for a "bottom up" management style representing the collective voices of the community.
1. The Association Board will strive to be a vehicle for association communications with the City, County, and private entities. With this, NARA will facilitate as an information resource to the residents as informed citizens, and advocate as a voice of resident concern in support of the RNP-O Rural Preservation Overlay District (Title 19.10.180 & 19.10.010) original intent and purpose.
2. Resident concerns on the Las Vegas City agenda and developer issues, and other events that impact the Seven Elements of Residential Zoning (Values, Culture, Character, Integrity, Identity, Property Values and Safety Concerns), will be made with NARA community input through regular and special NARA meetings, association e-mail and neighborhood fliers as required.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings
1. Meetings: Regular, Annual, and Special:
a. Regularly Scheduled Executive Board/Community Meetings: There will be a minimum of ten (10) regularly scheduled meetings throughout the calendar year for the purpose of conducting NARA community/neighborhood association business. NARA meetings are open to all members and the community at large. Neighbors are encouraged to attend these meetings, contribute content and ideas, and become Active Members.
b. Annual Community Meetings: One meeting during the calendar year will promote a general community meeting with special notification via regular mailings and/or door-to-door fliers, and membership e-mail, for the purpose of presenting association activities to the community-at-large. This meeting will include a review of association's Bylaws, Mission Statement, goals and objectives, election of officers as required, status of community efforts, situations impacting NARA Rural Neighborhood Preservation Overlay District ordinance-based lifestyle, and for soliciting resident involvement and constructive input to enhance association effectiveness.
c. Special Meetings: A quorum of the Association Board may be called for a Special Meeting at any time at the direction of the President, or in his designee. Every effort should be made to give at least 3 days’ notice of the Special Meeting with objectives and relative
facts to the issue(s) of concern.
2. Notification and Promotion of Association Meetings:
a. Notification of regularly scheduled association meetings will be issued by the Recording/Corresponding Secretary or other designated person with at least 3 days notice in compliance with the Open Meeting Laws via the membership e-mail listing.
b. The association website will post dates of NARA association regularly scheduled meetings with at least a 3-month advanced listing for general community information.
c. The annual general community meeting notification will be disseminated to all NARA residences within the association boundaries via regular mail from provided listings, or a coordinated effort with door-to-door fliers to the entire community at least 5 days
before the scheduled meeting date.
d. Notification of acute situations that require community input will be disseminated via the active membership e-mail listing and door-to-door flier distribution to the area that is being specifically impacted by the issue or agenda item.
e. Meetings shall be open to all residents, business owners within the association boundaries, and anyone with an interest in NARA association activities.
3. Quorum: A quorum at annual, regularly scheduled, and/or special notification meetings shall consist of four (4) of the six (6) members of the Association Board.
a. In the absence of an Association Board member the NARA association president may designate a proxy with the approval of the Association Board members in attendance.
b. An Association Board member will be counted as "in attendance" if he/she is participating with the proceedings electronically (cell phone, Skype, etc.)
c. In the absence of a quorum a regularly scheduled meeting will be counted as such, however specific actions on issues of concern will be abetted until a meeting is held with a full quorum.
4. Order Of Business: The order of business at regularly scheduled and annual association meetings will be as follows:
a. Call to order, pledge to the flag of The United States of America, and roll call of
Executive Board officers for a quorum.
b. Discussion of the previous meeting minutes that have been sent out to the member-
ship via e-mail for corrections made, and final approval by the Association Board.
c. Treasurers report with approval by the Executive Board.
d. Recognition of any special guests, to include Ward #5 City Council representation.
e. Report by a resident on the most recent Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Northwest Area Command "First Tuesday" citizens meeting, with emphasis on information of special interest to our community.
f. Reports from any standing and ad hoc committees.
g. Old relevant inactive and Unfinished active business.
h. New Business/Announcements - to include election of officers as required.
i. Open Forum: Comments from residents and others in attendance.
j. Adjournment.
k. Association Board Session - if needed.
5. The order of business may be altered, or additional topics of interest may be added at any meeting at the discretion of the president.
ARTICLE VII
Association Board Officers
Elected Officers: The six (6) elected officers of the Northwest Area Residents Association will be a; President, Vice President, Recording/Corresponding Secretary, Chief Technology/Web Site Officer, Treasurer, and Historian as defined:
1. President:
a. The president will be the chief officer of the neighborhood association and shall be present at all Executive Board and association meetings to facilitate agenda and content direction.
b. The president will be a member ex officio of all committees.
c. The president will communicate to the association such matters and make such suggestions that may tend to promote the welfare of the community and increase the usefulness of the association for neighborhood advocacy.
d. Provide leadership and perform other such duties as necessary to this office for the promotion of NARA/RNP association goals, objectives, and efficient use of resources.
e. Ensure that all meetings are conducted in an orderly manner with the authority to intervene as required to promote a civil environment for the communication of information and ideas.
f. Chair the Constitution and By Laws Committee when it is in the process.
g. The use of protocol by Robert’s Rules of Order may provide guidelines to govern NARA meetings for parliamentary questions, reinforcing the "three C's" of: Command, Clarity, and Courtesy.
2. Vice President - The Vice President will perform all duties of the President during the absence
of the President and be a member ex officio of all committees.
3. Recording/Corresponding Secretary:
a. Take and keep written minutes of the Association Board, General and Annual Membership, and any special meetings. Special interest topics may be recorded or videoed per the directive of the NARA president.
b. Compile, edit, and maintain minutes information for distribution and review at the succeeding association meeting and future meetings as requested.
c. Ensure that originals or copies of minutes and communications are forwarded to the historian for archives and reference for a period of not less than 10 years.
d. Keep the Executive Board informed of all correspondence sent or received and include the active membership and general community as appropriate.
e. Act as chairperson for association newsletters and coordinate for input and issues to focus on for community awareness.
f. This office will be the association contact for Neighborhood Watch program information, resources, and will advise the Association Board on issues related to this topic.
g. Perform other related duties and functions as appropriate per request by the President.
4. Chief Technology /Website Officer:
a. Maintain NARA website operations and content and perform duties as necessary to ensure that the site operates as a functional resource and for organization visibility and communications.
b. Upgrade the NARA website profile for enhanced presentation and user-friendly access as necessary.
c. Receive notifications and content from the NARA Association Board and send them out to the current e-mail listing or intended recipients as appropriate.
d. Maintain the NARA e-mail listing for information dissemination to the active membership.
5. Treasurer:
a. Keep account of all monies received and expended for use of the association, and make disbursements authorized by the Executive Board as required.
b. Deposit all monies/sums received through dues or donations in a bank account approved by the Association Board.
c. Manage the goal of sustaining a minimum balance of $2,000 in the membership account as a buffer for meeting NARA expenses of acute community needs, such as mailings, newspaper announcements, and printing of fliers.
d. Present a financial report at regularly scheduled Association Board meetings, annual general community meetings, and when called on by the president.
e. Establish separate accounts as necessary, such as a "legal fund", and maintain those accounts for Association Board and membership review at association meetings.
f. Transfer funds between established accounts at the unanimous vote of the Association Board when such action is required due to acute or untoward circumstances, and in the immediate best interest of the NARA association's integrity.
g. Funds may be drawn only on the signature of the treasurer and another designated Association Board officer, except for routine administrative reimbursements.
h. The funds, books, and vouchers being kept by the treasurer shall be subject to verification and inspection by the Association Board and association members as necessary.
i. At the expiration of the treasurer’s term of office, the treasurer shall deliver to the successor all books, money, and other administrative properties of the association.
6. Historian:
a. Maintain chronological archives and documentation of association events, elected officers and committee members, acute and ongoing neighborhood issues, relevant City of Las Vegas Planning and City Council meeting items, and NARA association action for historical reference and intervention.
b. Maintain a reference source of City, County, State, and Federal ordinances, statutes, and guidelines that are of relevance to NARA association topics of interest.
c. Compile information from newspapers, publications, and other official sources to document content and activities on topics of interest and concern for historical and possible future reference or intervention.
d. Perform an annual census within NARA association boundaries with a physical count of the number of homes to include gated communities, half-acre lots, single and two-story residences, businesses, observations of statistical value, and a periodic “large animal count" to profile the suburban/rural character of the association.
e. In conjunction with the annual census, contact the seven (7) homeowner's association property management companies within the NARA boundaries for changes in contract status, and to maintain ongoing communication and liaison with these entities to support our common interests.
f. As a condition of transparency, NARA archive material is open to anyone upon request. Copies of NARA archive materials will be made available at the cost of time and materials as policy set forth by the Association Board.
ARTICLE VIII
Elections & Voting
1. The election of the Association Board officers will take place in March/April every two years, or at an alternate month deemed necessary by the association president at the annual general community meeting.
a. Each household member on the NARA resident application shall be entitled to one vote.
b. If only one resident volunteers to run for an office, that person will assume the office position with a consensus vote of the Association Board.
c. In the event that more than one resident wishes to run for an office, the candidate who received a simple majority of secret ballot votes so cast will be elected. In the event of a tie vote, the vote for that office will be repeated.
d. No more than two members from any household may run for an Association Board office.
2. If an Association Board officer can no longer hold this position during the year, an interim volunteer may be appointed by the Executive Board to fill the position until the regular election cycle comes up.
3. An Association Board member may choose to abstain from voting on an issue if he/she feels there may be a real or perceived conflict of interest in the casting of his/her vote. In that situation, the voting will proceed as normal without the abstaining Association Board vote.
4. Special elections/voting:
a. When in the judgment of the Association Board, an issue arises that should be put to a vote of the active membership, the board will expedite a special meeting for that purpose.
b. Active members will be advised of the date and time of the special meeting by e-mail, mail, or by fliers physically distributed to addresses that are directly affected by the issue. These fliers will explain the specifics of the issue at hand and present an opportunity for residents to express an opinion and vote on the issue either in person at the scheduled meeting or by mailing in their decision.
c. Issues will be resolved by a simple majority of secret votes at the special meeting, plus all votes returned within two weeks from the mail-out or distribution date of the announcement. Votes will be retained by the NARA archives for 10 years.
ARTICLE IX
Ammending of By Laws
These bylaws may be amended, altered in whole or in part, repealed, or additional bylaws adopted by a simple majority vote in any duly organized meeting of the Association Board and active membership of the association, and so noted in the regularly scheduled association meeting minutes
ARTICLE X
Ethical Behavior
1. NARA, by use of the association name, through the Association Board or official committees, will not provide endorsement for a political candidate, political party, or elected official.
2. NARA will use prudence and discretion in its Association Board functions where association with other organizations' specific objectives, mission statements, agenda, principles, or benefits could be perceived by the community as a general NARA endorsement.
3. Perception of Influence: NARA will use prudence and discretion in its association with other organizations where association with those organizations' specific objectives, mission statement, or agendas could be perceived by the community as a general NARA endorsement.
ARTICLE XI
Dissolution
The association may be dissolved by a vote of a two-thirds majority of its active members present at a regularly scheduled or special meeting. In the event of dissolution, after all outstanding legitimate debts, encumbrances, liens and other obligations or records are first satisfied, the remaining dues in the treasury and other administrative/operational property will be donated to a suitable charity as agreed upon by two thirds of the Association Board.
Connect with Community
Be part of the conversation! Attend our monthly NARA meetings, held every third Tuesday of the month, to meet neighbors, exchange ideas, and stay up to date on community projects. Click the button below to see full meeting details and announcements.
Location: NARA, 5209 W. Gilmore Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada 89130
Call 7029999999
Email:
Site: www.narainc.org