INTERSTATE

PIPELINE COMPANIES

Property Tax Forum

 

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Rules of Procedure

REVISED JULY 2025

 

RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE

PROPERTY TAX FORUM

OF

INTERSTATE PIPELINE COMPANIES

SECTION I

 

ANNUAL FORUM

 

The property tax representative of interstate gas pipeline companies shall hold annual forums at times and places to be designated by the group. Such forums shall be known as “The Annual Property Tax Forum of Interstate Pipeline Companies.” All employees and representatives of such pipeline companies are invited to attend and participate in the forums but particular emphasis is placed on the importance of the regular attendance and active participation of those who direct policy in the handling of property taxes.

 

Special meetings of the group may be held at any time upon call of the Chairman or by vote of the group at any Annual Forum.

 

SECTION II

 

OBJECT OF THE FORUMS

 

The primary purposes of the forums shall be as follows:

 

1)      To facilitate the exchange of ideas and experiences in the handling of property taxes.

 

2)      To advance the knowledge and understanding of the participating tax representatives with respect to assessment principles and property values.

 

3)      To improve the mutual cooperation of pipeline companies with respect to property tax matters.

 

4)      To facilitate ideas and involvement regarding Interstate Pipeline issues in functions such as the Wichita Ad Valorem Program and other like events.

 

SECTION III

 

ORGANIZATION

A.      There shall be no formal organization or association of property tax representatives of pipe line companies, and no dues or fees shall be collected from participants in the forums. If any moneys are needed for any purpose they shall be raised by special assessment pursuant to the direction of the group at any Annual Forum or special meetings.

 

B.      The group shall elect a Chairman at each Annual Forum to serve for a period of one year. Such Chairman shall be selected from the membership at large. The duties of the Chairman shall be as follows:

 

1)      To serve as Chairman at the next Annual Forum after his/her election.

 

2)      To prepare the program and make other necessary arrangements for the next Annual Forum.

 

3)      To perform such other duties as are normally performed by the Chairman of similar forums or as may be directed by the group at any Annual Forum or special meeting.

 

C.      There shall be no forum or group officers other than the Chairman.

 

D.     The Chairman will attend and be a part of the Wichita Ad Valorem Program as a “Planning Committee” member for two years.

 

SECTION IV

 

A.      There shall be an Executive Committee which shall consist of the Chairman, the immediate past Chairman and three appointed members. The first three appointed members, to be appointed by the Chairman of the Forum, shall include one member to serve for one (1) year, one member to serve for two (2) years, and one member to serve for three (3) years.

 

Beginning in 2016 the Chairman of each Annual Forum, selected from the membership at large, shall appoint one new member to serve for three (3) years to replace the appointed member whose term is expiring. The immediate past Chairman of the group shall serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee.

 

B.      The Executive Committee shall hold at least one business meeting each year between the Annual Forums of the group and shall perform the following duties:

 

1)      Make continuous study of ways and means of improving the programs and accomplishments of the forums, and submit a written report with respect thereto at each Annual Forum.

 

2)      Make appointments to fill the unexpired term should a vacancy occure in the office of Chairman or in the membership of the Committee.

 

C.      Before each Annual Forum the Chairman shall appoint a nominating committee, consisting of three members to submit a nomination of Chairman for the ensuing year. The newly elected Chairman may select the location of the next Annual Forum. Other nominations from among the membership at large may be from the floor by any participant.

 

D.     Other committees may be appointed by the Chairman as he/she deems necessary or as may be directed by the group.

 

E. The incoming chairman will resume responsibilities at the conclusion of the meeting. Upon assuming responsibilities, they will attend the Wichita planning committee in the same year that they assume responsibilities as well as the following year that they are chairman for the Annual Forum.

 

F. The year that the Chairman is responsible for the Annual Forum, they will also be responsible for planning the State Dinner at the Wichita Conference.

 

SECTION V

 

VOTING

 

All participants in any Annual Forum or special meeting shall be entitled to participate in the discussion of all matters submitted.

 

For purposes of voting on any measure which shall have been introduced at either the Annual Forum or special meeting, each Interstate Pipeline Company represented shall be entitled to one vote on the subject to be voted upon except that in no event shall any one person at the meeting cast more than one vote upon each question submitted.

 

SECTION VI

 

NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

A.      The Chairman shall give ninety (90) days notice to all participating companies of the time and place of the Annual Forum and thirty (30) days notice of any special meeting that may be called. The Chairman shall also mail or electronic-mail each company one or more copies of the agenda for the Annual Forum or special meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the date thereof. 

 

B.      It shall not be considered desirable to direct notices or other communications to all persons who have attended one or more Annual Forums. Such notices and communications shall be mailed to not more than two representatives of a company at its principal property tax office, and to only one representative of a company at other property tax offices. Each company is requested to designate the representatives who are to receive notices and communications.

 

C.      To encourage new attendee and future membership notices and other communications shall be mailed to companies that have not participated in any of the most recent two or more Annual Forums.

 

SECTION VII

 

These rules of Procedure become effective upon ratification by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the member companies present at the 2017 Annual Forum.

 

These Rules of Procedure may be amended at any Annual Forum by the affirmation roll-call vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the number of companies represented at such forum.

 

 

Revised July 2016