City Nouns

# City Nouns Global Governance Framework Ratification + Founder Resignation Record

In the early stages of any decentralized civic network, thoughtful trust structures are essential to ensure mission alignment, operational stability, and long-term community trust.

This proposal seeks to formally ratify the **City Council Governance Framework** — a transparent, structured system for stewarding the growth of **City Nouns Global DAO**, which supports the creation and growth of **City DAOs worldwide** (such as Nouns KC, Nouns Denver, and others).

City Nouns Global serves as the **leading DAO** that provides a shared global architecture and cultural framework to empower local City DAOs while preserving decentralization and autonomy at the local level.

In ratifying this framework, we affirm our collective commitment to **decentralization, cultural integrity, and trust** — not only in code, but in each other.

Let this serve as the foundation for a governance system that grows with us, evolves through community input, and honors the values City Nouns was founded upon.

This proposal also includes **Addendum A** to formally record the resignation of one founding Council member and to model clear governance processes for future City DAOs.

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# City Council Governance Framework

The City Council is designed to:

- Safeguard the DAO’s integrity during early growth
- Mitigate governance risk and volatility
- Build trust with public, civic, and institutional partners
- Uphold the DAO’s Code of Ethics as a civic public good

The Council Wallet is a **strategic governance reserve**, not a compensation pool or reward mechanism. Its tokens represent **stewardship**, not ownership.

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## Council Wallet Token Flow

### Token Allocation

- **10% of tokens minted via auction → City Council Wallet**

### Primary Use Cases

**Strategic Safeguard**

- Resist hostile governance actions
- Block proposals violating DAO mission/values

**Mission-Aligned Partnership Activation**

- No more than **20% of Council tokens per quarter** may be deployed
- Use cases include onboarding key civic, cultural, or technical partners where governance participation ensures alignment

### Strict Prohibitions

- Contributor compensation
- Founder bonuses
- Casual rewards or task-based bounties

### Distribution Process

- All distributions proposed publicly
- DAO onchain vote required for approval

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## Grants Wallet Tokens

### Token Allocation

- **5% of tokens minted via auction → Grants Wallet**

### Purpose

- Lower participation barriers in auction-based DAO model
- Prioritize marginalized, underrepresented, or financially constrained builders and contributors
- Empower community-aligned builders through transparent grants

### Oversight

- Council presides over Grants process
- Detailed Grants framework will be ratified in separate Treasury Framework proposal

_The purpose of this wallet/program is to lower the barrier to entry for individuals who might otherwise be excluded due to the auction-based “pay-to-play” nature of DAO participation._

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## City Council Eligibility, Appointment & Compensation

Council members must embody trusted stewardship:

- Demonstrated alignment with DAO mission and civic-first values
- Capacity to maintain operational continuity and public trust
- Strategic thinking and governance maturity
- Strong commitment to DAO-wide cultural health and ethical leadership

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# City Council Composition & Term Structure

The City Council shall consist of an **odd number of signers**: 3, 5, 7, or higher, as determined by DAO vote.

## Term Structure & Staggering System

- Each signer serves a **1-year term** (12 months)
- Terms are staggered such that no more than **~1/3 of Council seats expire within any 6-month period**

### Staggering Model by Council Size

**3 Signers**

- All serve initial 1-year terms
- Renewal/replacement cycle begins annually, with no more than 1 seat rotated at a time

**5 Signers**

- 2 signers: initial 12-month terms
- 3 signers: initial 18-month terms
- Thereafter, 2–3 seats rotate every 6 months

**7 Signers**

- 2 signers: initial 12-month terms
- 2 signers: initial 18-month terms
- 3 signers: initial 24-month terms
- Thereafter, 2–3 seats rotate every 6 months

**Larger Councils (9, 11, etc.)**

- Similar model: initial terms staggered from 12 to 24 months
- No more than ~1/3 of seats rotate every 6 months

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## Initial Council Seating for First Term (Bootstrap Governance Phase)

As City Nouns Global DAO transitions from a founding team to a fully operational civic DAO, it is necessary to seed the initial City Council with trusted members who can ensure operational stability and cultural alignment.

For the initial Council term (Year 1):

- The two remaining founding members of City Nouns Global DAO will appoint trusted experts, and civic-aligned advisors to serve as the first Council signers
- The initial Council will consist of **7 members coming from existing token holders**

This approach is aligned with **best practices for bootstrap DAO governance** — ensuring that trusted stewardship is in place while preserving open pathways for broad community participation as the DAO matures.

Future Council rotations will proceed per the governance framework:

- No auto-renewals
- Community-wide nomination and DAO vote required for renewals or replacements
- Vacant seats will remain open to community members

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## Renewal and Replacement Process

At term end:

- **Renewal:** Outgoing signer may be re-nominated and confirmed via DAO vote
- **Replacement:** New candidate may be nominated and confirmed
- **Vacancy:** If no confirmation within 30 days, seat becomes inactive temporarily; multi-sig operates with remaining quorum

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## City Council Member Compensation

- **1 City Nouns token per quarter**, contingent on meeting minimum expectations
- Distributed via Builder DAO native airdrop
- Quarterly performance summary precedes airdrop; **7-day community dispute window** applies

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# Council Member Minimum Expectations

### Participation

- Engage in at least **75%** of proposal discussions and onchain votes
- Publish public vote rationale for each vote

### Operational Responsiveness

- Sign transactions within **72 hours**
- Maintain governance availability; must notify immediately if wallet is compromised

### Transparency

- Disclose any conflicts of interest

### Cultural Stewardship

- Uphold DAO Code of Ethics
- Model respectful governance behavior

### Process Contributions

- Assist with onboarding next signers
- Participate in governance tooling reviews quarterly

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# Performance Noncompliance

- Public concerns may initiate review
- If unresolved, DAO may vote to remove the member
- Removed members forfeit current quarter compensation

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# Resignation, Founder Transition, & Operational Integrity

### Voluntary Resignation

- Any Council member may resign with written notice and must assist with transition

### Special Rule for DAO Founders (Early-Stage DAOs)

- Founders must formally resign operational control upon leaving leadership roles
- They remain valued DAO members and retain token rights
- Resignation must be logged in public governance records

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# Veto Power

### Purpose

Final safeguard to protect DAO mission integrity and public trust

### Permitted Use Cases

- Hostile governance capture
- Violation of DAO mission/values
- Security or legal risk
- Procedural/technical malfunction
- Proposals from members formally removed for misconduct

### Activation

- Requires multi-sig consensus
- **Public written rationale required within 24 hours**

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# Addendum A — Founder Resignation Record, Community Acknowledgment, and Governance Learning

In the interest of full transparency and institutional clarity for **City Nouns Global DAO** and future **City DAOs**, this proposal formally records the following:

## Founder Resignation

One of City Nouns Global’s three original founders, **Mary Burger (aka Mary McCawley)**, submitted formal resignation from the City Nouns Council and operational leadership via written notice on **May 20, 2025, at 7:37pm CT**.

Her resignation stated:

> “After much thought, I’ve decided to step away from City Nouns, effective immediately... I wish the project well and hope it finds the leadership and clarity it needs to succeed.”

A subsequent community governance proposal to reverse this resignation was respectfully considered and declined via DAO vote.

## Acknowledgment of Contributions

City Nouns Global DAO formally acknowledges and thanks Mary for her meaningful early contributions, including:

- Development of the CityNouns.wtf website
- Coordination of the Global Pizza Day event
- Securing local media coverage for City Nouns DAO
- Helping define the DAO’s purpose, values, and initial launch strategy
- Creation of marketing and promotional materials

These contributions were foundational in shaping City Nouns’ early growth and presence.

## Principles for DAO Maturity

City Nouns Global DAO affirms the need for:

- Clear contributor resignation processes
- Formal role/rights removal mechanisms
- Conflict resolution pathways
- Formal prohibition of unilateral offboarding without DAO-approved governance

_Community members should never be excluded without proper process, and clear governance is vital for the success of City Nouns Global and future City DAOs._

## Current Status of Mary Burger (Mary McCawley)

- Mary Burger is formally recorded as having resigned operational control and Council duties as of **May 20, 2025**
- She remains a valued member of the DAO community, with full participation rights
- She is eligible for future Council participation through normal governance pathways

We welcome and encourage her continued engagement within agreed community frameworks.

## Purpose of this Record

This addendum provides:

- Transparent governance history
- Clear record of founder transition decisions
- Incorporated lessons to strengthen DAO maturity and culture
- A principled model for future City DAOs

## Closing Statement

City Nouns Global DAO values **principled decentralization**, **transparency**, and **community-first governance**. We appreciate the work of all contributors — past, present, and future — and commit to building governance processes that reflect the civic values we seek to promote through the global City Nouns movement.


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