The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Wayne M. Allen at 9:42 pm. In attendance were Deputy Commissioner Womack, and Executive Director, Israel Charles, Secretary Joe Hilton, Member At Large Teddy Brown.

Motion by Womack/Brown to accept the minutes of the last meeting as printed on the PFL Website - PASSED

Treasures Report

Current Balance in The PFL Bank Account is $426.03. There have been no transactions other than three (3) months of bank maintenance fees at $6.00 per month equaling $18.00. The E.D. also presented the proposed budget for the 2000 season.

Motion Womack/Hilton to accept the proposed budget with the necessary corrections to include bank charges, for presentation to League owners at the next general business meeting. - PASSED

The Deputy Commissioner requested that the E.D. look into an interest bearing account for THE LEAGUE. The Deputy Commissioner also reminded the Council that securing the business name "The PFL" would be in the best interest of all members and that the E.D. should continue to pursue so. The E.D. concurred and should have a report at the owners meeting.

Motion Womack/Hilton - to raise franchise fees $5.00 ($30.00) and expansion fees $5.00 ($50.00). Rationale, according to the proposed budget, THE LEAGUE may face a year end deficit of approximately $50.00. (See Report) Raising the fees $5.00 across the board would bring in an additional $95.00. This would allow THE LEAGUE to have some financial flexibility to purchase items on a need basis. - PASSED (This is a By-Laws Change and would require approval from the owners)

Unfinished Business

Expansion

Recommendation from the Screening Committee - That THE LEAGUE pilot a new membership program that would require expansion applicants to be placed on an "Expansion Membership Status." The membership status would be added to the two forms of membership currently listed in the by-laws. Expansion members would be required to host and participate in at least two PFL sanctioned preseason events. (i.e., host one, play in another) In doing so, each expansion member shall be further required to play at least three PFL owners. This may be done at one of the expansion preseason events, at a Teddy Brown smash mouth classic, or in the privacy of a League members home. Rationale: The council feels it is in the best interest of THE LEAGUE that perspective members are screened, and carefully observed in order that the character and integrity of THE LEAGUE are not compromised nor jeopardized. - Accepted for presentation to owners.

Motion by Womack/Hilton - That new members be termed Expansion Members with all do rights and privileges granted as an owner in good standing for a term of one year. However, at the conclusion of the said year, expansion members must be voted and accepted into full membership of The PFL as an owner. Rationale: If an expansion member exhibits conduct unbecoming of a League member during the expansion term, THE LEAGUE has the right to terminate his membership in THE LEAGUE at the conclusion of the season. PASSED (This is a By-Laws Change and would require approval from the owners)

Recommendation from the Competition Committee - To accept Bru's Room as the official PFL arena for game play. - Accepted for presentation to the owners.

Recommendation from the Competition Committee - To change the game quarter lengths as follows: Regular season stays the same at 6 minute quarters, All playoff rounds, including conference championships will be adjusted to 8 minute quarters, and the SuperBowl to be played at 10 minute quarters. - Accepted for presentation to owners.

The Council discussed implementing new guidelines for hosting. These guidelines include having host responsible for securing game consoles (4) and having them connected and ready for game play at least 15 minutes prior to the first scheduled game. In addition that an accurate and detailed list of responsibilities be constructed and disseminated to the membership by the hospitality chair in conjunction with the scheduling committee at the Annual Kick Off Classic. Secretary Hilton was asked to address these and other issues with the hospitality chair.

Motion Brown/Hilton - That owners be given a time limit to decide if they will select new franchises, or stay with their current franchise at the end of the season. The said plan would place the owner with First Right Of Refusal "On The Clock" at midnight the day that the new version is available at retail. The time would be divided equally by the number of owners and the numbers of days remaining to the Oct. 31 deadline. Rationale: As the Oct. 31 deadline approached, their was so much uncertainty as to what teams were available or taken, that those owners wishing to relocate did not have adequate time to scrimmage potential new franchises. - PASSED (This is a By-Laws Change and would require approval from the owners)

MOTION by Allen/Womack - To adjourn at 12:10 AM and reconvene at a later date to conclude the remaining business on the agenda. -- PASSED

OLD BUSINESS

Recommendation from the Screening Committee - On the action of a motion by Womack/Brown - To Cap THE LEAGUE at 18 teams unless the number of expansion applicants equal five thus bringing THE LEAGUE total to 20. Rationale - To keep the conferences balanced with an equal number of teams in each conference.
Motion Charles/Womack - To accept the Screening Committee's report and present it to the owners for vote. - PASSED

Constitution/By-Laws Revisions

The Council reviewed the Constitution/By-Laws in an effort to clarify areas where issues may appear unclear. Please note the Executive Council will present the following Constitution/By-Laws, Handbook Changes for vote by the general membership at the January meeting: (Alterations in verbiage are notated in Red)

Constitutional Amendments/Changes

Article IV - Section 1 - shall now read "when possible, each conference shall have an equal number of teams."
Article V - Section 3 - Add position of Member At Large to the Executive Council. In addition - "Terms shall commence on September 1.
Article VII - Section 2 - "The membership shall now have 2 business meetings," eliminating the midseason meeting (which we never had).
Article VIII - Section 1 - Constitutional amendments shall require readings and approval by majority vote in one council meeting followed by a majority vote in ONE general business meeting.
Article VIII - Section 4 - ADD - "3 of 5 Executive Council Members must be present at any council meeting in order for that meeting to be deemed official with either the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner presiding. The Commissioner reserves the right to appoint a designee of the Executive Council to preside in his absence.

By Laws Amendments/Changes

Article I - Section 1 - Membership - Shall now include Expansion Membership (See Above)
Article I Section 2 - Expansion requirements will mirror those of active PFL owners with the noted exception that Expansion members must be voted upon and accepted by two thirds majority vote of THE LEAGUE at the beginning of the season, and at the end of the season.
Article II - Section I - A. Add, "If realignment is desired and voted upon, the following plan shall be implemented."
Article III - Section 1 - Add duties for the secretary and member at large.
Article IV - Section 5 - change to........7 days prior to the General Business meetings.

Handbook Amendments/Changes

Article III - Section I.C - Add..... "In the event that THE LEAGUE does not have an "official arena" to serve as the site for all Leagues games to be played, the following shall be in effect:
Article III - Section 2A #4 - Clarify that home teams select weather conditions. Add "Games not played according to the prescribed weather conditions shall be considered null and void if revealed before the start of the third quarter. After the kick-off of the second half all games played in its entirety and those results will be made final, regardless of the appropriateness or inappropriateness of any game setting. This includes but it not limited to weather conditions, camera angles, skill levels and other settings hereby defined as so.
Article III - Section 2A #7 - Change to read -- "Optional video taping of League games is allowed. with the expressed consent of the host. However, all video equipment must be set up at least fifteen minutes prior to kick-off, or immediately after the conclusion of the preceding game. Delaying the start of a game to assemble scouting equipment is prohibited. All scouting tapes, though optional, become property of the PFL exactly seventy-two (72) hours from the midnight in which the recorded game was played. The coach that videos the game will be allotted seventy-two (72) hours to review game tape that is recorded at their site. At the conclusion of this period the tape must be submitted to whomever request it on a first come first serve basis. Tapes may only be held for 24 hours after receiving them from the owner and must be submitted to the next League Member that request it. That last person viewing the tape shall have the responsibility of returning the tape to it's rightful owner. Violators shall be referred to the Ethics/Decorum committee for disciplinary action.

Article III Section 2 A #10 - Change to read..."c. If neither of the above scenarios apply, the game shall be referred to the Executive Council for resolution, with the decision rendered being final."

MOTION by Hilton/Brown - To accept the Constitution/By-Laws, Handbook changes and present them to the membership for discussion and vote. - PASSED

MOTION by Charles/Brown - To define game settings as - any feature that may be adjusted to manipulate the overall performance of the game itself. These settings may be identified as, but are not limited to: Skill Level, Camera Angles, Player Sizes, Game Speed, Weather Conditions, Momentum, Injuries, Fatigue, Penalties, Artificial Intelligence, and any other features not listed herein that may be manipulated as deemed so by the Executive Council. -- PASSED

MOTION by Charles/Brown - Games not played according to the prescribed settings shall be considered null and void if revealed during a PFL game at any point before the start of the third quarter. After the kick-off of the second half all games must be played in its entirety and those results shall be made final, regardless of the appropriateness or inappropriateness of any game setting. This includes but it not limited to weather conditions, camera angles, skill levels or any other setting as properly defined. -- PASSED

MOTION by Charles/Womack - Games not played according to the official PFL schedule must be rescheduled and played before kick-off of the next scheduled league day. (i.e. all make up games must be played before the kick off of the next Sunday {or Thursday} that games are scheduled to be played.), If the opponent does not play the said game before the stated deadline, the game shall be forfeited with the player responsible for rescheduling receiving a 2-0 loss. The player that is late or absent is responsible for making the necessary arrangements to reschedule the game. If both coaches cannot mutually establish a time for the game to be rescheduled, it shall result in a computer simulation of the game, with the results being deemed final. -- PASSED ****** NOTE -- This eliminates all other facets of the forfeit rule. - (This is a By-Laws Change and would require approval from the owners)

MOTION by Charles/Womack - THE LEAGUE recommends that all games be played according to the schedule, HOWEVER, if two teams mutually agree to play ahead of schedule or make up missed games, THE LEAGUE shall not be held liable for any misunderstandings or mis-communications that result. Any games not played at the scheduled time may only be considered official with the consent of either the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner or the Executive Director. Therefore any disputes made to the Executive Council concerning this scenario shall be heard and ruled upon by the Council with that decision being final. Games may not be played no more than one scheduled event ahead of time. (i.e. if THE LEAGUE is in weeks 3 & 4, games scheduled for week 7 or 8 may not be played until weeks 6 & 7 games have been played the following week.) -- PASSED

Alvin Barrow was recognized as The PFL 1999 Coach Of The Year. Voting for Coach of the Year for 2000 will take place at the Summer 2000 Owners Meeting at the conclusion of the season.

Recommendation from the Competition Committee - That THE LEAGUE adopt the following game settings for play in the 2000 season; Game Speed - Fastest, Player Sizes - Huge, Instant Replay - Off. All other game settings remain at the default levels. -- Accepted for presentation to the owners.

MOTION by Charles/Brown - That the Awards Presentation be held during the Kick Off Classic in the same manner as the 1999 season -- PASSED

NEW BUSINESS

Recommendation from the Competition Committee - That the League use the two minute warnings in games as an additional timeout to be used as the player wishes. Thus, the two minute warning may be used as any other timeout (i.e., to substitute, change audibles, or as a period to rethink strategies, revue playbooks...etc.) -- Accepted for presentation to the owners.

MOTION by Charles/Brown - That the Kick Off Classic Tournament be held Sunday March 5 at 3:00 PM and that the regular season begin Sunday, March 12 at 3:00 PM. This establishes 3:00 PM as the kick off on game days, instead of 4:00 pm as in 1999. -- PASSED

MOTION by Charles/Womack - To replace item #2 in the proposed budget (Tshirt Expenses) with SuperBowl hosting expenses. The amount is to remain at $200.00. -- PASSED

MOTION TO ADJOURN BY ALL at 11:15 PM

Respectfully Submitted by

Israel Charles, Executive Director of The PFL