01 MINUTES REGULAR 07-15-08 - Laserfiche WebLink

Staff arrived at three options: 1) the establishment of a commission on the environment which is traditional to what is in place in the City by City ordinance, which include 5 members and 1 alternate, appointed by the Mayor and ratified by the Council. This structure provides a continuous advocacy for environmental sustainability; 2) the establishment of a task force comprised of community members, outside experts, and City staff. The advantage of the task force is that the depth of representation is more than 5 members, ranging in size from 10-20 people. A designated timeframe is issued by the Council which provides opportunities for focused outcomes. A variation of that is the standing committee option, such as the Economic Vitality Commission and the Youth Master Plan Implementation Committee; 3) establishment of a subcommittee made up of two Councilmembers, two Planning Commissioners, and extended to include other standing commissions, and would fall under Brown Act requirement as an Ad Hoc Committee. He said staff identified 5 issues; 1) strive for the broadest representation possible from all sectors of the community; 2) maximize expertise; 3) leverage existing staff resources; 4) ensure the advisory body not conflict with the approved work plans of staff, Council or existing commissions, which could be managed through the annual goal setting retreat and joint workshop with the advisory body, and that it not conflict with the Planning Commission's roles and responsibilities; and 5) encourage the advisory body serve as a convener of community ideas. After receiving Council direction tonight, staff will return at a subsequent meeting with an enabling ordinance or resolution. Councilmember McGovern questioned if staff has any recommendation on the options, and Mr. Fialho said staff has developed the 5 issues the Council should be mindful of, the fewer number of people the better, that you establish specific timelines and a focus, it is important to establish a work plan, and establish a timeline to complete a work plan, that the council track the performance and the Council be provided an opportunity to continue with the work plan or be provided with flexibility and the opportunity to disband that commission or task force if necessary. Councilmember McGovern said having worked on the original Youth Master Plan Implementation Committee, one part of the work plan was to develop a strategic plan, and she asked if this would be done. Mr. Fialho said his preference would be a hybrid between 1 and 2; five members and a maximum of 6 members for Item 1, and he likes Item 2 being specific in terms of charge and responsibility and how that gets defined by way of an ordinance or resolution. Councilmember Cook-Kallio confirmed with the City Manager that if the Council started out with 5-6 members and put a definite timeline to achieve something, there is nothing to stop the Council from altering it depending on needs. Mayor Hosterman opened the item for public comment. Tim Belcher said it was interesting in the report that there were 15 programs, 12 different water conservation initiatives listed, yet the list was rather small. He felt 5 people would be too few to represent all of the constituencies and the different disciplines and suggested rather a 7 member committee. He also suggested task forces be contained with the committee, as needed, and agreed to help. Mayor Hosterman closed public comment. City Council Minutes 17 July 15, 2008