Staff explains ordinance 3,563 sunset review process and schedule to senior board

A staff member briefed the Farmers Branch Senior Advisory Board on the city’s sunset review process under ordinance 3,563, saying the ordinance requires certain boards and commissions to terminate on June 30 of years ending in 0 and 5 unless the city council affirms their continuation.

The explanation matters because the board must prepare a presentation and materials for council review if it expects to continue in the next term. Staff said presentations are typically made by current board chairs and focus on three pillars: foundation, structure and function.

Staff summarized the ordinance language: on specified June 30 dates, the listed boards “shall terminate without further action of the city council unless the city council has affirmatively voted that the board or commission shall continue in existence under the next termination date.” Staff told the board that the last sunset review occurred in 2020 and that the board’s biannual and sunset presentations were merged during that review. City staff said the board will see the sunset item on the March calendar and that the June 30 review will be added to the board’s schedule for preparation.

Board members asked for clarification about what the sunset review entails and were told the presentation should cover the board’s demographics, community impact and the three pillars the council uses for evaluation. No formal action was taken; staff said they will provide details and materials to help the board prepare its presentation for the council’s review.