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Fairview recreation staff propose replacing Community Engagement Committee with volunteer program
Summary
City recreation staff recommended transitioning the Community Engagement Committee into a volunteer-focused program to support events and outreach; council members signaled informal support and staff said a formal ordinance would be returned for council review.
Fairview recreation department leaders told the City Council at its Sept. 17 meeting they want to transition the Community Engagement Committee (CEC) from a standing advisory committee into a volunteer-recruitment program focused on event staffing. Recreation Director Cairo told the council the CEC met only four times this year and rarely reached a full quorum, and staff need more flexible, on‑the‑ground volunteers to support city events.
Why it matters: Council members said the committee had dwindled in attendance and that a volunteer pool could be easier for residents to join, reducing burnout while letting staff make timely event decisions.
Cairo, Fairview’s recreation director, said, “We currently have four members in the CEC; two are engaged and two are hit-and-miss,” and described a staff proposal to “transition out of the engagement community committee” and “have more of a focus on volunteers and recruiting volunteers.” He said the change would let staff make timely decisions “especially around events,” which the committee primarily handled.
Annie, the recreation program coordinator and the staff liaison to the CEC, described her volunteer-management background and said the proposed model would tap existing networks and groups to recruit volunteers for short commitments. She told the council she had overseen volunteer programs with roughly 40 volunteers and used “head volunteers” who oversaw other volunteers.
Council members offered largely positive remarks. One councilor said, “I think this is a wise idea. CEC has been slowly dwindling,” and another added that many residents want to help but cannot commit to monthly meetings; a volunteer pool that allowed people to serve at a few events per year would be more realistic.
What’s next: Staff told council members they would return the idea as a formal ordinance (or as part of a broader review of city committees) and seek direction on how other advisory bodies might be restructured. Cairo said staff planned further work sessions in the coming months to review all city committees and their roles.
Discussion vs. decision: The council gave informal direction and positive feedback but did not adopt or amend any ordinance at the Sept. 17 meeting. Staff said they would return with formal language for council consideration.
