Commission outlines 2025 work plan, asks volunteer working groups to meet before next session

Commissioners reviewed a staff spreadsheet of the commission’s annual work plan and agreed to launch working groups on priority topics before the next monthly meeting.

Staff described the spreadsheet’s color coding: items marked in green are staff-led reports that will appear during regular meetings; items in other colors are commissioner-led working groups that rely on volunteers. Commissioners agreed that work groups should meet at least once before the next meeting to “kick off” their tasks and report back on progress. Staff asked group leads to notify Beverly of status updates so agendas can be updated in advance.

Commissioners discussed how to coordinate monthly park visits and agreed to develop a simple standard form so each visit collects the same information. Commissioners Kate and Jim volunteered to draft a one-page checklist and a simple sign-up/calendar so commissioners do not duplicate visits. The commission proposed that park-visit reports be submitted to staff approximately one week before each commission meeting so staff can compile a short summary for the agenda packet.

On other items, commissioners discussed recruiting volunteers (including noncommissioners) to help with grant research and grant-writing assistance rather than assigning those topics to unwilling commissioners. Staff said department volunteers have already assisted on some grant work and can be used as needed.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that some working groups (for example, community outreach and Eagle Scout projects) may not require separate meetings and can be handled within regular commission sessions; others (urban-night-sky, soccer parking mitigation, motorized-vehicle policy) will meet with staff and may include outside volunteers.