Council signals consensus to create Downtown Rowlett advisory board; details set in work session

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Deb Schindler proposed establishing a Downtown Rowlett advisory board to provide sustained citizen input on implementing the downtown strategic plan and to help sustain progress through personnel and political transitions.

Schindler told council the board would be advisory and intended to “assist and advise the council in facilitating the execution of the Downtown Rowlett strategic plan.” She emphasized it would not supplant staff or carry decision‑making authority: “This would be an advisory board only,” she said during her presentation.

Why it matters: Council members expressed support for more citizen engagement focused exclusively on downtown, while several members also warned the board must not slow ongoing staff work already underway. The work session produced a council consensus on the board’s basic structure and boundaries.

What council agreed in principle - Scope and authority: Council directed that the board be advisory only; it will provide input on policies, promotion and implementation of the strategic plan but will not have authority over staff operations or final budget decisions. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Schindler removed language from the original draft that would have allowed the board to hold staff accountable. - Size and composition: The council reached consensus on a seven‑member board with three seats designated for downtown business operators (businesses that actively operate in the downtown boundary) and four seats for Rowlett residents. The council also agreed to create three alternates. Council members indicated alternates could be residents or downtown business operators. - Appointment and terms: Appointments will be made by majority vote of the council; staggered term lengths were discussed so the whole board would not turn over at once. Council indicated regular members should serve two‑year terms and alternates one‑year terms (staff to draft final language). - Relationship to staff and schedule: Council emphasized the board should not impede current staff work on downtown improvements. Staff will continue implementation and will coordinate with the board after it is formed; staff will pick up items in the process “once the board is formed,” City Manager Hall said on the record to clarify staff timing.

Public input and background Public commenters at the start of the meeting offered support for citizen involvement. Shelby Coleman, a Rowlett resident, told council: “My goal in requesting a downtown advisory board is simple, to ensure that small consistent actions continue despite staff turnover and council term limits.” Another speaker, Michelle Wallace, urged the council to adopt the plan and increase downtown engagement.

Next steps and staff role Staff will return with ordinance or resolution language and implementation details (including staggered terms, exact boundaries that define “downtown,” and nomination/appointment procedures). Council members also asked staff to ensure the board’s charter and membership rules align with the City’s Boards and Commissions Handbook (revised and adopted in 2024).

Ending: At the work session’s end, the mayor summarized council consensus: create a Downtown Rowlett advisory board of seven regular members and three alternates (three business operators and four Rowlett residents) and charge staff with drafting the formal creation language and implementation timeline.

Quotations in this article are drawn directly from the Feb. 3 work session transcript and are attributed to speakers in the article’s speaker list.