Boating Advisory Council adopts updated bylaws, rejects dedicated search-and-rescue seat

The Boating Advisory Council unanimously adopted amended and restated bylaws at a virtual meeting, setting member terms at four years with the option for one additional four‑year term and clarifying the process to amend bylaws.

The measure replaces the council's 2018 bylaws with a modern, article‑numbered format and includes a new sentence that bylaws may be changed “by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the council at any meeting of the council at which a quorum is present.” The council also voted to strike a proposed additional seat for search‑and‑rescue representation.

Council members said the new format is intended to make internal cross‑referencing easier and to reflect the Division of Outdoor Recreation’s organizational split from the former Division of Parks and Recreation. Shane Stroud, assistant attorney general representing the division, told the council the amended format follows the structure other advisory councils use and is intended to make references and paragraph numbering clearer for future rule or bylaw edits.

During debate, members discussed whether a search‑and‑rescue representative should hold a voting seat. Zach Williams moved to remove the proposed search‑and‑rescue seat; the motion was seconded and carried after council members raised concerns that adding a government‑affiliated seat could duplicate existing connections with sheriff offices and division law enforcement. Several members said search‑and‑rescue interests can be brought in as nonvoting advisors or through existing agency liaisons when needed.

The council also voted to change member term lengths. George (last name not specified in the record) moved to set initial appointments at four years with the option to apply for an additional four‑year term; the motion passed without recorded opposition. Members said four‑year terms are standard for this council and acceptable given the council's meeting frequency.

Council members asked staff to clarify the amendment procedure language to ensure bylaw changes require a quorum and appropriate agenda notice under the Open and Public Meetings Act; legal staff revised the text during the meeting and presented the clarified language before the final vote.

The amended and restated bylaws were adopted by unanimous vote. The council directed staff to publish a clean copy incorporating the agreed clarifications and to bring any future rule‑level changes back for the required rulemaking process if a change (such as adding a voting seat) requires that step.

Looking ahead, council members asked staff to prepare a final clean codified copy of the bylaws for publication and to ensure the council's webpage and contact procedures reflect the adopted governance changes.