Maricopa council seeks clearer roles, liaisons and code changes for standing advisory committees

Maricopa city council members, committee volunteers and staff met to review the city’s three standing advisory committees and agreed to pursue clearer role definitions, more active council liaisons and draft changes to city code.

Committee members, volunteers and several council members said the current rules leave committees underused and unclear about whether they should advise staff, run events or help implement projects. The council directed staff to prepare draft code changes and asked council liaisons and committee chairs to meet and develop annual objectives tied to the city’s futures planning process.

City code and the committees’ origin: The city’s standing committees named in the code are the Parks, Recreation and Libraries Advisory Committee; the Age Friendly Advisory Committee; and the Cultural Affairs and Arts Committee. Presenters read portions of the city code (referred to in the meeting as City code section 2.15.130) and Resolution 14-26 (which established the Age Friendly initiative) to explain existing duties and limits on committee authority.

Why it matters: Committee members and council liaisons said better definition and a clear annual calendar would let volunteers do…