Council debates incentives for boards and commissions; no clear staff directive

Council member Eslinger introduced a proposal March 11 to consider incentives for members of city boards and commissions, and for poll workers, including options such as annual passes or modest compensation to encourage participation and improve diversity among applicants.

Discussion was split. Council member Stevenson said modest incentives or compensation could broaden participation by people who cannot volunteer without compensation. Council member Flom and others said volunteerism should remain uncompensated and cautioned that tangible incentives can create perverse incentives for membership; Flom referenced a county restructuring example where per diem payments altered member behavior. City staff noted poll workers already receive pay and that the city provides plaques and milestone recognition to volunteers.

Council members did not reach consensus to direct staff to create or implement an incentive program. Several members asked staff to compile a list of options and what the city could offer (for example, available passes or low-administration recognition), while others explicitly said they did not want staff to pursue the idea further. The mayor asked staff to report back with options about what the city currently has at its disposal if council wished to consider them; no formal ordinance or budgetary change was requested at the March 11 meeting.