Council establishes heritage ad hoc committee and standing downtown committee to guide anniversary celebrations and downtown projects

The Porterville City Council on Wednesday approved two new advisory bodies: an ad hoc Heritage Committee to help plan community celebrations and a standing Downtown Porterville Committee to advise the council on downtown projects and policy.

Heritage committee: The council agreed to form an ad hoc Heritage Committee — exempt from the Brown Act when it includes fewer than a quorum of councilmembers — to help coordinate events, signage and outreach for the city’s upcoming charter centennial and the nation’s 250th anniversary. The council asked that the ad hoc group be led by two councilmembers and supported by staff; the council may invite community members to participate without formally appointing them, which would keep the body outside Brown Act committee rules.

Downtown committee: Councilmembers also voted to create a standing Downtown Porterville Committee, governed by the Brown Act, to advise on downtown revitalization, signage, events and coordination with the Chamber of Commerce. Council set the committee membership at seven total members (including two councilmembers) and directed staff to prepare an application and appointment process focused on downtown business owners and participants. Council discussion noted the committee should be sized to function effectively and should coordinate with existing downtown groups and the Chamber of Commerce.

Votes and next steps: The Heritage ad hoc committee authorization passed on a council motion; the Downtown Committee membership and process were approved (7 members total, two councilmembers) and staff will return a resolution and application packet for formal appointments. Council asked staff to coordinate with the existing downtown stakeholders and to consider funding and regulatory barriers to revitalization projects.