LGC consolidates five working groups into three, names members

At its September meeting, the LGC voted to consolidate five standing working groups into three and approved a slate of members to staff each new group.

The commission approved a motion to form three working groups — Business Administration, Park Excellence and External Relations — and to keep the existing committees in place until the new charters are finalized. “I like that we're actually doing real work in here,” Chair Jeremy Quicksall said after the vote.

Why it matters: the LGC’s working groups provide ongoing oversight and coordinate with the Trinity Park Conservancy (TPC) and city staff on design, construction, operations and community outreach for the park. Commissioners and staff said consolidating aims to reduce meeting redundancy, clarify responsibilities such as finance and fundraising, and improve coordination on operations and long‑term maintenance.

Most important details

- The commission asked each new working group to return next month with refined purpose language and bulleted tasks; city staff will provide draft language to assist that work.

- The body approved membership for each new group. Business Administration: Jeremy Quicksall (chair), Diane Butler, Sarah Jackson. Park Excellence: Eddie (last name not specified), Gary (last name not specified), Diane Butler, with Martha (last name not specified) as an alternate. External Relations: Chris Fati and Mark (last name not specified); the commission discussed adding an alternate.

- Commissioners directed the Business Administration group to include finance, contracting and fundraising oversight; members said that contracting and accounting/finance are closely linked. Park Excellence will fold design and construction oversight into long‑term operations and maintenance (O&M). External Relations merges communications, marketing and community engagement functions to reduce overlap with TPC’s separate communications and engagement teams.

Discussion highlights

Vice Chair Sarah Jackson and others described overlap between the former community engagement and communications committees and suggested merging them to streamline outreach. Marcus Shropshire, a TPC representative attending the meeting, said TPC maintains separate communications and community engagement staffs — Brian Lapides (CMO) and Sam Acosta (director of community engagement) — and that those teams already collaborate. “They do work collaboratively throughout all communications and all community conversation,” Marcus said.

Commissioners flagged several specific topics the new groups should address: O&M and long‑term sustainability under Park Excellence; fundraising and monthly/quarterly financial reporting under Business Administration; and advocacy and stakeholder coordination under External Relations. Commissioners also recommended explicitly naming partners the groups will interface with, including TPC components, city departments and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers when relevant.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to form three working groups and maintain the prior committee structure until new charters are finalized: moved by Gary (last name not specified), seconded by Diane Butler; motion approved (vote recorded in meeting as in favor; no opposing votes announced).

- Motion to approve membership slate for the three working groups: moved by Martha (last name not specified), seconded by Eddie (last name not specified); motion approved (no opposing votes announced).

Next steps and implementation

Each of the three new groups was charged with drafting suggested language for its scope and responsibilities and returning a refined draft to the LGC at the next meeting. Commissioners asked city staff to circulate a draft for review; members were asked to respond to staff drafts in advance of the next meeting.

Ending note

Commissioners framed the reorganization as a practical move to reduce duplication and better align LGC oversight with the Conservancy’s ongoing work, fundraising needs and long‑term maintenance planning.