Woodland Park appoints parks maintenance worker Joel Smith to Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

The Woodland Park City Council on Sept. 18 unanimously appointed Joel Smith, a city facilities and grounds crew employee, as a voting member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

The council’s decision followed a brief interview in which Smith said he has worked for the city for about four-and-a-half years (including six months as a seasonal employee) and that his daily work maintaining parks and city facilities gives him a “unique viewpoint” he could bring to board deliberations.

Council members asked whether Smith should serve as a non-voting staff liaison or a full, voting board member. Smith told the council he preferred to be a voting member. After discussion, a council member made a motion to appoint Smith as a voting member; the motion carried unanimously. City staff then administered the oath of office to Smith.

City staff noted that the appointment would leave the other applicant, Kimberly Alvarado, without a position on the board and said they would invite her to return for interview at a future meeting. Staff also confirmed Smith’s eligibility under personnel policies and the city’s committee bylaws prior to the vote.

The appointment marks the first time, council staff said during the meeting, that a city staff member applied to join a board as a voting member rather than serving solely as an assigned staff liaison. Council members praised Smith’s professionalism and the condition of the parks maintained by his crew.

Action details: a motion to appoint Joel Smith as a voting member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was made and seconded, and the council voted unanimously to approve the appointment. No amendments were proposed.

The council did not adopt any additional directives tied to the appointment during the meeting; staff indicated they would follow up about Alvarado’s application before the next meeting.