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Council authorizes targeted pause and review of non-mandated boards and commissions
Summary
Council directed staff to draft a resolution pausing non-mandated boards and commissions while launching a 12-month review and public-engagement process; the council exempted neighborhood advisory boards and the Recreation and Parks Commission and left other bodies subject to manager discretion.
The Reno City Council directed staff on June 4 to draft a resolution pausing non-mandated boards, commissions and committees while the city conducts a comprehensive administrative review of the boards program. The resolution asks for a pause in meetings and staff support for those non-mandated bodies while staff performs a governance, inclusivity and engagement audit and develops recommendations for improving board operations and member training.
City Clerk Mickey Huntsman outlined a 12-month review plan and a set of guiding principles including enhanced governance, greater inclusivity, improved public engagement, stronger collaboration and a formal training and evaluation program for members. Huntsman said the review would cover charter and ordinance requirements, conflicts or duplication among bylaws and statutes, demographic representation, meeting attendance and staff time spent supporting boards and commissions.
After council debate, members approved a motion that pauses non-mandated boards and commissions but exempts Neighborhood Advisory Boards (NABs) and the Recreation and Parks Commission from the pause; other non-mandated bodies may meet at the manager’s discretion. The motion also directs staff to proceed with the review and public engagement described in the staff presentation and to return draft recommendations. Council asked that staff incorporate council liaisons’ input and that any pause include extensions of current terms so members do not lose appointment time.
Supporters of the review said an audit was overdue, that Boards and Commissions are governed by numerous ordinances and resolutions and that more consistent procedures and training could improve governance. Some council members and public commenters objected to a year-long pause and warned that pausing meetings could reduce momentum for volunteer members and hamper public input on active development projects. City staff said the pause would be implemented by resolution and that manager Jackie Bryant would retain discretion to allow specific bodies to meet where needed.
Council voted unanimously to ask staff to prepare the formal pause resolution and to proceed with a staged review and outreach process described by the clerk.
