Board debates formalizing chair and vice chair elections; staff recommends bylaws

Victoria McDermott, the city's Deputy City Attorney, asked the board to provide direction on whether to formalize the process for electing the board's chair and vice chair.

McDermott said the city charter gives the board authority to elect its own officers but does not specify timing or term length. The City's Board and Commission Handbook includes guidance on electing chairs and vice chairs, but that guidance applies to boards created by City Council and not to charter-created boards such as this one. She presented three options: continue informal practice; adopt bylaws setting election timing (for example, an annual election at the first meeting of the calendar year) and term limits (for example, two or four consecutive years with a break required before returning); or ask City Council to adopt rules by ordinance or resolution.

The deputy city attorney recommended adopting bylaws to clarify election timing, term limits and procedures. Board members discussed differences among charter-created boards, noting that the Planning & Zoning Commission (another charter board) has bylaws and that the Water & Soil Board has longer term limits (six-year staggered terms and up to three consecutive terms for members). Several board members said continuity of leadership on this technically complex board is a consideration when deciding term length.

No formal action was taken; the chair said the item would be placed on a following meeting agenda for further discussion and possible election confirmation.