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Council debate over advisory boards ends with failed motion to dissolve sustainability panel
Summary
Deputy Mayor Jaffe proposed dissolving the Sustainability Advisory Board and tabling the Infrastructure Advisory & Oversight Board for redesign; the motion failed on a 3‑2 roll call after council members and public speakers urged accountability, better appointment processes and better notice of meetings.
A motion by Deputy Mayor Jaffe to dissolve the Sustainability Advisory Board and to table the Infrastructure Advisory & Oversight Board for redesign failed after a 3‑2 roll call.
Jaffe said attendance and quorum problems, empty agendas and staff preparation for meetings that did not occur were reasons to reconsider board structures. He proposed eliminating the sustainability panel and pausing the infrastructure board while staff and council reassess roles and appointments.
Several council members and residents disagreed or urged caution. Council members said the infrastructure board should be preserved because of oversight needs related to the city’s road program, and that sustainability matters intersect with stormwater and infrastructure. Speakers underscored the value of citizen involvement but asked for stronger accountability for appointees, better appointment pipelines and clearer staff reporting of board activity. Councilman Johnson suggested combining related boards to reduce duplication; others recommended a month of outreach to try to refill vacancies and adjust meeting cadence.
When council voted, the motion failed on roll call (Mayor Medina and Councilmen Johnson and Hammer voted "nay"). Council directed staff and council members to work on attendance and appointment issues; Deputy Mayor Jaffe said he would bring the matter back if improvements were not implemented.
