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Board discusses consolidating volunteer committees into a Trails, Arts, Parks and Streetscapes (TAPS) advisory committee
Summary
Commissioners debated dissolving the Streetscapes and Trees & Trails committees and forming a unified TAPS advisory committee to increase efficiency, clarify duties and improve board-committee communication; discussion covered committee size, attendance expectations, quarterly reporting and minute-taking requirements.
At the Dec. 16 work session commissioners discussed a proposal to dissolve the existing Streetscapes and Trees & Trails volunteer committees and create a unified Trails, Arts, Parks and Streetscapes (TAPS) advisory committee.
Vice Mayor (Speaker 8) and Commissioner (Speaker 7) described the consolidation as a way to reduce duplication, increase staff and volunteer efficiency, and improve coordination on projects such as the Story Trail. Proposed changes discussed included committee size (debate ranged from 7 to 13 members), quarterly reporting to the board, committee handbooks and clearer direction-setting from the board so volunteers know priorities. Commissioner (Speaker 7) proposed draft duties and minute content requirements, including maintaining attendance records and recording motions, seconds and vote outcomes in committee minutes to make future grant applications and decision tracking easier.
Commissioners emphasized continuity for existing volunteers and asked staff (Speaker 5 and Speaker 6) to reach out to current members to determine who wishes to continue serving under a reconstituted committee. Several commissioners said attendance enforcement and clearer expectations would help committees be more effective. Staff recommended commissioners send amendments to the draft resolution to town staff for incorporation before the voting meeting.
No board action was taken at the work session; commissioners indicated they would submit edits to staff and anticipated the consolidated committee resolution would be on the January voting agenda.
