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City manager urges simple 'partnering norms' to clarify staff–commission interactions
Summary
City Manager Ed Shekada presented a proposed one‑page 'partnering norms' guide to clarify how commissioners and staff interact, stressing the document is proactive and complementary to the boards and commissions handbook; commissioners offered edits and suggested retreat discussion.
City Manager Ed Shekada introduced a proposed one‑page guidance on partnering norms at the Dec. 16 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, saying the draft is intended to provide practical, staff‑focused guidance that complements the existing Boards, Commissions and Committees (BCC) handbook.
Shekada said the goal is to prevent issues before they arise and to give staff and commissioners a short, tactical reference for interactions in public meetings, ad hoc committees and routine work. He emphasized the draft is intentionally concise and adaptable to each commission’s needs.
Commissioners asked about the relationship to the council‑adopted BCC handbook, enforcement and who would address alleged breaches (chair, council liaison, human resources). Several commissioners raised concerns about phrasing that could chill public discussion or discourage feedback on staff work product, and asked for explicit safeguards for diverse participants and clarity about when private feedback is appropriate.
Several commissioners suggested the topic be discussed at a February retreat and asked staff to return with refined language and, where useful, an attachment highlighting differences between the handbook and the one‑page norms. Shekada said staff would work with the chair and could bring suggested findings or language back for PRC input before forwarding anything to the City Council.
