Commission debates strategic-plan wording after council questions over term limits, restrooms and land acknowledgment

Commissioners spent substantial time reviewing how the draft strategic plan was received by the City Council and whether to revise language on civic participation and facilities.

Unidentified Speaker 4 summarized council feedback, saying some council members reacted defensively when the plan raised term limits; he reported that "four council members would vote no on the term limits" as initially drafted and relayed proposed language from Council Member Wall that would emphasize "opportunities for community members to participate in engagement within the city and bring new ideas forward" rather than creating new permanent commissions. Commissioners discussed trade-offs: several said term limits were intended to increase turnover and open seats, while others warned that adding commissions or leadership roles increases staff workload and complexity.

On facilities policy, commissioners debated language for gender-neutral restrooms. Unidentified Speaker 4 noted not all city buildings can accommodate single-room restrooms and recommended flexible language (single-room options where possible; privacy-enhancing stalls or family-changing rooms in other facilities). Members raised building-code and safety concerns and agreed the strategic plan should avoid prescriptive requirements without facility assessments.

Commissioners also discussed a proposed land acknowledgment and agreed on the need for consultation with indigenous residents and tribes. Unidentified Speaker 4 cautioned that a recitation given without follow-up becomes "performative," and multiple members said language should emphasize concrete opportunities for indigenous people to advise on culture and history as part of any acknowledgment.

The commission decided to continue refining the strategic plan language and to present edits to the council at the next opportunity rather than forcing immediate policy changes.