Commission reviews bylaws and waits on facility-naming policy from city manager

Deputy director Pat O’Mara reviewed the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission’s bylaws at the Jan. 6 meeting and walked commissioners through four primary areas: the commission’s duties (primarily recommending park and facility names to city council), membership composition (15 members: two from each council ward plus three mayoral appointees with three-year terms), officer roles and voting status, and meeting requirements (required no less than quarterly and typically scheduled the first Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.).

O’Mara noted some administrative inconsistencies in the written bylaws — including a line that still names the Clerk’s Conference Room as the meeting location — and said the public meeting room in Civic Center Building A is the commission’s new, permanent meeting location. He encouraged commissioners to submit proposed bylaw changes to the chair, Ashley (staff), and himself so the group can consider amendments in coming weeks.

On the facility-naming policy, O’Mara reported the draft recommendations the commission discussed in November are still under review on the deputy city manager’s desk on the 7th Floor and that staff expect to have the matter return to the commission around March for formal consideration.

The review included a reminder of attendance expectations and how, under the city’s appointment process, council members or the mayor may replace commissioners. O’Mara said election of officers is routine at the first meeting of the year and described the department’s role as staff support (the director serves as commission secretary with the deputy director as designee).