Council creates Public Works Building Steering Committee to guide design

City staff asked the council to endorse the proposed membership and approach for a Public Works Building Steering Committee to advise the design of the new public works facility and to ensure stakeholder input.

Mark (city staff) described a proposed roster that would include two council members, representatives from the relevant city committees, the public works director and several public works staff members, noting the need to balance expertise and meeting practicality. He said the committee would meet at design "inflection points" rather than on a fixed weekly schedule.

Council discussion focused on scheduling, adding representation from Community Development (Abby or a staff designee), and appointing council liaisons. One council member moved to authorize formation of the ad hoc Public Works Building Steering Committee with council members Larson and Mayor Roberts as the council appointees; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Staff said committee input would be used to shape design decisions (for example whether to include a dog park or how much of the northwest corner of a site could be allocated), and committee membership could be adjusted depending on topic-specific needs.

The committee is authorized; staff will return with specific members and a meeting schedule for the committee.