Advisory board code amendments update: term limits, quorum and draft work program discussed

City staff summarized recent advisory-board code amendments reviewed by City Council on Jan. 12 and discussed the proposed effects for the Bicycle Advisory Board. Tyler, the staff liaison, said the amendments would change member terms from three-year to two-year terms and allow up to four consecutive two-year terms (eight years total) to align with other boards. He also explained a quorum change: a quorum will be a simple majority of current membership (51 percent), which can change based on board size.

"No members shall serve more than four consecutive full two year terms or 8 total years," Tyler said in describing the draft language. Board members asked clarifying questions about youth-member term exceptions and whether a break in service would allow a member to return after eight years; Tyler said the draft language does not automatically permit a return after a break in service without meeting reappointment processes.

The board also reviewed a proposed annual work program. Tyler invited members to add or prioritize items such as the Pacific Avenue Greenway, Fishlake trail access, the Grand Boulevard redesign (road diet options), school-area safety improvements and the city’s six-year street program. Staff said projects further out in the six-year plan or not yet in design are appropriate topics for the advisory board’s input this year.

Members asked staff to follow up with project-specific presentations as design milestones are reached and recommended tracking outcomes for street-vacation requests and other items that pass through council.