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Steering committee maps participatory budgeting Cycle 9 but says staff vacancies will require volunteers
Summary
Members said idea collection for Cycle 9 begins in August per the rule book, but two vacant staff positions mean volunteers and steering-committee members must take on outreach, materials and some analyst duties; Jason will compile prior materials and a volunteer roles list.
The steering committee for Vallejo’s participatory budgeting program discussed plans for Cycle 9 and said two vacant staff positions will force the committee and volunteers to pick up much of the program administration.
Jason, who led the item, said the rule book schedules idea collection to begin in August and that the committee typically opens the online portal earlier and starts outreach in April to build community momentum. He told members the city currently has both staff positions that support PB vacant and that the committee will need volunteers to manage outreach, materials and other duties.
"According to the rule book, idea collection starts in August," Jason said. "We usually open up the online portal before then so we can start collecting ideas." He added the committee will rely on volunteers and on anchor members to replicate some staff functions.
David Belliff, a former steering-committee member speaking as a private citizen, urged the committee to consider returning project selection authority to budget delegates and to reuse prior timelines and materials to speed planning. "All you need to do is update them with dates and times," Belliff said, urging the committee to tap the city manager’s volunteer coordinator to recruit help.
Members discussed outreach tactics aimed at underrepresented groups and people who may not feel safe attending in-person events. One member raised concerns about exposing vulnerable community members to potential hostility; others noted the PB voting process can be completed online or by phone to reduce that risk.
Committee members offered to help. Samantha Smith volunteered to assist with outreach materials and to work with Jason on assembling a calendar of volunteer tasks. Jason said he would "dig up some of the older paperwork and… reach out" to identify reusable documents and to distribute a list of specific volunteer roles.
The committee did not take any formal votes on program changes. Next steps recorded in the meeting: Jason will locate prior materials and send an email describing which volunteer positions and tasks the committee should fill to support Cycle 9.
