Mayor Boesen says no secret meeting; outlines review of boards and commissions

Mayor Connie Boesen used closing remarks at the May 4 meeting to address constituent concerns and social media posts about boards and commissions. She said there was no secret meeting to change gender-balance policy and explained the purpose of a staff meeting was to review which boards and commissions are needed, whether new ones should be created, how many people should serve on each and whether term limits should be made consistent.

Boesen said the meeting that prompted questions included the city manager, assistant city managers, two at‑large council members (Mike Simonsen and Carl Voss) and staff who compiled information; she said the intent was not to change gender balance but to ensure appointments are both qualified and reflective of the community. She acknowledged that vacancies and term expirations may temporarily affect balance but said the city would continue to work toward representative appointments.

What happens next: The mayor’s remarks clarified the scope of the staff review; the transcript does not record a policy change or a formal directive to alter appointment criteria during this meeting.