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City manager reviews advisory-board protocols, strategic plan and wildfire mitigation at board meeting
Summary
City Manager Michael Penney reviewed the municipal code that created the advisory board, boards-and-commissions protocols including open-meetings rules, the city's strategic dashboard and a proposed wildfire mitigation plan covering about 250 acres and costing roughly $500,000; staff outlined timeline for parks plan, policy and budget.
City Manager Michael Penney briefed the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on the municipal code that established the board, new protocols for boards and commissions, the council's strategic plan and an upcoming wildfire mitigation recommendation.
Penney told the board the documents are intended to clarify the advisory role of the board and to reduce informal off-line policymaking. "You are subject to open meetings and open records laws," he said, adding, "no more than 2 of you can talk outside of this meeting" without posting an additional meeting. He cautioned against "daisy chaining" emails that could be construed as a meeting.
Penney walked through new procedural guidance that governs board conduct, social-media statements, possible executive sessions for property negotiations and a stipended youth ex-officio seat. He described the boards-and-commissions protocols adopted March 26, 2024, and said the packet summarizes expectations including decorum and steps the council can take for violations, such as removal of appointed members.
On strategic planning and operations, Penney reviewed the city dashboard, noting staff-level operational values and a timeline for next steps: a parks-and-rec plan adoption targeted for July 23 (subject to change), a policy discussion with council on Aug. 6 and a November budget adoption. He said staff is considering an organizational change to create a dedicated parks manager position to coordinate programming and maintenance.
Penney also summarized the city's wildfire mitigation proposal, describing it as nearly 250 public acres of mechanical mitigation and a recommendation that the council consider accelerating the work from a three-year plan to a one-year effort. He said the estimated scope runs "north of, half $1,000,000 worth of work," and that a mix of state grant funds and local appropriations are possible funding sources.
Board members asked about training, grant support and timelines; staff said prior in-person trainings were sparsely attended and that recorded materials exist on the city website. Penney encouraged members to use the packet and to direct routine questions through the city manager's office to avoid duplicative attorney costs.
The board did not take formal action on the code or strategic-plan items at this meeting; staff said they will return with specific proposals and budget options during the normal policy and budget cycle.
