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Council debates size and composition of proposed temporary housing study advisory committee
Summary
Councilor Waterman moved to establish a temporary housing study advisory committee; councilors debated expanding membership from five to seven, stressing diversity of representation (bankers, social workers, nonprofit and for‑profit) and warning against excessive bureaucracy; a final vote is not recorded in the provided transcript.
Councilor Waterman moved Resolution 6331 to establish a temporary housing study advisory committee charged with studying housing options and returning recommendations to the council.
Council discussion focused on committee size and representation. Councilor Waterman and others advocated expanding the committee from five to seven members to broaden perspectives and include representatives from nonprofit and for‑profit housing partners, banking, and social services. One councilor warned that committees can grow into large bureaucracies and urged clear guardrails and mixed composition rather than over‑representing any single sector.
Speakers urged that when council selects members it should balance expertise with diversity of viewpoints; one councilor suggested the council itself should act as a gatekeeper to pick applicants who provide broad ward representation. The council discussed making an application process and considering ward‑based outreach or open house sessions to encourage wider participation.
The motion was seconded and debate continued; the transcript excerpt ends with councilors discussing selection criteria and the logistics of an expanded committee. No final vote on the resolution is recorded in the excerpt.
