Committee backs renaming Neighborhood Executive Committee to Neighborhood Engagement Committee

Brenna Duffy, neighborhood services supervisor, presented a resolution to update the Neighborhood Executive Committee—s governance. The resolution would change the committee—s name to the Neighborhood Engagement Committee, remove the secretary position, increase the number of officers-at-large from three to four and move to administrative approval of membership once groups meet set criteria. "We are talking about going from the Neighborhood Executive Committee to the Neighborhood Engagement Committee," Duffy said, explaining that members found "engagement" to be a more welcoming label.

Duffy described changes to membership rules: groups must have bylaws on file, hold a meeting that invites all residents, and meet attendance thresholds before staff presents them to officers and the committee; the administrative step aims to reduce ceremony for routine approvals. Council members asked about HOA versus neighborhood representation and participation by renters; Duffy said renters in defined neighborhoods are welcome and staff will continue outreach. The committee voted to recommend council adoption of the resolution.