Community Services Commission adopts revised mission statement emphasizing collaboration and a 'continuum of services'

The Community Services Commission voted to adopt a revised one-sentence mission statement that defines the commission as an advisory body to the Benicia City Council and says the commission "provides informed recommendations on policies, programs and a continuum of services, and promotes collaborations across the community to enhance quality of life for all Benicians."

An ad hoc committee presented a draft statement and commissioners debated wording for inclusivity and scope. Commissioner Alan Piccolo proposed inserting "a continuum of" before "services" and commissioners discussed whether the mission should explicitly reference preserving socioeconomically diverse residency in Benicia. The chair clarified that the commission’s duties set out in the municipal ordinance (included as background) were not being changed at this meeting; the motion adopted an edited mission statement as the commission’s guiding one-sentence statement.

There was a roll-call vote after a motion and second; the chair announced the mission statement was adopted. Commissioners agreed the mission will guide goal setting during future meetings, and staff will return with drafts of goals and proposals for ad hoc work to organize those suggestions.