Speaker 1: Consider reducing the number of Commission on Disability members from nine due to difficulty achieving a quorum for meetings and a limited staff resources. This item was placed on the agenda at the request of Council Member as Mayor as Ash and Vice Mayor Knox.
Speaker 0: I used to be a council member. Okay. So, um, the reason that I brought this in, in as Vice Mayor Knox White joined in with me is. It came to our attention that the the Commission on Disability was quite large. In fact, the largest of all the commissions in our city boards are commissions. And it was there's kind of a convoluted history to why that was. But the other issue is that it seemed like there was a number that was a little more manageable and could still cover the very, you know, the wide variety of types of disability. And and also, you know, we could recruit a little more effectively. But the. Anyway, they were asking to take a look at this to to go in. What I would like staff to do is to and it says here at the bottom is to return to the council with a clearly stated mission for the Commission on disability that is currently lacking. And the one of the way this even came to my attention is that we learned that the Commission had requested that staff of the school district appear before them and answer some questions about an issue that they had read about in the local paper. And they didn't do this by consulting with staff. It certainly wasn't at the direction of the council and in fact they requested this person to come back before them more than once. The at the very least. Commissions and boards are supposed to report to the council to carry out requests of the Council and help inform us. This was never reported to the council like we just heard about it when the superintendent of schools emailed me and I think it was maybe the new city manager's second day on the job. So of course I looked him into this and and then we again, Vice Mayor Knox White and I spent a number of time meeting with different commission members and also staff. And the we think this is a very important commission, but it still has to work in concert in cooperation with the city council and not just to go out on its own. And we we just think that this important commission could be more effective. But it was a bit unwieldy at nine members, and no one could seem to justify why that would be the largest commission in the city. And so, again, we I've been really gratified that we've had lots of applications and great applications for our boards and commissions. For whatever reason, this one hasn't had many applicants, but we are working on doing better job of outreach and, and, you know, marketing. And, but I would like the, I think with a more clearly stated mission and a sense of, you know, what it is we are looking for this commission to do, then that commission, whatever size they are, will be more useful to the council and therefore the city. Do you want to add anything? Vice Mayor.
Speaker 3: Two things. First off that that that the item and accidentally talks about having a difficulty achieving quorum which is a big sore spot that is apparently an urban myth that was continued forward and and that.
Speaker 0: In Bigfoot.
Speaker 3: I wanted to make it really really clear because because they're there, they have only missed one meeting in like three years because of a quorum issue and very sensitive that that this continues to kind of come up through third channels. So just mentioning that, yeah, I think basically at the end of the day, we're just asking for support to ask staff who works with the commission to help the commission identify what it is that, you know, bring back to us. Kind of what is the scope of the commission, what's the best makeup of that commission, etc.? So we don't have to decide that tonight.
Speaker 0: So but we would like your I mean, I imagine your support for for this staff direction councilmember or I think, hey, you want to go first? I think I saw Councilmember Bell hand up first.
Speaker 5: I was going to move approval, but okay, if you want to wait.
Speaker 0: I'll get a motion for approval. Do we have a second? And now we can have a discussion. Council Member Val.
Speaker 7: I was just thank you for pointing out that there wasn't a issue with the achieving a quorum. I think there's other boards that have that problem, including one that I used to be on the have. So I but I think hearing more from them about what they think the scope and of their reach is and I don't necessarily think the scope, but their mission, I really do think that we should probably have staff advise them about the scope and then we should hear from them on the mission. So I just wanted to clarify that.
Speaker 0: Yeah, I think those are good points. And I, I think if if you're willing to we have a motion in a second to give staff direction. They know staff has heard all this. So do we have a vote all in favor?
Speaker 2: I.
Speaker 0: I okay. That passed unanimously. Right. Okay. And there is a second council referral on providing direction. Uh, do you want to read that one out and.
Consider Reducing the Number of Commission on Disability Members from Nine Due to Difficulty Achieving a Quorum for Meetings and Limited Staff Resources. (Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft and Vice Mayor Knox White)  [Not heard on July 16, 2019]