9/19/22, 3:36 PM Mail - Lindsay Lara - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAMkAGE4NDc2ZDVlLWQxMTYtNDBiOC04NTI0LTRjYTQzNTJlMTJkMQBGAAAAAAAyY1qsYIBjQ6ajfUy… 1/1 Proposed changes to City Boards, Committees & Commissions (BCCs) Sept 19, 2022, City Council Meeting
Grace G < >
Mon 9/19/2022 3:31 PM
To: Mayor Kate <[email protected]>;Rachel Kertz <[email protected]>;Maribeth Bushey <[email protected]>;Eli Hill <[email protected]>;Maika Llorens Gulati [email protected] ;Lindsay Lara [email protected] Cc: Alicia Giudice <[email protected]>;Leslie Mendez <[email protected]>;Jim Schutz <[email protected]> For Public Record
Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council Members,
The City Council on 6/6/22 changed the composition of the BPAC (bicycle & pedestrian advisory committee), reducing voting membership from 9 to 5, and the Parks & Recreation(P&R) Commission, reducing voting membership from 7 to 5 voting members. The rationale was "to have uniformity among City advisory committees, improve efficiencies in meetings, and have inclusivity of experiences in our members, while remaining manageable”.
The City Council also deleted the P&R Commission's authority to review P&R budget and made several changes to the San Rafael Code regarding composition of the Planning Commission, set term limits, and allowed the City Council to set eligibility requirements, quorum, meeting frequency, and compensation.
At this week's meeting the Council will continue this process with the 5-member Library Board of Trustees (allows compensation, sets term limits, removes budget review authority), Design Review Board (deletes code provisions on membership, term of office, removal or vacancy of membership, meetings, quorum, and compensation and allow City Council to decide this by resolution; sets term limits), and Fire Commission (similar changes).
While I totally support consistency and efficiencies across San Rafael Boards, Committees & Commissions, I don’t understand the rationale to decrease the autonomy and decision making responsibility. One must wonder, isn’t it dangerous and antidemocratic to consolidate almost all power in the hands of the City Council? I recommend that all BCCs have consistent quorum provision requirements. However, the report states that the quorum provisions are to be stated in the Resolution, but the form doesn't contain a resolution Does that come later? I sincerely appreciate your consideration.
Respectfully,
Grace Geraghty
Terra Linda Resident - 36 years