An opportunity to get more involved!

Check out the open house and join a city board

Photo by Andrej Lišakov on Unsplash

Some changes to our thirteen city boards, commissions, and committees are in the works. You’ll see standardization of names, a revamped recruitment process, and other tweaks happening now or shortly. Here’s what to expect.

BIG CHANGES FOR RECRUITMENT

THINKING ABOUT GETTING MORE INVOLVED? HERE’S YOUR OPPORTUNITY

This is the big kahuna of the changes. Traditionally the city advertises when there is a board or commission opening. In more recent years seats can remain open for long periods. This led to council and staff discussing trying something new to increase resident participation.

The something new is a semi-annual recruitment event, one in the fall and a smaller one in the spring. Applications open on August 26 and are due by Sept. 20. To qualify, you must be a Lafayette resident for at least a year and a registered voter, with some exceptions. 

An open house will be held on August 29 where all the boards will be represented allowing you to learn what each one does. You can fill out an application on the spot or ponder and do it later online from the comfort of your easy chair.

August 29, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Location: Bob L. Burger Recreation Center, 111 W. Baseline Rd.

This change will lead to a one-time adjustment in term lengths to match the new process. Some current members will have their terms lengthened or shortened. Rather than council appointing members throughout the year, all appointments will occur at the same meeting. Terms will still be staggered to avoid leaving a board with no members but they will now end on November 30 with the new term beginning on December 1. The application deadline set at September 20 allows time for applicants to be interviewed and recommendations made before the new term begins.

An exception is the Lafayette Youth Advisory Commission (soon-to-be board, see below). Their terms are one year and run from September 1 to August 31 to align with the school year.

You can see all the boards on the city website here. I am guessing there will be a link to fill out applications tomorrow, August 26. In the meantime, you can read about the duties of each board, commission, and committee.

Be aware that the city posts applications online for public viewing with personal information redacted.

CHANGES TO THE NAMES

Councilor Samson raised the lack of consistency in names at a recent council meeting and received agreement from the other councilors. Our volunteer city bodies were launched over the years as the need arose. As each new group formed there was no standard method to decide if board, commission, or committee was the appropriate term.

On August 20 the council approved an ordinance changing the city code to reflect this new standardization. Quasi-judicial groups will become commissions. This already applies to the Planning Commission but the Historic Preservation Board also acts as a quasi-judicial body and will become the Historic Preservation Commission.

Non-quasi-judicial groups become boards, and groups with a single purpose such as making recommendations for grant funding will become committees.

Below is a chart from the staff memo in the council’s packet for August 8 showing the changes.

Heads-up: If you look at the city website and still see the old names that’s because an ordinance goes into effect 10 days after council approval and we are not there as of the date of this report! Confusing I know.

CHANGES TO DUTIES AND MEMBERSHIPS

Other changes are happening. Recently our boards have reassessed their duties and bylaws in effect since their inception. Some boards want alternate members some prefer none. Some duties no longer make sense or apply. Updated code changes are required. That’s what we see here.

• Human Rights Commission (Board) 1

Transitioning membership to 9 members (rather than 7 members).

No longer including alternate members.

Transitioning to two-year terms (rather than three-year terms).

• Library Board

Removing the board’s role in monitoring gifts of money.

Adding language regarding the board’s role in supporting Library programs, policies, and services consistent with City Council adopted plans and priorities.

Transition the board membership from seven voting members to nine voting members and eliminate alternates

• Senior Advisory Board

Adding language regarding the board’s role in supporting programs and services for older adults consistent with City Council adopted plans and priorities.

Remove function of board to review candidates for the senior services staff position.

• Youth Advisory Board

Change the membership on board to a minimum of 7 and a maximum of 13 members.

Recruit other Lafayette youths to volunteer and participate in supporting board projects and events, as needed at the discretion of the board.

1 Additional Human Rights Commission (Board) scope changes may be made through the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Strategic Planning process and presented at a later time.

OFFICIALLY CREATING THE MENTAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE

In 2023 I wrote about the history of this committee and the sales tax that funds the grants. A committee was created last year with members appointed by the city administrator. It was a success and will now become a formal committee included in our city code with members appointed by the city council.

Want to offer more support? Awesome!