The Lawrence City Commission has approved a resolution to sunset the Sustainability Advisory Board in September — with a challenge to the board to reimagine its own purpose in the interim.
Several members of the public were confused about why the commission was considering a recommendation to sunset the board when commissioners had asked in November to keep it but “reimagine” how it functions.
The city plan to sunset the SAB and several other advisory boards came following recommendations from an ad hoc committee that was tasked with reviewing all city boards and limiting the number of boards to 10, not counting those required by state statutes. The discussion has been ongoing over the past year and a half or so.
City Clerk Sherri Riedemann said the city was recommending the Sustainability Advisory Board become an “operational board.” That’s a new concept for the city, mentioned in one paragraph of the 50-plus-page agenda item. The city manager would appoint members to operational boards.
The approved changes give the city manager “the authority to establish Operational Advisory Boards to advise the City Manager, City Departments, or City staff, as the City Manager may, from time to time, find useful or beneficial to the administration and operations of the City,” the agenda item states. “… The City Manager will develop an administrative policy that mirrors the format and function of the City’s Policy Advisory Boards. Such policy will include and outline best practices to ensure transparent meetings, while ensuring that Operational Advisory Boards remain flexible in order to meet the dynamic needs of the City, the City Manager, individual City Departments, and City Staff.”
Commissioners heard from 17 members of the public, most of whom encouraged the commission to keep the Sustainability Advisory Board. The advisory board and many other changes were lumped into one agenda item that also included big changes to public comment procedures.
SAB Chair Ben Sikes and a few other SAB members addressed the commission.
“SAB is working collaboratively with city staff to meet the goals of the strategic plan. Importantly, SAB sustainability work for the city requires sustained effort and extends to policy recommendations,” Sikes said. “Members of SAB have diverse expertise in environmental sustainability, often with jobs in the field, and can help cross-pollinate Lawrence with effective environmental sustainability policies.”
Commissioner Brad Finkeldei said he wanted the SAB to craft a purpose statement, and the commission can then consider approving it as a policy board with a new ordinance before the ordinance disbanding it goes into effect. Other commissioners agreed.
“We’re happy to do that, if we can understand exactly what it is you want us to do, like what the assignment is,” Sikes said. Riedemann said the city would communicate that with the SAB.
Other boards the commission approved sunsetting include the Public Incentives Review Committee; Transient Guest Tax Grant Program Advisory Board; Sales Tax Audit Committee; and the Special Alcohol Funding Advisory Board. The latter three boards essentially gave the public more oversight of how the city spends certain funds. Their duties will be absorbed into the city manager’s office.
The Bodywork Advisory Board will also be dissolved. Its duties would be moved to Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health under the Board and Commissions Structure Committee’s recommendations.
Some other changes include limiting boards to seven members, and allowing all city commissioners to nominate members, rather than solely the mayor. Nominees will still be affirmed by a vote from the full commission. Board members would serve three-year terms, and they would be limited to two consecutive full terms, among other changes. (Current policies provide a caveat that exceptions can be made to term limits.)
The Transient Guest Tax Grant Program Advisory Board and Bodywork Advisory Board will be dissolved immediately. The others will be dissolved effective Sept. 1.
Existing board terms will expire Aug. 31. Between June 1 and Aug. 31, the city will encourage current board members to reapply and launch an active recruitment campaign. New appointments will be completed and all ordinances, resolutions and bylaws will be updated to comply with proposed new policies by Aug. 31, under the city’s proposed timeline.
New boards will hold their first meetings in September, nominate their chair and vice chair, and set meeting dates and times. Going forward, boards will vote on their chair, vice chair and meeting times at the first meeting of the calendar year.
Commissioners approved the changes 5-0.
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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