HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-10-21 Public Comment - K. Thane - Board ConsolidationFrom:Kevin Thane
To:Agenda
Subject:Public Comment on Agenda item J.1 of 8/10/21 Commission Meeting
Date:Tuesday, August 10, 2021 10:49:38 AM
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As the City embarks on its new advisory board strategy, please ensurethat the Advisory Boards are fully empowered to provide creative,innovative ideas and input to the City. Being in an advisory roleincludes the charge to make recommendations. Please design thelanguage in the ordinances you are considering to fosterrecommendations not just on items presented to these boards by theCity Manager, City Staff, or the Commission, but to provide theframework for recommendations germinated at the advisory board levelto flow to the City Commission, City Staff, and City Manager. The Cityshould leverage the perspective of the advisory boards, gain from theinsight and knowledge the boards bring, and profit from the externalview the advisory boards could bring to the work and programs of theCity. In this respect, please take a close look at the language that isrepeated several times in the proposed ordinances, “The … Board willprovide advisory recommendations to the Commission, and asrequested by the City Manager to the City Manager, (emphasis added)on policies related to …”. Directing that all items to be considered bythe Advisory Boards must be initiated by the City Manager limits the freeflow of new ideas and directions that surface through the work of theadvisory boards.
The City’s Strategic Plan, Section 1.2 on Community Engagement,states that the city will, “- Broaden and deepen engagement of thecommunity in city government, innovating methods for inviting inputfrom the community and stakeholders.” Certainly Advisory Boardsrepresent the community and should be not only invited to provide (newand creative) input, but empowered to do so.
Citizens who volunteer for advisory boards do so because they trulycare about the wellbeing of the citizens of Bozeman and bring value tothe table through their external perspective. Given the amount of time,study, and consideration that board members devote the matters ofimport to the City, board members need more than three minutes at aCommission meeting as the vehicle to express their views and cultivatethe understanding of the Commission Members, City Manager and CityStaff, Please encourage the fresh thinking, other possibilities, and new
approaches these boards could bring to the City by providing the boardsenhanced communication opportunities to discuss and exchange viewswith City Staff, and the City Manager, and establish a clear procedurethat encourages the Advisory Boards to engage directly with the CityCommission that the boards are charged to advise.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Thane
3432 S 29th Ave
Bozeman