MO 98-078 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Member Leipzig suggested looking at how the members were appointed and the appropriate number of members of each group. He said these groups were real assets to the City and he wanted to enhance their value and market them in a more effective manner. He said scarcity sometimes enhances value, and suggested fewer members might foster competition for these valuable memberships. Council Member Ira agreed there were overlapping interests and suggested representatives from one group regularly attend other groups' me~tings to make sure their interests and concerns are heard. He said he would have preferred that the groups themselves had approached the Council to voice their concerns and report what they needed to meet their goals. He said he was very interested in listening to the various groups to find out what they wanted to do and what they needed from staff and the Council. Council Member Ira said he wasn't really interested in pursuing it from the staff end. Council Member Bain agreed that he would have preferred that this proposal had come from the groups themselves. He said this concept should be reviewed "in a larger context of what committees, commissions and boards, does the Council need to support its work." Council Member Bain said he had also received calls from members who did not support the proposal. He said the newspapers found out about it before Council Members did, and that was distressing. Council Member Bain suggested that in the furore, such proposals should come to the Council through a study session where the Council discusses all boards, conmaittees and commissions within the broader context and with substantial background materials. Council Member Bain said this proposal again highlighted the ~eed for better communications between the Council and its boards, committees and commissions and offered to be a member of a Council Ad Hoc Committee devoted to this issue. City Clerk