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including whether or not a reconfiguration would help them and the boards, committees and commission members work more effectively to best serve the needs ofthe City. Mayor Howard asked if anyone else wished to speak to this subject. Tamara Piulle, 960 Glennan Drive, member of the Civic Cultural Commission for fourteen years, expressed her support for keeping the current configuration of boards, committees and commissions. She said, recognizing the diffi.culty in recruiting knowledgeable and willing applicants, reducing the number of members to five might help, as well as shortening the terms to two or three years. She said a four-year commitment is very intimidating to some people. Mrs. Piulle said the Council might consider appointing willing applicants who do not live in the City, but who work here or reside close by, and are very interested in serving on a board, committee or commission. She said the interview and application processes need work, and the Council must improve communications and the exchange of ideas between all the groups, staff and the Council. Mrs. Piulle said it shouldn't be left up to the group members to seek out the City's projects and ask to be heard, their input should be sought from the very beginning. Mayor Howard read a letter from Parks and Recreation Commissioner Ginny Hughes who expressed her support for the current configuration. In her letter she suggested that term limits would encourage new applicants; staff presence should be diminished; boards, committees and commissions should establish their own agendas; Council should be more active in providing guidance to the various groups and they should be directly accountable to the Council; quarterly progress reports and meetings with the Council would be helpful; and she was frustrated at the lack of progress of the Parks and Recreation Commission and angry that staff is implying these groups "are more trouble than we are worth." Mrs. Hughes ended her letter by saying it was up to the Council to provide leadership, and she looked forward to the opportunity to serve Redwood City. MIS: CLAIREIRUSKIN TO HOLD THIS SUBJECT IN ABEYANCE AND REVIEW IT DURING COUNCIL STUDY SESSIONS/WORKSHOPS OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF Councilman Claire said that at the end of that year and a half, the Council might decide to request Charter amendments to impact some of the boards, committees and commissions. He agreed with Mrs. Piulle that term limits should be explored. In response to Mayor Howard's questions, Councilman Claire advised that what specific questions and topics the Council wanted to discuss with the boards, committees and commissions should be left up to the Mayor, Vice Mayor, staff and the rest of the Council. He said it was appropriate for staff to have brought this to the Council's attention, and appropriate for Council to take the time necessary to explore it. He said he would feel more comfortable after talking to the group's members and the citizens of Redwood City and "coming up with an overall plan to be implemented in the Election of 1999, where we may have to make some Charter amendments." REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 MARCH 16, 1998 MINUTES Page No. 328 PAGE 10