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- . . . . - 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 future, such proposals - should come to the Council through a study session where the Council discusses all boards, committees and commissions within the broader context and with substantial background materials. Council Member Bain said this proposal again highlighted the need 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. MINUTE ORDER NO. 98-078 Council Member Hartnett said he believed it was appropriate for staff to propose a review of boards, committees and commissions at this time. He said that Council Members had previously directed staff members to bring forth issues they feel Council should be reviewing, and Council should compliment them for doing so. Council Member Hartnett thanked the staff for looking at this subject and for bringing it to them as a policy issue. He said, "we need to encourage staff to do such things." Council Member Hartnett agreed with Council Member Bain that Council needed to look at all the boards, committees and commissions within a broader context and provide guidance as a Council. He said that rather than go forward with staffs proposal, the Council needed to discuss the subject as a whole in a study session along with the members of the boards, committees and commissions, and not have those groups make their own recommendations in a - vacuum. Council Member Hartnett said it was time to implement the first Spring citywide recruitment and the Council's decision on staffs proposal would impact that recruitment. He said people would not want to apply for a board, committee or commission knowing it might not be around in six months; but eliminating three groups from the recruitment process would lessen the impact the Council is trying to create through the new citywide recruitment policy. City Manager Everett reported that he, the Mayor and Vice Mayor had already begun to develop a calendar of study sessions with the boards, committees and commissions. He suggested that the Council go through a full cycle of meetings with each of the boards, committees and commissions where this subject could be thoroughly discussed. City Manager Everett said that at the end of that cycle, the Council would have the broader picture it needed to make informed decisions. MEMO 3/17/98 Vice Mayor Ruskin said that during the Council's workshop the Council Members had all agreed that improving communications with the boards, committees and commissions was a very high priority. He agreed that holding stl,ldy sessions with each group would give the Council Members the information they needed to determine a whole host of issues - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 MARCH 16, 1998 MINUTES Page No. 327 PAGE 9