A proposed 2023 Parks, Trails and Recreation ad hoc committee failed on a 4-4 vote after extended discussion about volunteer oversight, permitting and the association's prior experience with volunteer-led projects.

Proponents, including Director Linda, said volunteers can provide valuable input, identify priorities and help organize community work days, but opponents warned that past volunteer activities led to unpermitted trail work, inconsistent record-keeping and projects that created legal or maintenance liabilities.

"No committee in 2023 is needed to recommend park or parks or trails work," one director said during public debate, citing an earlier history in which volunteers directed projects that did not meet required permitting or maintenance standards. The director urged that staff, not an ad hoc committee, manage volunteer programs and that any volunteer work be supervised and coordinated by SVCA staff to ensure proper waivers, permitting, and long-term maintenance funding.

Other directors urged clearer limits in any committee charter. One board member noted the draft resolution included language intended to prevent committees from entering into contracts or committing the association to funding, and said those limits should prevent recurrence of prior problems.

After debate on the deliverables, authority limits and the role of staff oversight, the board voted. The tally was four in favor and four opposed; the motion failed.

Ending: Board members asked staff to continue development of a trails master plan and to coordinate public input through the existing engineering work by Impact Design rather than creating an ad hoc committee this year.