Myrna Rios, the city clerk, and Stephanie Hall of the City Clerk's Office briefed the Audit and Finance Committee on Feb. 19, 2025, on progress implementing a council directive to review boards, commissions and intergovernmental appointments.

Staff described directives to solicit feedback, develop a review process, draft an ordinance to codify appointment processes for intergovernmental bodies, create an archive of recommendations and assess translation needs. Hall said a new recommendations archive page had gone live that morning and that interpretation services are already provided on request.

Genesis Gavino, chief of staff to the city manager, described a two-week survey (Jan. 15–31) that yielded 48 responses. Staff summarized responses for each impacted body in an updated Appendix A: some proposed consolidations (for example, creating an "Urban Mobility Commission" by folding the Urban Transportation Commission, Pedestrian Advisory Council and Bicycle Advisory Council) drew negative feedback from some current members.

Public commenters and commission members urged caution. Alejandro de la Vega said the Bicycle Advisory Council is highly active and should not be merged with the Urban Transportation Commission; he recommended bylaw updates and clarified roles rather than elimination. Zenobia Joseph raised concerns about remote-speaker access, timely public-record responses, homelessness program costs and transit access north of U.S. 183, urging stronger community participation in decisions connected to HUD funding and consolidated plans.

Council members and staff discussed next steps. Staff proposed a proposed assessment framework modeled on the Texas Sunset Commission process—questions about public purpose, performance, public input, legal mandates, equity impacts and whether another body could assume functions. Staff recommended using that framework to evaluate the updated Appendix A items and the bodies listed as inactive.

Several council members said more engagement was needed before final action. Council member Alter said the effort should start with items where there is broad consensus and proceed on a calendar so communities and appointees know when reviews will occur. Staff said they would finalize the assessment framework, apply it to the Appendix A list and return with recommendations, aiming to report back by the end of summer 2025.

No formal action to consolidate or abolish any commission was taken at the meeting; staff were directed to apply the proposed framework to the updated Appendix A and to sunsetting candidates and report back.