City clerk proposes consolidating Clearwater library, parks and environmental advisory boards into single "Community Resiliency and Leisure Services" board

Rosemary Call, Clearwater's city clerk, presented a proposal at the Nov. 6 meeting of the Clearwater Library Advisory Board to combine the library advisory board with the Parks & Recreation and Environmental Advisory Board into a single “Community Resiliency and Leisure Services Advisory Board.” The consolidation is part of a staff review of advisory boards undertaken during this year's budget process to find efficiencies and broaden community engagement.

Call said the change is intended to modernize how the city solicits public input and to create a board that could more actively review grant opportunities and conduct outreach. "As part of this year's budget exercise, staff was tasked with finding efficiencies," Call said, adding that staff found many boards mostly receive project updates rather than making substantive, actionable recommendations.

Under the draft ordinance described to the advisory board, the new body would have seven members, meet more frequently (the proposal contemplates every-other-month meetings) and include a preference for three members with an environmental professional background; the preference is not a requirement. Call told the advisory board that "if it is adopted by council, then the current members of each 3 boards will have an opportunity to submit an application." The clerk said the measure is scheduled for a first reading before City Council the night of the presentation and would proceed to a second reading for adoption if approved.

Board members voiced concerns about preserving a distinct library focus. "Will the library sort of get lost in the sauce of the other pieces?" asked Tanya Landry, a board member. Call and staff responded that the consolidated board would still be charged with functions long associated with the library board, including hearing citizen appeals regarding library materials and advising the library director on rules and regulations. Call said she would serve as the council liaison and would ensure the director appears before the board when library-specific issues require attention.

The proposal does not take effect until City Council acts on the ordinance; if council adopts it, current members of the three boards will be invited to apply for seats on the new seven-member board. The advisory board did not take a formal vote on the consolidation at the Nov. 6 meeting.