During the consent-calendar discussion, commissioners identified wording in the draft minutes that described Willow Slough and Dry Slough as 'community separators' and agreed that characterization was inaccurate. Commissioners asked that any use of the term be clarified and that community separators be shown on a map in the consultant's report.

Commissioners also advocated for stronger language to encourage including trees and shrubs in flood-control channels to increase 'roughness' and habitat value rather than maintaining unnaturally smooth channels. Speaker 2 proposed that the city’s open-space program coordinate with Public Works to manage flood channels and stormwater basins as multiuse ecological corridors; speakers agreed and supported adding such coordination language to the consent edits.

The commission moved and approved the consent calendar with the requested edits by voice vote.

Why it matters: clarifying minutes and asking consultants to show community separators on maps improves transparency in planning documents. Encouraging trees, shrubs and hedgerows in drainage design reflects a policy preference for integrating habitat and green infrastructure into stormwater management.

Next steps: the consent edits will be incorporated into the minutes and consultant materials where applicable; staff and commissioners will pursue coordination between open-space and Public Works on multiuse management of channels and basins.