West University Place City Council is one step further in the process to interview and appoint members of its first facilities utilization task force after approving several items July 28 that outline the timeline and framework of the group.

“Time is of the essence in getting this work done,” council member Clay Brett said. “Because this task force will be working on a timeline that is coinciding with our decisions on other capital projects.”

The new task force aims to gather comprehensive data and report to City Council on how current city buildings are being used. The general goal will be to create a neutral forum for discussion about community facilities, in particular, the city’s senior center and community building, as well as the county public library.

The local impact

Several residents took to the podium during the public comment portion of the meeting to express concerns with the need for greater civility within the community and its elected officials, transparency regarding the task force’s selection process and a clearer understanding of the group’s objectives.

Some context

City Council and City Manager Dave Beach amended several portions of the group’s framework at the July meeting, including:

• The group will still consist of eight residents, who will be interviewed after September and later voted on and appointed by City Council. Two of the appointed members will then be selected as co-chairs.
• The newly-formed group will have three months after the date of the task force’s first meeting to complete its work.

In order to provide some flexibility while maintaining oversight of the task force’s progress, City Council approved certain extensions. The task force can request a one-month extension that would need to be approved by the mayor. Any extension beyond one month would require a majority vote from City Council.

Also of note

The recommendation by city staff to have Parks and Recreation Director Susan White serve as the task force’s liaison was also amended after council member Kalie Rainsberger raised concerns about neutrality. After an extended discussion between city officials, the decision instead went to Assistant City Manager Austin Bishop.

Beach spoke on behalf of White’s institutional knowledge, having served more than 20 years in her role with the city, he said.

“The stakeholder here is the community,” Beach said. “The staff is here to deliver for the community. We don’t go about personal preference. Our job is to implement.”