Loomis council directs staff to form ad hoc parks and open-space feasibility committee

The Loomis Town Council directed staff to prepare a proposal for an ad hoc Parks and Open Space feasibility advisory committee and return to the council with application and appointment procedures at the June meeting.

Council member Amanda said residents have expressed interest in more park space and asked that the committee's charge include establishing park criteria, identifying candidate sites, estimating development and maintenance costs, and collecting public input. Several council members proposed a temporary committee structure with two council members, two planning commissioners and five community members, and discussed whether appointments should come from a mayoral recommendation or through an application-and-appointment process similar to prior committees.

Town legal and administrative staff noted that because council members and planning commissioners would serve on the group, it would be a Brown Act body and must hold public meetings and agendas. Staff said if the council wants appointments made differently than the municipal code default (the mayor making appointments with council concurrence), the council should direct staff to draft code language; otherwise the town can create the committee as a temporary ad hoc body without code changes.

Council asked staff to gather prior park-committee materials (past open-space and parks plans) and bring a focused, time-limited proposal back in June, including recommended membership and a narrowly defined charge that will allow the committee to reach conclusions. Council emphasized that a clear, specific charge will help avoid an open-ended assignment and reduce staff burden.