Council reestablishes Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission, waives three readings

Maumee City Council voted Jan. 13, 2026, to waive three readings and adopt ordinance 002-2026 reestablishing Charter/Chapter 177 and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission. The ordinance sets up a citizen advisory board to assist and advise the service department on parks, facilities and related matters.

Councilmember Farrell moved to waive the three readings and to approve the ordinance; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call. Council discussion emphasized that the advisory commission is intended to be a volunteer, citizen advisory body and not a replacement for the council’s existing parks-and-recreation committee. The presiding official said the building, lands and recreation committee will incorporate related oversight functions.

The ordinance restores the advisory commission as a body that can provide recommendations and community input on parks, recreation facilities and cemetery issues and is modeled on other local advisory boards (for example, environmental tree and ADA advisory boards). The enactment was expedited with a waiver of three readings to allow the commission to move forward without delay.

The meeting moved later into an executive session on contract negotiations; no additional action on parks governance was taken in executive session.