Board urges broader membership for city's proposed beautification task force; DDA to offer representative

Board members discussed the scope and composition of a city-proposed beautification task force and urged a broader stakeholder set than the draft they received.

The mayor and multiple DDA members said they preferred a larger body — 11 to 15 members — that would include residents and business owners from different blocks, architects, landscape designers and representatives from the CRA and DDA. "I think we wanted more stakeholders," one speaker said, describing outreach to other municipalities and noting many communities include 11 to 15 members on similar boards.

The DDA had previously suggested two names as potential DDA representatives and the board discussed having Jewel serve as the DDA's primary representative with Brian Rosen as an alternate, depending on how the commission finalizes the task force structure.

Members said the task force should not be staff driven and should emphasize downtown stakeholder input to shape streetscape and beautification priorities. No formal vote was recorded; members asked staff to follow the commission discussion and report back.