Wallace Research Park council elects Jeff Parks chair, David Pierce vice chair; adopts calendar and reprioritizes strategic pillars

At the start of the meeting the council elected new officers and completed routine business. Jeff Parks was nominated and elected chair for 2026 after a motion and second; David Pierce was nominated and elected vice chair in a subsequent motion. Both elections were carried by voice vote with no opposition.

The council adopted the meeting agenda and accepted minutes from the Nov. 18 meeting by voice vote. On calendar business, Deputy County Administrator Lee Pam asked the council to adopt the 2026 meeting dates with one change — moving the Wednesday, Nov. 26 meeting to Wednesday, Nov. 18 because of Thanksgiving — and the council approved the amended calendar.

Under new business, staff presented three draft strategic pillars for the Wallace Research Park — "promote," "support," and "expand" — and asked for guidance on ordering and next steps. Multiple council members recommended elevating "support" (tenant assistance and site readiness) as the immediate priority over promotion and expansion; the council agreed in principle and asked staff to draft operational tasks and circulate them by email with the goal of formalizing the priorities at a future meeting.

Formal actions recorded at the meeting include the elections of Parks and Pierce and adoption of the amended 2026 meeting calendar. The council closed with a motion to adjourn that passed by voice vote.