Council reviews options to pick nine‑member Downtown Civic Engagement Task Force; staff to publish applications this week

City staff presented three transparent pathways to select the nine‑member Downtown Civic Engagement Task Force that will advise on the 30‑acre downtown civic core, including Memorial Park, city hall and community center planning. Staff outlined recommended categories for seats — civic area resident, business/property owner, open‑space/recreation advocate, veterans representative, planning/design/historic professional, nonprofit representative and at‑large members — and asked the council to indicate a selection method this week so applications can be published and orientation completed by May.

Deputy City Manager Luke Kasik summarized the options: (1) a full public meeting in which every applicant receives a short interview before council deliberation; (2) prescreening at a public workshop to create a shortlist followed by public finalist interviews; or (3) individual councilmember shortlists compiled by staff, with those finalists interviewed publicly. Councilmembers debated trade‑offs between full transparency, efficiency and the risk of perceived insider appointments. Several members said staff should screen applications for residency, eligibility and conflicts before members see the pool.

Council signaled it wants the selection work completed quickly so the task force can begin outreach and support the master plan process, but members differed on whether to exclude applicants personally known to councilmembers. Staff noted any formal procurement for master‑planning services would trigger a cone‑of‑silence that would limit communications with potential consultants once an RFP is issued.

What happens next: staff will publish the task‑force application this week and return to the council (target: next meeting) for members to provide a selection preference and direction on the schedule.