HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/7/2020 Item 08, Matteson
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Glen Matteson <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Advisory body roles and composition
Mayor and Council Members,
I hope that while considering advisory body composition and relationships, you keep in mind the big
difference between saying (1) that the council does not need to follow the advice of a body, which is
assumed, and (2) that the council wants to hear only advice that it agrees with. The latter implies that a
decision has already been made and that advisory bodies are only for show. Also, the community recognizes
the big difference between, for example, saying there should be more housing or a new parking structure
downtown, and that any proposal for more housing or a new parking structure is acceptable.
Most people expect that an advisory body for a certain subject exists both to help apply established policy in
specific cases and to advise on what the policy should be, when revisions are under consideration or when a
specific proposal prompts questions about the desirability of established policy.
Some recent statements by or on behalf of the council imply that the role of advisory bodies should be
substantially narrowed, which may make it harder to recruit and retain members.
Of course, all these issues are separate from decisions on advisory body members themselves, where
individual conduct, qualifications, and avoiding conflicts of interest are relevant.
Glen Matteson
San Luis Obispo
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