First Consideration:  Ordinance amending and deleting various Chapters, Sections and Subsections of the Davenport Municipal Code to decommission the Airport Commission, Commission On Youth, Youth Advisory Commission, Adult Crossing Guard, and Sustainable Environment Methods & Technology Advisory Commission, as well as aligning the purpose and combining the functions of the RiverCenter/Adler Theatre Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and Levee Improvement Commission as well as combining the building trades code boards. [All Wards]

The City of Davenport is committed to seeking operational efficiencies and process improvements.  The ordinances related to and structure of Davenport’s boards and commissions had not undergone a review for quite a number of years.  Additionally, it has become more difficult to find people willing to serve as board or commission members as people’s lives have become busier.  Accordingly, the City Attorney, at the request of the City Council and Mayor, performed a review to see if any improvements and efficiencies could be found.  The City Attorney spoke with relevant staff, reviewed the applicable ordinances, state laws, agendas and minutes.  He spoke with some board and commission members about how they saw their role and what functions they saw as important.  At last week’s Management Update & Mayor/ Council Discussions meeting, the City Attorney provided some information and recommendations.  Davenport is fortunate to have volunteer board members that universally characterized their role as forward looking and supportive; undertaken because of a passion for the subject matter and with an eye toward progress.  The City Attorney identified a couple of opportunities that would allow shared interests to result in combined boards.  Additionally, a few boards have determined they can be decommissioned as the board’s purpose has been fulfilled or its subject matter is being addressed through other processes. The end goal is to have boards that are better positioned to provide needed input and assistance with a feeling of purpose, full membership, and more and varied perspectives.