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E-mail This StoryThe Plano City Council met Monday night to hear citizen grievances in response to the consolidation of select boards and committees.
The Plano City Council members participated in a day-long retreat in June to address city operations in relation to the city’s budget. In an effort to become more economical, the proposed recommendations to the council were to consolidate Keep Plano Beautiful, the Global Advisory Committee, the Transition and Revitalization Committee and the Transportation Advisory Committee. The manpower behind each of the committees will be reduced to one appointed city staff member.
Ed Nalley, former chair to the Keep Plano Beautiful Commission, and John Caldwell, current chair of KPB, addressed objections to the Council Monday night, stating that the commission is too valuable to sunset.
“For every $1.09 in tax dollars spent by the Keep Plano Beautiful Committee, Plano taxpayers saved $10 in additional taxes,” Nalley said to the council. “Because Plano citizens provided thousands of volunteer hours from people of all ages [to participate in both the Adopt A Highway and the Great American Cleanup efforts].”
Caldwell said he wanted the council to be aware of the income that KPB brings to the city
KPB's eight-member board is appointed by the Plano City Council. Members may serve two consecutive two-year terms. KPB is a member of the statewide organization, Keep Texas Beautiful and also a member of the national organization, Keep America Beautiful.
Councilmember Sally Magnuson emphasized that though Plano will not have an official Keep Plano Beautiful committee, Keep Plano Beautiful efforts will not be jeopardized and a good standing with the Keep America Beautiful initiative will be kept.
“We are wanting to streamline, not completely abolish the committees,” Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Harry LaRosiliere added. “We would appoint advisory liaisons in order to have a more efficient managing of all city operations.”
“In streamlining, Council means that they want to reduce the number of hours a paid city staff member will spend on various projects,” Caldwell said. “Which is understandable, but volunteers are a resource that would be more than happy to lend a hand to the city. That’s what volunteers do!”
“The study was done on the amount of staff time, not the money used by each committee,” City Manager Tom Muehlenbeck said to the council.
Caldwell said that the value of city volunteers was not accounted for during the study that was presented at the city council’s retreat in June.
In addition to hearing public comments in regards to the consolidation of boards and committees, the Plano City Council unanimously approved of the consolidation of two recently vacant positions on the Plano Police Department.
The Plano City Council also voted to approve 24 expenditure items; approve the terms and conditions and adopt nine resolutions; and amend and repeal six ordinances. The 39 items on the general consent agenda were approved with a unanimous vote.
Place 8 Councilmember Lee Dunlap stepped down from voting on three issues due to problems with conflict of interest.
Mayor Pat Evans was not present. Mayor Pro Tem Jean Callison led the Monday night Plano City Council meeting.
The Plano City Council will be holding the annual budget meeting at 7 p.m. on July 30.
