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General Observations <br />Political Instruments: San Marcos has traditionally established boards and commissions to is <br />not only act in an advisory capacity to City Council but also to provide a means for <br />citizens to be involved in the workings of City governance. All appointments to boards <br />and commissions are approved by the City Council or Staff. Therefore, boards and <br />commissions have become not only operational but also political instruments. <br />Sense of Purpose: A number of current boards and commissions struggle with a sense of <br />purpose. Their establishing ordinance is often vague or all- encompassing and, as their <br />membership changes, they typically struggle with the question of what they "can" be <br />doing without asking what they "should" be doing. It is not unusual for the City Council <br />to delegate a particular task to a board or commission that is only vaguely or not at all <br />related to a board or commission's established purpose. <br />Staff Relationship: Boards and Commissions are staffed by City employees and the impact <br />of boards and Commissions on City staff is significant. It is common to see 3 or more City <br />employees attend a 1 -hour board or commission meeting with many more staff hours <br />spent before and after the meeting. City staff members often receive direction from <br />boards and commissions thereby increasing the workload. It is difficult for staff <br />members to limit the direction they receive from commission members because of their • <br />position as employees. The City of San Marcos has chosen to require all boards and <br />commissions to comply with Public Information and Open Meetings regulations. This <br />elective measure, while in the interest of open government and transparency, places a <br />significant burden on boards and commissions and their respective supporting City staff. <br />Board Development: Board members often lack sufficient training and knowledge in how <br />to run a meeting, gain consensus, cultivate volunteerism, focus on objectives, and <br />objective critical analysis. <br />Accountability: Other than the Sunset Commission review every 5 years, boards and <br />commissions do not have a mechanism by which they are regularly accountable to <br />themselves and the City Council for their accomplishments or lack thereof. <br />Global View: Boards and Commissions rarely meet with other boards and commissions or <br />the City Council to gain a wider perspective on the priorities of the City as a whole. This <br />lack of a "global view" perpetuates niche concerns and lack of consensus on common <br />problems facing the community. <br />s <br />