In that spirit I am seeking to update our legislative committee process so that it reflects our vision and challenges in the broader sense of resilience. For instance, having both a Land Use Committee and Sustainability and Resiliency Committee can duplicate our work and create bottlenecks, because all land use decisions must be made through the lens of sustainability and resiliency. Similarly, a budget committee should be empowered to address our economic drivers and promote the City’s economic resiliency. Finally, instead of a neighborhood committee that has traditionally been treated as a “catch-all” for issues not captured by the other committees, I am proposing a Quality of Life Committee that has a specific and interrelated portfolio. With resilience and sustainability fully integrated in our strategic plan, we have a unique opportunity to better calibrate our committee structure and ensure that every aspect of the City’s legislative process is reviewed with a focus on resiliency.

In light of the above, I am proposing to reorganize the Commission into the following three Committees:

• The Economic Resiliency Committee will promote the economic vitality of our community by paying close attention to our finances and budget responsibilities including the promotion of government efficiencies, but also to our economic engines – tourism, arts and culture, and our support for educational excellence and our business community.

• The Quality of Life Committee’s mission is improving today’s quality of life, and addressing issues and projects closest to residents including public safety, parks, housing, homelessness and neighborhood projects.

• The Sustainability Committee’s mission is planning for a sustainable future by focusing on long term planning including mobility, land use, historic preservation and sustainable development.

Thank you for your dedication and support of our city and this legislative process.