Tampa could change who serves on boards that oversee development, public spending and city policy under a proposal to revise appointment rules for its roughly 30 boards and committees, including allowing certain positions to be filled by people who live outside city limits.
The recommendations, which Tampa City Council will discuss Thursday, follow a June request from council members Alan Clendenin and Luis Viera to establish consistent rules for appointments, attendance and membership terms. City attorneys identified problems recruiting qualified members, filling vacancies and maintaining enough attendance to conduct business, while existing council rules set no specific timeline for advertising open positions.
Under the proposal, vacancies would be advertised for 45 to 60 days, with the option to reopen applications when necessary, and candidates would be able to explain their qualifications when applying. The city would also consider expanding eligibility to certain Hillsborough County residents with ties to Tampa, with the possibility of allowing people from outside the county to serve on some boards.
Among the examples cited is the Barrio Latino Commission, which reviews construction and preservation matters in Ybor City’s historic district, although the presentation does not specify how its residency requirements would change. It also leaves open which other boards would qualify and what kind of connection to Tampa an applicant would need.
Council members will consider aligning board appointments with the terms of the officials or governing bodies responsible for making them, while allowing members to remain until replacements are appointed. Attorneys also recommend considering at least two standing members for each board to preserve continuity and establishing procedures to remove those who repeatedly miss meetings without cause.
Not every board would necessarily be subject to the same changes, since the Planning Commission, Tampa Sports Authority and Tampa Housing Authority are among the bodies established or authorized under state law or special acts. Historic preservation boards are also subject to additional state or federal requirements, meaning some changes could require different legal approaches.
Originally scheduled for September, the discussion was postponed to Thursday’s workshop, where council members will consider whether to move forward with amendments to existing rules, ordinances and resolutions. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at Tampa City Hall.