Redlands City Council advances overhaul of city commissions

REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands City Council voted unanimously July 15 to start updating the city’s commissions, boards and committees, including setting standard meeting formats, moving some groups to quarterly meetings and adding term limits for members.

The proposed changes follow months of review by a council ad hoc committee formed in April and led by Mayor Pro Tem Marc Shaw and Council Member Paul Barich. The committee interviewed chairs of each city commission and board to assess structure, function and relevance of longstanding practices.

“We just wanted to try to make sure we were doing this in the most efficient manner possible,” Shaw said. “Some of the resolutions that created these [commissions] are upwards of 20 years old.”

Under the proposed framework, most commissions would shift to a quarterly meeting schedule. Exceptions would be made for bodies like the Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission, which would continue monthly meetings if items are on the agenda.

The Traffic and Parking Commission also drew specific attention. While the council supports quarterly meetings in principle, Shaw and other members emphasized that special meetings could still be called at any time if urgent items arise — either by a commission chair or by three members of the City Council.

Still, the Redlands Chamber of Commerce urged caution.

Speaking during public comment, Chamber Vice President Patrick Roskam said reducing meeting frequency without clearly defined standards for calling additional meetings could delay community-led efforts, such as infrastructure or safety improvements.

“Commissions play a vital role in connecting City Hall to the community,” Roskam said. “Cutting meetings to just three or four times a year without transparent, objective standards risks creating bottlenecks, limiting access, and delaying meaningful progress.”

In response, council members reiterated that the goal is not to slow down approvals or reduce public engagement, but rather to modernize processes, ensure consistency, and attract more volunteers by respecting their time.

Additional proposed changes include:

• Standardizing all commission agendas and templates, to be approved by the city attorney.
• Establishing a citywide term limit of two four-year terms, with reappointment possible by a four-fifths council vote. The Library Board, Measure T Oversight Committee, and Utility Advisory Commission are excluded due to separate governance rules.
• Expanding eligibility for student commissioners to include both high school sophomores and juniors.
• Reclassifying the Street Tree Committee as the Street Tree Commission to reflect its current independent status.
• Retaining the Citrus Preservation Commission’s focus on managing the city’s 200 acres of citrus groves, despite interest from members in expanding into support for privately owned groves. Council members voiced unanimous support for keeping the commission’s role focused on city-owned groves.

Shaw noted that staff will return in September with formal resolutions to amend the Redlands Municipal Code and implement the proposed changes. If adopted, the new structure would take effect in early 2026.

“We’re not going to displace anybody,” Shaw said. “Any reductions in size would happen through attrition.”

The council’s 5-0 vote sets in motion a citywide overhaul aimed at improving consistency and efficiency across Redlands’ advisory bodies, while allowing room for further adjustments if needed.