Has the time come to re-evaluate Jefferson City's 29 boards and commissions?
We don't think so, although the idea was raised during Wednesday's meeting of the Council Committee on Administration. The committee's agenda included whether to advance to the full 10-member council a recommendation to change the name and focus of the Environmental Quality Commission.
Discussion concluded with a 4-1 vote to approve the recommendation, which we support. As we wrote in this forum April 27, the Environmental Quality Commission largely has achieved its mission, which included a comprehensive sign ordinance, a downtown streetscape and tree plantings and implementation of recycling.
Mayor Carrie Tergin has proposed altering the focus to community wellness and quality-of-life issues.
The case can be made that the need exists. A Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities initiative is active in Central Missouri, Cole County maintains a health department and the city's Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department has partnered with Lincoln University to create a new wellness center and indoor recreation complex.
Clearly, city government has a stake in the health and wellness of its residents, and the revamped commission is an appropriate health-oriented liaison, particularly if repositioned - as proposed - under the auspices of the parks agency.
Although we support restructuring in this case, we do not favor retaining or reorganizing every government-created entity that outlives its usefulness. That mindset only feeds bureaucracy.
Although 29 city boards and commissions may sound like a large amount, a number of them are topic-specific. Among them are review boards for electrical and plumbing examiners, and the panel that hears requests for mural permits.
And the volunteer members collect and analyze information, then make recommendations to the City Council that otherwise would require countless hours by additional city employees - at a tremendous cost to taxpayers.
These boards and commissions tend to adapt or be asked to adapt to changes, and to realign goals and strategies accordingly.
Government officials periodically must step back and look at what one council member called "the big picture," and we commend the committee for taking such a step.
At this time, however, we see Jefferson City's boards and commissions working efficiently and effectively. Any comprehensive restructuring is unnecessary and, potentially, counter-productive.