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City Council Regular Meeting - 10/11/04 Minutes - Page 14 citizen advisory commissions. Mr. Beets noted that the City currently has five standing citizen advisory commissions: Parks and Recreation; Planning; Public Works and Transportation; Police Civil Service; and Human Rights. Mr. Beets noted that these commissions were advisory, with the exception of the Police Civil Service and the Planning Commission, which were governed by Minnesota State Statute. Mr. Beets noted that the Human Rights Commission currently had two vacancies, bringing their number from ten to eight. Mr. Beets provided a comparison summary survey completed by staff of 13 similarly-sized communities and their advisory board and commission makeup. Mr. Beets further advised that the City's Code would need to be amended to re-task revisions undertaken by the Council, and reviewed by the City Attorney for continuity. Mr. Beets reviewed the specific meeting schedule(s); membership make-up; terms; and vacancies of each commission. Mr. Beets noted that the majority of the commissions experienced substantial turnover and/or resignations prior to term expiration, and recommended that a reduction and standardization in the length and limit of terms (2 - 3 year terms) may be beneficial. Mr. Beets recommended the standardization could be accomplished over time through attrition, rather than eliminating current positions on commissions. Mr. Beets further recommended standardizing the size of commissions where appropriate (seven members each); and reviewed the roles and responsibilities of the commissions, recommending that increasing the Public Works and Transportation Commission from five to seven members could incorporate environmental review concerns and issues. Mr. Beets recommended that, should the City Council wish to receive greater input from the business community, consideration should be given to include business owners on existing commissions and by re-evaluating roles and responsibilities,