The chairman of the citizen-based Community Center Task Force questions whether the group will be able to form a consensus and present a united plan for a proposed Galesburg community center.
The 15-member task force met for the first time Aug. 17, charged with making a blueprint for the City Council on a future community center. The target date for the group to complete work is Nov. 30 with a target date to present to City Council of Dec. 4.
Five meetings in, Community Center Task Force chairman Rev. Tony Franklin said he sees flaws in the process, but believes the group will move forward and attempt to present its findings in early December.
Franklin tells WGIL, “The task force was not set up right in the first place. You should have a very independent, unbiased group that’s able to come together, but this group was hand-picked, and some people think for themselves, and some don’t think for themselves. I really wonder if we’ll be able to come up with any kind of consensus.”
Meetings will continue to change locations
The next meeting of the Community Center Task Force is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Carl Sandburg College, Crist Student Center, B Building. To date, the meetings have rotated between City Hall, the Galesburg Public Library and Sandburg College.
Franklin, along with some citizens who have shared concerns during the public comment portion at city meetings, question the need to move from location to location.
“I’ve heard very clear — let’s stop moving the meetings around,” Franklin said. “Let’s be consistent so people can find the meetings. We need to pay attention to what people say.”
According to city administration, the task force has met at various locations, as it was originally thought it could be beneficial for task force members to meet at neutral locations and visit different facilities, as they would likely want to take current amenities into consideration.
City administration notes there are a limited number of places that are easily able to accommodate the volunteer task force of 15-plus members of the public, so it is likely that future meetings will continue to be held at Carl Sandburg College or Galesburg City Hall.
Why no live-stream of meetings?
Some citizens also have questioned why the meetings are not live-streamed or televised in the same way City Council meetings are broadcast to those who cannot attend the meetings.
All city boards and commissions, except the City Council and Planning & Zoning Commission, do not stream or televise their meetings. A statement from city administration said, “Consistent with other city boards and commissions, there are ample opportunities for public involvement and transparency – meetings are open to the public, as well as the agendas and minutes available on the city’s website.”
The Community Center Task Force conducts meetings much like other city commissions, which includes public comment, and posting all agendas and minutes.
“The Community Center Task Force is made up of community members who are volunteering their time to provide a recommendation to the City Council regarding the pursuit of a future, proposed community center,” said Interim City Manager John Schlaf.
“It’s important to remember that the task force’s recommendation will be provided to the City Council at a public meeting, and any action will ultimately be decided and voted upon by the City Council. This should allow a certain level of comfort in appreciating each member volunteering their time, thoughts, and opinions while knowing that it is one of the many steps in the due diligence process, not the final step.”
Task force completing ‘fact-finding stage’
Franklin said the task force is completing the “fact-finding stage” of its assignment.
“As part of the needs-assessment process, we’re still trying to determine what’s actually needed in a community center, and where are some of the gaps in community services,” Franklin said.
“We have to remember this is a process. I’m still somewhat unclear as to what they are really looking for, but at the end of the day, we’ll present them with what we learned and what we found.”
He added, “I don’t see our job as taking this thing to the finish line by any means. The City Council and city manager will ultimately decide how they go about doing things.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, the task force will hear reports from the following sub-committees:
- Core Amenities
- Youth/Teens
- Adults/Senior Citizens
- Non-profits/Social Services
- City of Galesburg Facilities
The task force also will consider new business and discuss plan of action steps, while members will receive further assignments.
Chairman wants to focus on needs, not location
While the location or locations of a proposed community center remain a topic of debate, Franklin said he wants to remain focused on the potential needs of the project.
“At this point, we’re not getting into where it’s going to be,” he said. “Everybody agrees we want a community center, but do we want a pie in the sky, a middle one, or one that grows as we go? I want to make sure this is data-driven decision making, not just what someone believes.
“Everybody around the table is going to have a different idea of where it should be, and I don’t think you’re ever going to come to a consensus on that.”
