A Wave of Departure Hits City Committees: What You Need to Know

Maricopa residents are being called to participate in shaping future city developments as the city announces numerous vacancies on citizen advisory committees. According to Councilmember Eric Goettl, there are currently two open positions, one on the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Board and one on the Cultural Affairs and Arts Advisory Committee.

In addition, 15 more seats will become available by the end of December, affecting several boards including the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and the Senior Advisory Committee. Peg Chapados, Chair of the Cultural Affairs and Arts Advisory Committee, emphasized the critical role these boards play, describing them as an extension of the city council.

“Our committees provide important, timely, and relevant feedback on a wide range of topics to help make Maricopa a great place to live,” Chapados remarked. Goettl expressed that appointing citizens to these committees is a “privilege.” Vice Mayor Amber Liermann echoed this sentiment, viewing it as an opportunity for residents to engage more deeply with their community.

Each committee member serves a term coterminous with their appointing council member. As official terms conclude in December for certain council members, including Goettl and Liermann, those appointed will need to reapply for their positions or conclude their service.

Chapados confirmed that she will not seek reappointment, leaving her seat among those 17 openings. Goettl and Liermann encourage interested individuals to reach out before submitting applications, highlighting the desire for engaged community members passionate about their specific committees.

“The people I’ve talked to are very excited about it,” Liermann noted. “They bring a lot of enthusiasm and they usually are passionate about their particular committee.” For those interested in joining one of Maricopa’s five committees, further details are available online.