PRCAC considers number of positions

Does the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC) need wider community representation?

That was the question under discussion at the April 12 meeting of the Point Roberts Taxpayers’ Association, sparked by a request from the Point Roberts Emergency Preparedness (PREP) committee for a seat at the table.

PRCAC currently has five members: one representative each from the voters and taxpayers associations, one from the chamber of commerce and two at-large members.

PREP president Shant Tersakian made the argument that PREP members do not feel well represented by the current board, said association president Mark Robbins. “He rightly pointed out PREP probably has a larger membership and regularly attracts more members to monthly meetings” than other groups represented on PRCAC. Robbins speculated only the garden club had more members, leading to weighing whether that would mean they should have a seat on PRCAC.

With PREP’s request likely to be denied when PRCAC meets again on May 9 (the voters’ association, chamber and one at-large member have already indicated their opposition), the taxpayers board decided to focus instead on the larger question of how best to achieve broad community representation.

They approved a motion to ask PRCAC to look at expanding committee membership “to ensure a wider reach among the Point Roberts community” and to examine the role and responsibility of at-large members.