The Parks and Recreation Commission has voted unanimously to proceed with plans to consolidate several of the town’s advisory commissions into a single group.

The proposal would combine the parks commission along with the Community Center Advisory Commission, the Senior Services Advisory Commission and the Preserve commission into a single Community Services Advisory Commission.

Most of the consolidation is proposed to be completed by June this year.

Community Services Director Mark Mayer said the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission would remain intact under the proposal, allowing the group to oversee the development of the preserve trailhead project.

That project is scheduled to go forward if the Town Council approves an Adero Canyon development proposal.

Mayer said the newly- formed Community Services Commission would provide advice to the council related to park facilities and policies, recreation and senior services programing, program and facility fees, capital and infrastructure improvements, Home Delivered Meals program, public art and tourism.

The “Conservation Commission” would have advisory functions for the McDowell Mountain Preserve, Desert Botanical Garden and Fountain Overlook Trail.

Mayer said the plan is to bring the conservation arenas under the overall single commission upon completion of the trailhead.

A “sunset” date has been proposed for the Conservation Commission of Dec. 31, 2017.

There are vacancies on the seven-member McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission, which staff is currently working to fill.

The new Community Services Commission could begin with up to 18 members to include all current members of the three existing commissions.

Mayer said those commission members would have the option of staying on or not. Once the new CSC was formed, members would draw to determine their tenure of one, two or three years. By the end of year two the commission would be comprised of nine members.

The chairs of the four commissions have been meeting and have proposed the transition plan outlined by Mayer.

Parks Commissioner Sharon Dennis said she had a concern about the consolidation.

“The outdoor aspects of these groups have such a different focus than the Community Center and Senior Services,” Dennis said.

Mayer noted that the staff in his department is able to deal with the broad spectrum of issues and he believes that while there may a bit of a learning curve, the commissioners can adapt also.

Parks Commission Chairman Don Doty said they need to look at the broader base as an opportunity for the new commission.

“This will make the job a lot more interesting,” Doty said. “There will be a lot more to do and that will open it for everyone to have something to do.”

Mayer said some of the issues that prompted looking at consolidation have been the difficulty in recruiting people to fill the seats on four seven-member commissions, as well as the lack of work.

During the recession there have not been a lot of projects and programs for the commissions to consider.

Also, Mayer said staff currently uses 1,500 hours annually in manpower to support the commissions. That is equal to nearly one full-time job.

The duties of staff related to the commissions include recruitment, orientation, attending meetings, agenda preparation, meeting minutes and other tasks.

“Given the reduced staffing and resources available, that is a great deal of time that could be better utilized in other areas,” Mayer said. “The consolidation would cut that time in half or less.”

The Community Center Advisory Commission was to discuss the consolidation at a meeting on March 17. It is on the agenda for the Senior Services Commission on March 24, and the Preservation Commission on March 25.

A meeting has tentatively been scheduled for the group chairmen to get together on April 10 to discuss a transition.

Mayer said the proposal is tentatively set to be back before the Town Council at its May 1 session. If approved the transition would be implemented immediately and effective as of June 1.