Salina Building Advisory Board Elects Officers, Notes Reduction in Board Size

The Salina Building Advisory Board elected new officers at its September annual meeting, naming board member Ben Windholz as chair and board member Jim Reid as vice chair for the 2026-2027 year. Both selections passed by voice vote.

Staff said the previous chair, Ryan White, and previous vice chair, Charles Renz, had left the board after their terms expired. New members Windholz and Dustin Pestinger were noted as recently appointed, with terms beginning September 1.

Staff also discussed changes to the board's size and membership. Deputy Director of Development Services Margy Clem said the board previously had 11 seats, which were reduced to nine, and that its current membership stands at five after several members' terms expired at the same time. Clem said the reduction was tied in part to difficulty filling all seats, and referenced a broader effort to consolidate boards and reduce member counts due to a shortage of applicants.

Clem said staff plans to reach out to plumbing, mechanical and electrical contractors, as well as design professionals such as architects and realtors, to encourage applications to fill vacancies. With five members, the board's quorum is three, meaning a meeting cannot be held if fewer than three members attend.

Staff also encouraged interested youth to apply to serve as a youth liaison, a non-voting role that allows participation in discussion, and said such members could attend in person or via Zoom. Staff directed interested residents to contact the city at [email protected].