It hasn’t met yet, but the Waterfront Advisory Committee could see its name changed and composition modified before it does meet.

After discussing possible modifications related to the committee, the Washington City Council, during its meeting last week, continued further discussion and possible action until its Dec. 9 meeting so it and city staff can further explore possible changes. Councilman Doug Mercer suggested changing the panel’s name to the Waterfront Docks Advisory Committee to clarify that the panel’s focus would be on the city docks, not the entire waterfront.

“The waterfront, to me, is much more expansive than the dock area. All I am suggesting is that everywhere the words ‘Waterfront Advisory Committee’ is there, we put in the word ‘docks’ between the words ‘Waterfront’ and ‘Advisory’ so this becomes a Waterfront Docks Advisory Committee,” Mercer said.

Mayor Archie Jennings suggested adding the word “docks” after the word “waterfront” in all references concerning the committee’s scope of responsibilities to further clarify the committee’s work would focus on the docks and not the city’s entire waterfront.

Jennings noted there is no requirement that any member of the five-person committee be a Washington resident and that not one person who applied to be appointed to the committee is a city resident. The mayor said that concerns him.

Councilman Bobby Roberson wants the majority of the committee members to be city residents because city taxpayers help pay some expenses related to the docks. Those taxpayers deserve representation on the committee, he said. Council member William Pitt said at least two committee members should live in the city. Councilman Richard Brooks also wants city residents on the committee. Mercer supports having two or three city residents on the panel.

During the meeting, it was suggested increasing the number of members on the committee so that people with boating expertise and who live outside the city limits could share that experience with the city.

In August, City Manager Brian Alligood told the council that staff recommended not implementing the recommended changes until the new dockmaster’s station (which includes pubic restrooms and bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities for boaters) is built at the west end of the Stewart Parkway promenade.

Establishing a separate budget for the city-owned docks is one recommendation developed by a panel composed of city officials and the chairman of the Washington Harbor District Alliance.

That recommendation — and the others — came after the City Council directed Alligood to review the previously adopted waterfront docks business plan with city staff and provide a recommendation to the council concerning a management plan. Alligood discussed the matter with John Rodman, city planner; Kristi Roberson, the city’s parks and recreation manager; Joe Taylor, chairman of the city’s Recreation Advisory Committee; and Chris Furlough, chairman of the Washington Harbor District Alliance.

In addition to recommendation of setting up a separate budget for the waterfront docks, the panel made these recommendations:

• Creation of a part-time dockmaster position to manage staff; market the docks and oversee facility maintenance. The dockmaster would report directly to Rodman.

• Reduction of part-time dock attendants to three positions with one working year-round, one

working seasonalIy and one working peak months.

• Delineation of areas of responsibility for the dockmaster to include the docks and waterfront area, with the Festival Park area remaining under the supervision of the parks and recreation manager.