Neighborhood Advisory Committee – July 22, 2024

Neighborhood Advisory Committee Meeting Recap – July 22, 2024

The Asheville Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) convened on July 22, 2024, in the sixth-floor training room at City Hall. This regularly scheduled meeting provided an update on neighborhood-related matters within the city, and focused significantly on planning for upcoming initiatives. The meeting was recorded and will be available on the city's Virtual Engagement Hub for public viewing.

A key focus of the meeting was planning for the committee's annual retreat and developing a work plan to guide their efforts. Following discussion, the NAC voted to schedule a special meeting on August 26th dedicated solely to discussing the retreat and work plan, with the official annual retreat slated for September 23rd. Members are encouraged to contribute ideas for topics, with potential discussions including emergency preparedness, updates from the City Council’s Equity and Engagement Committee, presentations on transit improvements (including Greenway progress and bus routes), and a hearing from the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods. The committee emphasized aligning their work plan with City Council’s broader strategic priorities, ensuring their efforts contribute to the city's overall goals.

Beyond planning for future initiatives, several working group updates were provided. Joe Taylor reported on efforts to engage with neighborhood associations across the city, focusing on outreach and gathering community input. Andrea highlighted the upcoming recognition of outstanding neighborhood volunteers Drew Reisinger, Benji Burrell and Storms Reebok. Jake Smith provided an update on the Merriman four-lane to three-lane road conversion project, presenting data on traffic patterns and safety. He also advocated for a review of the city's traffic calming policy, suggesting collaboration with fire, police, and transportation departments to ensure a comprehensive approach. Finally, Christina Israel gave an update on the "Our Asheville Community Engagement Leadership Academy," a program designed to build community capacity and engagement, with graduation scheduled for August 3rd.

While no public comments were received prior to the meeting, discussions highlighted several important action items for residents and committee members alike. The city clerk will begin the process of filling Jake Smith’s vacant seat, creating an opportunity for a new at-large member to join the committee. Residents are encouraged to participate in the Community Engagement Leadership Academy, a valuable opportunity to enhance their community engagement skills. Finally, residents can anticipate further discussion on the city’s traffic calming policy as the committee explores opportunities to engage with relevant departments.

This meeting underscored the NAC's commitment to actively engaging with neighborhoods and aligning their efforts with city-wide goals. Residents interested in learning more about neighborhood initiatives or participating in future discussions are encouraged to visit the city's Virtual Engagement Hub for recordings and updates. The upcoming special meeting on August 26th offers a prime opportunity to contribute to the planning of the annual retreat and shape the committee’s work plan for the coming year.