LIVE @ City of Asheville Boards and Commissions Realignment Working Group 12/18/23

Asheville Boards and Commissions Realignment Working Group Meeting Recap – December 18, 2023

The City of Asheville’s Boards and Commissions Realignment Working Group (RWG) convened on December 18, 2023, to finalize a survey designed to assess the support provided to various city boards and commissions by City of Asheville staff. This effort aims to identify areas for improvement in how these vital advisory bodies function, ultimately contributing to a more responsive and effective local government. The meeting was attended by members of the RWG, as well as city staff providing support to the boards and commissions.

A central focus of the meeting was refining a survey intended for staff liaisons who work directly with boards and commissions. A key debate centered on whether to include the four quasi-judicial boards – Board of Adjustments, Civil Service Board, Historic Resources Commission, and Planning & Zoning – in the survey. After careful consideration of their unique roles within city governance, the RWG voted to include these staff liaisons in the survey. Members also discussed the best way to phrase questions, ultimately opting for a Likert scale (ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree") over simple yes/no answers, believing this would yield more detailed and nuanced feedback. Recognizing that participants may not always have complete information, the group also decided to include an "unsure/don't know" option on certain questions.

Beyond the survey itself, discussions touched upon improving communication between City Council and the various boards. The RWG explored different perspectives on how to best evaluate this communication, recognizing that perceptions can vary widely. There was also a shared understanding of the importance of defining "actionable recommendations" clearly, ensuring that the survey accurately gauges whether boards are effectively influencing city decisions and contributing to tangible outcomes.

The meeting concluded with several key action items moving forward. Patrick will finalize the survey incorporating all feedback received, and then share it with Sarah Gross for distribution to staff liaisons. Elise will continue developing a presentation summarizing the survey findings, which is scheduled for presentation to City Council on January 23rd. A preparatory meeting will be arranged beforehand to finalize the presentation details and ensure a smooth delivery. Finally, Stacey committed to sharing the meeting chat transcript with all participants for reference.

This work by the RWG is significant because it directly addresses how effectively our city government operates and listens to its advisory boards. By gathering feedback from the individuals who support these boards, the city aims to strengthen their capacity and ensure they are well-equipped to provide valuable input on important community matters. The findings will be presented to City Council, potentially leading to changes that improve the overall efficiency and responsiveness of local government for all Asheville residents.