Title
Discussion of Recommendations Related to City Council Appointed Advisory Bodies
Recommended Action
Discuss recommendations related to City Council appointed advisory bodies.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss recommendations related to City Council appointed advisory bodies.
Staff Contact:
Margo Morales, Community Engagement Program Specialist, Organizational Development and Performance, 360.753.8150
Presenter(s):
Margo Morales, Community Engagement Program Specialist
Background and Analysis:
The City is committed to meaningful and inclusive engagement. Council Appointed-Advisory Bodies are a key component of this effort, providing community perspectives to support City Council in formulating public policy and making decisions on specific programs. The City of Olympia currently has 14 standing bodies with nearly 100 volunteers.
Over time, engagement strategies have adapted based on experience and the development of more sophisticated tools and techniques A comprehensive evaluation of Council-Appointed bodies hasn't been performed, so in 2025 staff undertook an evaluation an analysis to learn if there are opportunities to enhance their effectiveness.
On May 14, 2025, the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee (CLPS) discussed the findings of an analysis on Council Appointed Advisory Bodies. The purpose of the analysis was to assess the effectiveness of how well Council Appointed Bodies are serving the Council, Staff, and volunteer members. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Committee directed staff to recommend strategies to improve the effectiveness of council appointed bodies and outlined the following four goals:
1. Community members provide meaningful input to guide policy and decision-making
2. Ensure equitable and inclusive engagement
3. The experience of community members is impactful
4. Resources to support advisory bodies are sustainable
In September 2025, the City contracted with Genevieve Canceko Chan to complete a compr...
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