Title
City Council Appointed Advisory Bodies Analysis and 2026 Advisory Body Recruitment Process Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive an update on the City Council appointed advisory bodies analysis and 2026 advisory body recruitment process.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive an update on the City Council appointed advisory bodies analysis and 2026 advisory body recruitment process.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, 360.753.8046
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager
Genevieve Canceko Chan, Consultant
Background and Analysis:
The City Council guidebook outlines the purpose, establishment, appointment process, and Council's relationship with Advisory Bodies. The Guidebook states that "public boards, committees, and commissions provide a great deal of assistance to the Council when formulating public policy and transforming policy decisions into action." Starting in 1935 with the Planning Commission, Councils throughout subsequent years have established an additional 13 standing bodies, so that today there are nearly 100 Olympia residents serving as members.
Methods for engaging and communicating with the public have evolved significantly over the past 10 years. This, coupled with feedback received from staff and volunteers reporting challenges and resource constraints, the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee (CLPS) requested that staff evaluate the effectiveness of Council-Appointed Advisory Bodies to determine whether they are meeting Council's stated mission.
Now retired Director of Strategic Communications, Kellie Purce Braseth, launched this work effort, and Assistant City Manager Debbie Sullivan continued it by completing and sharing a comprehensive Advisory Body analysis at the May 14 CLPS special meeting. To move forward, the City has contracted with Genevieve Canceko Chan to provide additional capacity and expertise to co...
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