Title
Approval of Draft Comment Letter on Recommendations for City Council Appointed Advisory Bodies
Recommended Action
Approve draft comment letter on recommendations for City Council appointed advisory bodies.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a comment letter on recommendations for 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.
At the Social Justice and Equity Commission's (SJEC) April 20, 2026 meeting, commissioners received a briefing on the evaluation process, what was learned, and draft recommendations for enhancements to the City's community engagement and Council Appointed Advisory Bodies. Commissioners discussed the draft recommendations with particular attention to how they might impact equitable and inclusive engagement. Additional time for further discussion of the draft recommendations is scheduled for the SJEC May 18, 2026 meeting.
The purpose of this agenda item is for the Social Justice and Equity Commission (SJEC) to approve a comment letter summarizing their discussions and feedback on the draft recommendations for community engagement and Council Appointed...
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