Boards and Commissions Last updated or reviewed on November 15, 2024 NOTICE: City leadership has decided that all advisory and quasi-judicial boards staffed by City employees and all Council Committees will be suspended until January 1, 2025, at the earliest. Exceptions will be granted on a case-by-case basis if a board or commission needs to meet to discuss time-sensitive or storm-related items. This action is necessary so that staff can focus on recovery efforts. Have you ever wanted to make a difference? Have you wondered, “Can the City benefit from my experience and knowledge?” Do you want to have a voice in the City’s growth and future? Do you want to be a part of the body that is responsible for making decisions regarding policy, service and education? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then it’s time to take that initial step forward and put your perspective, leadership and knowledge to task by serving on one of the many committees we have to offer. Please note, that city residents are given preference; however, Council may appoint a non-City resident to some hard-to-fill seats, seats requiring special skills or expertise, or unless otherwise specified or provided for by law or Council action. Through a variety of boards and commissions established by Asheville City Council, members of the public may provide input on the policies that shape their government and their city. There are currently more than 30 boards and commissions that advise the Mayor and City Council on an array of issues. Board members and commissioners generally serve as unpaid volunteers, but the rewards can be gratifying: members meet other residents with similar interests, they learn about the city, and they help shape the future of Asheville. Being on a board or commission requires a significant personal commitment, so applicants should consider their ability to commit their time and personal energy before applying. What are Boards and Commissions? Alex Smith, Assistant City Clerk, and Michelle Smith, Deputy City Clerk, speak about what Boards and Commissions are and how you can get involved, anywhere from becoming a member of a board, to submitting questions and recommendations as a member of the public. Additional Resources Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)– for anyone considering serving on a City board or commission. Regular Boards and Commissions Meeting Schedule – updated December 2023 – Subject to change and public notice requirements. Board and Commission Resource Documents – folder containing Board and Commission policies, handbooks, resources, and annual reports, etc. City Engagement Hub– Online hub for Board and Commission meetings and public participation information Want to be notified when new vacancies are announced? Contact boards@ashevillenc.gov to be added to the distribution email list. Want to learn more about the proposal to realign Boards and Commissions and the various ways to participate? Visit the Boards and Commissions Realignment Project web page. Have an issue accessing or participating in a board or commission meeting, in person or virtually? Use this form to let us know! Current and Upcoming Board and Commission Vacancies Vacantes de Juntas y Comisiones Boards and Commissions Application Deadline – December 8, 2024 NOTICE: All board and commission appointments that were scheduled to take place on October 8, 2024, have been tentatively rescheduled for the January 14, 2025, City Council meeting. All board and commission vacancies listed below have an application deadline of December 8, 2024, unless otherwise stated. Tentatively, consideration of these appointments will take place at the January 14, 2025, City Council meeting. Audit Committee Applicant must be a CPA or CPA-retired Board of Adjustment Four alternate seat vacancies Must be City residents Design Review Committee Two at-large seats vacancies Applicants should have a demonstrated special interest, experience or education in architecture, historic preservation, landscape architecture, urban planning, or related fields. Preference will be given to applicants who represent at least one of the following: persons with disabilities, transit users, and/or seniors. Downtown Commission Applicants must be members of the private sector of the community and shall represent various segments of the greater downtown community such as, but not limited to, property owners, merchants, residents, businesses and institutions; and shall have a willingness to participate actively in commission efforts; and shall possess expertise and interest in the sustainability and development of downtown. Preference will be given to applicants who represent at least one of the Asheville Design Review Committee’s interest areas in addition to the seat requirements: persons with disabilities, transit users, and seniors. Metropolitan Sewerage District Board Must be City residents Neighborhood Advisory Committee One 28805 representative vacancy Two vacancies for at-large seats Must be residents of the City or the City’s extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction and shall reflect the socioeconomic diversity of Asheville Noise Advisory Board One vacancy for an at-large seat Must be a City resident Riverfront Commission One vacancy reserved for an art advocate/artist/arts administrator One vacancy reserved for a Housing Authority resident/staff or voucher recipient Sustainability Advisory Committee Urban Forestry Commission Application Deadline for the Housing Authority is November 30, 2024 Housing Authority of the City of Asheville Deadline for applications is November 30, 2024 Mayor makes appointments to this board, not City Council Consideration of appointments will take place after the application deadline Vacancies below are open until filled and are appointed by the Multimodal Transportation Commission: Active Transportation Committee Notice: This committee uses a separate application from the boards listed above. If you are interested in applying, please fill out an Active Transportation Committee Application. For more information about this board, contact Lucy Crown. Application Process On March 14, 2023, the Boards and Commissions Council Committee approved changing the Council Appointment process from monthly to four to five times per year. The extended time-frame allows for longer advertising of board vacancies and more time for review of the applications before appointments are made by City Council. Prospective Applicants First, determine which board or commission interests you. Board and commission meetings are open to the public, so potential applicants are encouraged to attend monthly meetings or watch recordings of previous meetings. Meeting dates, times, and locations vary and are available on individual board and commission web pages. Interested volunteers must submit an application form to be considered. Application Fill out a boards and commissions application. After your application is received, you will receive a receipt of application e-mail from the City Clerk’s Office. If you do not receive that receipt within a day after submittal, please contact boards@ashevillenc.gov to make sure that your application has reached the City Clerk’s Office. Note: Once an application is received, the city will place your name on the resource list for that particular board. Applications are kept on file for consideration for one year. If you are not appointed within a year, you will need to submit a new application for further consideration. Qualifications City residents are given preference. However, Council may appoint a non-City resident to some hard-to-fill seats, seats requiring special skills or expertise, or unless otherwise specified or provided for by law or Council action. Interview When vacancies occur, the City Council will review the resource list and may schedule interviews. You will be contacted directly if it is necessary for you to interview for an appointment. NOTE: Please visit individual Committee pages for more information on the next, upcoming meeting. The table below includes information for City Managed Boards, for meeting information on Boards/Commissions not managed by the City, but to which City Council appoints members or liaisons, please review the comprehensive Boards and Commissions Meeting and Contact Information document and visit the specific Board or Commission website. City Managed Boards and Commissions Meeting Information Board and Commission Meeting Information Contact Affordable Housing Advisory Committee This meeting takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., on the first Thursday of each month in the first Floor North Conference Room of Asheville City Hall. Sasha Vrtunski 828-259-5560 African American Heritage Commission This meeting takes place at 4:30 p.m., on the second Thursday of every other month. Meetings are held on odd months. Meetings are virtual. Sala Menaya-Merritt 828-232-4517 Asheville Buncombe Riverfront Commission This meeting takes place at 4:00 p.m., on the second Thursday of each month. Meetings are in person at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce in the second floor conference room. David Hazzard 828-417-4306 Asheville City Council Formal Meetings Asheville City Council Agenda Briefing Work Sessions This meeting takes place at 5:00 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, in the Council Chamber located on the second floor of City Hall. These meetings are in-person. Agenda Briefing Work Sessions are held the Thursday before the Council Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in the First Floor Conference Rm of City Hall. These meetings are in-person. Maggie Burleson 828-259-5601 Asheville Regional Housing Consortium This meeting takes place on an as-needed basis. Sofia Bonilla 828-259-5446 Audit Committee This meeting takes place quarterly on the third Thursday of the month at 3:00 p.m. Meetings are virtual. Lauren Brune 828-259-5665 Board of Adjustment This meeting takes place at 2:00 p.m., on the fourth Monday of each month at City Hall, in the first floor North Conference Room. Sam Starr-Baum 828-259-5609 Board of Electrical Examiners This meeting takes place at 9:00 a.m., on the first Tuesday of the month for January, April, July, and October at Public Works Room A109 located at 161 South Charlotte Street. Misty Lipe mlipe@ashevillenc.gov Board and Commissions Committee (City Council Committee) This meeting takes place at 1:00 p.m., on the second Tuesday of the month. Meetings are virtual. Michelle F. Smith 828-259-5839 Citizen-Police Advisory Committee Not currently meeting. Samantha Booth 828-259-5813 Civil Service Board This meeting takes place at 2:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at City Hall, in the first floor North Conference Room. HR Director 828-774-8564 Community Entertainment Facilities Commission (formerly the Civic Center Commission) This meeting takes place at noon on the first Tuesday of the month in the Banquet Hall at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville located at 87 Haywood Street. Chris Corl -828-259-5452 ccorl@ashevillenc.gov Community Reparations Commission This meeting takes place at 6:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center Banquet Hall – 87 Haywood Street. Sala Menaya-Merritt 828-232-4517 Design Review Committee This meeting takes place at 12:15 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at City Hall, in the first floor North Conference Room. Will Palmquist 828-259-5525 Downtown Commission This meeting takes place at 9:00 a.m. on the fourth Friday of the month in the first floor North Conference Room of City Hall. Meetings are in-person. Dana Frankel 828-273-5248 Environment and Safety (City Council Committee) This meeting takes place at 11:00 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Meetings are virtual. Talia Stepp 828-641-1579 Equity and Engagement (City Council Committee) This meeting takes place at 1:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings are virtual. Katie Noun 828-259-5721 Historic Resources Commission This meeting takes place at 4:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at City Hall, in the first floor North Conference Room. Alex Cole 828-259-5638 Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee At the November 12, 2024 City Council meeting, Council adopted a resolution dissolving the Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee. Emily Ball 828-747-8510 Housing and Community Development (City Council Committee) This meeting takes place at 10:00 a.m. on the third Tuesday of the month. Meetings are virtual. Katie Noun 828-259-5721 Human Relations Commission of Asheville This meeting takes place at 6 p.m., on the third Thursday of every other month at City Hall, in the first floor North Conference Room. Sala Menaya-Merritt 828-232-4517 Mountain Community Capital Fund This meeting takes place the first Friday of each month. Meetings are virtual. Rachel Taylor 828.251.4055. Multimodal Transportation Commission This meeting takes place at 3:00 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month at City Hall, in the first floor North Conference Room. Lucy Crown 828-259-5805 Neighborhood Advisory Committee This meeting takes place at 6:00 p.m., on the fourth Monday of the month at City Hall, in the first floor North Conference Room. Dawa Hitch 828-712-4229 Noise Advisory Board This meeting takes place at 1:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. Meetings are virtual. Chris O’Brien 828-450-2535 Planning and Economic Development (City Council Committee) This meeting takes place at 4:00 p.m., on the second Monday of each month. Meetings are virtual. Katie Noun 828-259-5721 Planning and Zoning Commission This meeting takes place at 5:00 p.m., on the first Wednesday of the month at City Hall, in the first floor North Conference Room. Will Palmquist 828-259-5525 Policy, Finance and HR Committee (City Council Committee) This meeting takes place at 10:00 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are virtual. Talia Stepp 828-641-1579 Public Art and Cultural Commission This meeting takes place at 4:00 p.m., on the third Thursday of every other month. Meetings are virtual. Karli Stephenson 828-259-5627 Recreation Board Not currently meeting. Recreation Department Soil Erosion/Stormwater Review Committee This meeting takes place on an as-needed basis. Amy Deyton 828-259-5547 Sustainability Advisory Committee This meeting takes place at 3:30 p.m., on the third Wednesday of every other month at City Hall, in the first floor North Conference Room. Bridget Herring 828-259-5558 Urban Forestry Commission This meeting takes place at 1:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at City Hall, in the first floor North Conference Room. Keith Atkin 828-259-5674 For meeting information on other Boards or Commissions not managed by the City, but to which City Council appoints members or liaisons, please reference the comprehensive Boards and Commissions Meeting & Contact Information Document and visit the specific Board or Commission website. Board and Commission Resource Folder Boards and Commissions Resource Documents – folder containing Board and Commission policies, handbooks, resources, and annual reports, etc. Contact Information General questions: boards@ashevillenc.gov If members of the public are interested in being on an e-mail list to receive updates on the activities of particular boards they need to contact the individual staff contact for that board. Have an issue accessing or participating in a board or commission meeting, in person or virtually? Use this form to let us know!
