Before Tropical Storm Helene, the City of Asheville had 13 active advisory boards and commissions. Members provided their expertise on a number of issues, helping shape city policies on the topics they advised.
Now, city staff is making the rounds to present a new Helene Recovery Boards structure. The initiative was approved by Asheville City Council at its Aug. 26 meeting and will reduce the 13 groups to four larger boards that will meet over the next two years. The four new boards will each align with a recovery priority: people and environment, housing, infrastructure and economy. No more than 11 members will serve on each board. Up to seven selected members will be drafted from the previously active 13 advisory boards and commissions. Council will name appointees at its Oct. 14 meeting.
Dawa Hitch, the city’s communications and public engagement director, presented the new structure to the Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC), which advises Council on planning and zoning decisions, at its Sept. 22 meeting — the first time the board has met since the storm and the last time it will meet until otherwise notified…