Boards and Commissions

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


Current and Upcoming Board and Commission Vacancies

Vacantes de Juntas y Comisiones

Boards and Commissions with Application Deadline – September 1, 2024

NOTICE: The City Council meeting scheduled for October 8, 2024, has been canceled. This means that all board and commission appointments that were scheduled to take place this day have been rescheduled for the October 22, 2024, City Council meeting.

African American Heritage Commission

Air Quality Agency Board

Alcoholic Beverage Control Board

Historic Resources Commission

  • Vacancy must be filled by an Asheville City resident
  • A majority of the members of the commission shall have demonstrated special interest, experience or education in history, archaeology, or architecture or related fields. 

Human Relations Commission

Noise Advisory Board

  • Two vacancies for general seats
  • One vacancy for a performing arts industry representative
  • One vacancy for an industrial or construction industry representative 

Riverfront Commission

  • One vacancy reserved for an art advocate/artist/arts administrator
  • One vacancy reserved for a Housing Authority resident/staff or voucher recipient
  • One vacancy reserved for a design professional

Urban Forestry Commission


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 p.m., on the second Thursday of each month. Meetings are virtual. 

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. 828-259-5733
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. Jim Hayes
828-778-0772
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 This meeting takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month at City Hall, in the first floor North Conference Room. 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. Meetings are virtual. Bridget Herring
828-259-5558
Urban Forestry Commission This meeting takes place at 1:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. Meetings are virtual.

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!

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