Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
FROM:	Jasmin Moore, Sustainability Director
DATE:	February 22, 2019
RE:	Strategic Plan Update- Effective Performance & Professional Administration

Background

Critical Success Factor- Effective Performance & Professional Administration in the City Strategic Plan identifies diverse community representation on City Advisory Boards and Committees as a measure. Baseline data was not available when the Strategic Plan was adopted. Adopting a policy to encourage diversity in local government appointments to advisory boards and commissions is also an area of opportunity in the STAR Community Rating System in the Equity and Empowerment Goal area.

Progress to Date

The City Commission adopted Resolution No. 7224, which adopts standard policies and procedures relating to Advisory Boards and Committees of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, identifies a goal of the City to have advisory board and committee members reflect the diversity of the community regarding income level, race, sex, religion, color, national origin, ethnicity, age, ancestry, familial status, gender identity and sexual orientation. 

In spring 2018, a voluntary survey was distributed to all advisory board/committee members in an attempt to get a snapshot of the current level of diversity across all boards relating to the facets of diversity outlined in the policy. The aggregated results are published here, and indicate the membership of boards and commissions does not yet reflect community diversity. The demographic questions were included as a part of the volunteer application to city boards and commissions for the remainder of 2018.

The City Commission directed staff in July 2018 to enter into a partnership with the Appointments Project, an initiative of the Women’s Foundation based in Kansas City.

Staff initiated a partnership with the Appointments Project and the Appointments Project began highlighting City of Lawrence board openings to their subscribers. In November 2018, a community workshop was held at the Lawrence Library. The event, attended by about 30 people, provided information about what it means to serve on a local government board or commission and how to find current board opening for the City of Lawrence. 

The Women’s Foundation is hosting another workshop on Wednesday, February 27, 5:30 pm at the Sunrise Project, 1501 Learnard Ave, Lawrence, KS. The workshop is targeted to residents of Lawrence and Eudora, also an Appointments Project partner.

Demographic data of people appointed in the second half of 2018 was collected and staff is in the process of analyzing.

Recommended Next Steps

Staff will develop a consistent process to collect, analyze, and report demographic information.