The Buncombe County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board reviewed and refined a draft annual report during a special meeting Oct. 9, agreeing on goals to appoint a chair and vice chair, update bylaws, advise on strategic capital investments and increase public outreach tied to the countywide parks and recreation master plan.

Liz, recreation operations manager for Buncombe County Parks and Recreation, told the board she had circulated “a copy of the resolution, which is the resolution that created the Recreation Advisory Board” and asked members to review duties in the resolution as background for the report.

The board’s draft goals, advanced by department staff and discussed by members, emphasize three priorities: (1) strengthen the advisory board’s role by appointing leadership and reviewing/updating bylaws; (2) advise staff and the Board of Commissioners on strategic capital investments tied to the master plan and on a recommended timeline for implementation; and (3) develop a community engagement action plan and increase visible outreach in each commission district to solicit feedback for capital priorities and master-plan initiatives.

Board members outlined more specific proposals during the meeting. Members asked that the advisory board participate in at least one outreach or public engagement event per district per year, provide biannual feedback on marketing and branding, and take part in January and July progress reviews once the systemwide master plan is completed and adopted. Staff described capital projects as typically those above $100,000 and said capital-improvement requests are submitted each October for the next year’s budget cycle.

Members discussed creating a complementary internal timeline or 10-year action plan for greenways and other system bottlenecks that would make it easier to pursue grants and feasibility studies. Kevin Connerkin, a board member, described the need to identify “key shortcomings” and potential solutions so the board can present a clear, fundable package to county decision-makers.

Board members and staff offered several low-cost engagement tactics to raise awareness of county-managed facilities and to solicit public input: tabling at community events such as the Pumpkin Pedaler, using large QR codes on signage and at events to collect feedback, branded shirts or canopies for outreach volunteers, and stronger facility signage so users can distinguish city-run from county-run sites.

Staff and board members also said they would restart allocations from the passive recreation fund and noted that the passive-recreation subcommittee has reconvened.

Near the end of the meeting a motion was made to approve the annual report as discussed; a second was recorded. The board did not complete an in-person vote because a full quorum was not present. Liz said the item “will be voted, like, via email,” and staff will follow up with the board chair and Allison (staff liaison) before the next meeting. The board’s next meeting was set for Nov. 12 (a Wednesday, moved because of the Veterans Day holiday).

The meeting closed after the board agreed to move the draft forward with the changes and to confirm the report by email voting.

Notes on attribution: direct quotations in this report come from meeting participants as identified in the transcript.