Lexington city council heard ways to potentially improve the city’s boards and commissions during a planning committee meeting Tuesday.
Lexington has 67 government boards meant to oversee its departments and make recommendations to city council.
Nonprofits CivicLex and CivStart surveyed city staff and Lexington citizens to better understand how they work, and the public perception of those boards.
CivicLex Deputy Director Kit Anderson says one finding was a representation gap between board membership and Lexington’s city demographics.
“16% of Lexington residents are between the ages of 20 and 29, while only 2% of board and commission members are between the ages of 20 and 29. So young people are significantly underrepresented, middle aged and older people are over represented,” Anderson said.
The survey also pointed to other disparities in education and housing status. 48% of city board members have a Master’s degree or higher, and 91% are homeowners instead of renters.
Anderson says that could improve by increasing public awareness or accessibility on when meetings are happening, and how certain boards function.
“A lot of members of the public didn't know that they could be on boards,” she said. “They thought that the boards were city staff or people who were elected or people with very specific qualifications.”
Anderson says that could improve community engagement, and get Lexingtonians from other demographics involved.
** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.
