IT advisory commission weighs recruitment to broaden member demographics

Chair (S1) told the commission that, in testimony to the Board, members had been asked by a board member how diverse the commission is and what the group could do to improve representation. S1 said the panel is diverse on many demographic axes but lags in education and tech savviness and suggested devoting meeting time to invite less tech‑oriented residents as sounding boards.

Commissioners agreed that recruiting for socioeconomic and experiential diversity is difficult because service on commissions requires time and initiative. Committee member (S2) noted past recruitment efforts mostly succeeded when individuals took the initiative to apply. Remote participant (S9) flagged an unfilled student seat and commissioners discussed whether the student seat requires a full‑time or undergraduate student; staff was asked to check applicant records and clarify eligibility rules.

Members proposed several outreach tactics: invite the Digital Equity Coalition and nonprofit partners to present to the commission, hold a meeting targeted at prospective recruits, and solicit feedback from service organizations that work directly with underrepresented groups. Several members emphasized the value of inviting willing but not‑technical residents who can represent perspectives on how county digital tools affect everyday users.

Chair (S1) also reminded members that some seats will expire in 2026 and that the county’s two‑term customary limit could create openings; members asked staff to verify term lengths and limits. The commission agreed to return to the topic at a future meeting with a short recruitment plan and outreach list.