Jacksonville residents are routinely invited to participate in government through advisory boards, commissions, committees and neighborhood organizations. Some review development proposals. Others advise elected officials, oversee specialized programs, represent neighborhoods or provide recommendations before important decisions reach City Hall.

A Seat at the Table examines how that system of public participation actually works. The series looks at who serves, how members are selected, what authority each body has, how residents can participate, and what happens to recommendations after meetings end.

The central question goes beyond whether Jacksonville provides opportunities for public input. It is also whether that input reaches the people making decisions—and whether residents can see what happened after they spoke.

Individual installments will explore organizations such as Citizen Planning Advisory Committees (CPACs), the Jacksonville Planning Commission and other appointed or community-based bodies, explaining their roles while following specific issues through the decision-making process.

Use the articles below to explore the series. Together, they provide a closer look at who gets a seat at Jacksonville’s civic table, who gets heard once they are there, and what happens next.

A Seat at the Table- Part I: