Citizen “task force” committees in New Smyrna Beach enable citizens to develop and recommend solutions to long-standing issues. The task force committee format brings citizens together in an open forum to discuss workable solutions. The task force committees are supported by city staff and consultants who make presentations at task force meetings without a charge for their time. The intent of the project was to improve
the setting of priorities and organizational focus, and to improve decision making on long-standing community issues by using a “task force” approach to increase citizen engagement and transparency.