Kyle Ann Radanovic added to Olympia’s downtown business advisory board

Olympia’s Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) Advisory Board elected Kyle Ann Radanovic as its 13th member yesterday.

Before the election, the board only had 12 members. They needed one more member as the city’s municipal code requires them to have an odd number of members.

Radanovic is a general manager at Anthony’s Homeport Olympia. She has worked for the company since she graduated from Tumwater High School in 2005.

She will replace former board member Konrad Bruns who resigned on April 12, citing other pressing priorities impacting his capacity to work for the board. Radanovic will take over Bruns’ remaining term until the end of 2022 and may choose to run for another three-year term afterward.

In her application letter, she wrote, “These past three years have been difficult on our community. I would love to help rebuild community trust in our diverse, artsy, and budding community.”

The extent to which she could represent Anthony’s — a corporation — was discussed during the meeting. She assured the board that she has been representing the company in similar arrangements through her membership in the Market District Association.

Another applicant, Iri Alexander, was considered for board membership. She is the vice chair and creative director of Olympia Lamplighter, a nonprofit that helps provide resources to local artists.

Alexander was not elected to the board because membership is only allowed for business owners paying the levy for PBIA. She may opt to pay based on a special assessment, according to staff liaison Max DeJarnatt, but Alexander said she would first have to consult their organization.

The board considered waiting for Alexander, but they chose to elect Radanovic as she belonged to the north side of the PBIA, an unrepresented downtown area.

“We have somebody today who's interested, is ready to be voted on. [Radanovic] in an area of PBIA representation that we don't have right now. I just feel like it's a good fit,” board member Oliver Stormshak said.

The board elected  Radanovic with no objections and two abstentions.