The Olympia City Council on Tuesday approved the appointment of 18 individuals who would serve in various city advisory committees.
Councilmember Yen Hyunh, also the Community Livability and Public Safety (CLPS) chair, recommended 18 individuals to fill the vacancies in the Arts Commission, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the Heritage Commission, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, the Planning Commission, the Social Justice and Equity Commission, and the Utility Advisory Committee.
Hyunh said the CLPS opened recruitment in October and received 67 applications, with the respective advisory bodies screening the initial application and the recommending candidates that the CLPS interviewed on March 1 and March 2.
The CLPS, Hyunh added, interviewed 28 candidates.
Hyunh also recommended seven individuals currently serving on advisory committees for reappointment.
She added that the CLPS committee would be interviewing candidates for the inaugural Cultural Access Program Advisory Board in April. She said the city received 32 applications for nine seats.
The appointment recommendations would be coming before the full council in May.
The city council approved the appointments of:
Arts Commission
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Heritage Commission
Planning Commission
Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
Social Justice and Equity Commission
The city council also recognized community members who served in the city’s advisory groups.
"This evening, we are beginning this tradition to formally and publicly acknowledge the service of community members who depart from council-appointed advisory committees," said Kellie Purce Braseth, Strategic Communications director. This was the first time the city council recognized individuals who served Olympia. She distributed certificates of appreciation.
Those recognized were:
Arts Commission
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
Planning Commission
Utility Advisory Committee
Hyunh thanked these individuals "for being alongside us, planning with us, and giving us great insights."
Councilmember Lisa Parshley said she "viewed the [members of the] commissions as the way for our community to speak to us and speak to our policies to make sure that your voices are heard."
"I honor that service," Parshley added.
2 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
GmaMaggie
Just an FYI, there's a typo in this article. The first member added to the BPAC is "Margaret Slighte"
There is no dash. And I have only been slighted by my name being misspelled.
Margaret "Maggie" Slighte
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 Report this
BobJacobs
This article says that all the recommendations for new appointments were made by a single councilmember. I hope that is a mistake.
Traditionally these recommendations were made by a council committee. That is a much better system, obviously.
Bob Jacobs
Thursday, March 30, 2023 Report this