Olympia committee to interview candidates for hearing examiner role

The Olympia Land Use and Environment Committee is going to interview candidates for the hearing examiner position on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

In December 2025, the City of Olympia launched its quadrennial search for a new hearing examiner. The hearing examiner is responsible for presiding over public hearings and issuing written decisions on a wide range of land use matters, including development proposals, variances, conditional use permits, preliminary plats, shoreline permits and appeals of administrative decisions.

Two people have applied for the four-year position, including the city’s current hearing examiner.

Mark Scheibmeir has served as Olympia’s hearing examiner since 2013 and is seeking reappointment.

In his application documents, Scheibmeir said he retired from private legal practice last year and now focuses on his work as a hearing examiner, which he said would provide scheduling flexibility.

He currently serves as a hearing examiner in Skamania County and several cities, including Tumwater, Gig Harbor, University Place and Issaquah. He has proposed maintaining his $275 hourly rate for the new contract.

The city’s request for qualifications states a preference for a hearing examiner willing to mentor a pro tem examiner. Scheibmeir indicated he is willing to provide mentorship to other interested applicants.

“It is my goal to have another member of my firm to eventually be able to assume my work as a hearing examiner, recognizing that each jurisdiction would be required to approve the change," he said.

He added that his role is to apply adopted land use policies rather than set them, and to conduct hearings in a manner that ensures all participants are treated fairly.

Phil Olbrechts also applied for the hearing examiner position, proposing to serve as either primary or alternate examiner.

Olbrechts said he has conducted more than 2,000 land use hearings since the 1990s. He currently serves as hearing examiner for 33 municipalities, including Auburn, Mercer Island, Federal Way, Fife, and Lacey, and as alternate examiner for Seattle Public Schools and Snhomish County.

He also serves as city attorney for two cities — Buckley and Index.

His application highlights experience handling complex and high-profile land use matters, including large master-planned development, State Environmental Policy Act appeals and code enforcement cases.

Olbrechts said he would personally conduct the vast majority of Olympia’s hearings and would request the use of an alternate only in rare scheduling conflicts. He proposed an hourly rate of $230, with subcontractor attorney and planner rates set at a percentage of that amount.

In describing his approach, Olbrechts said he aims to maintain a hearing process that is accessible to the public while ensuring fairness, order and legal rigor.

He said his written decisions are intended to be thorough, legally defensible and responsive to public concerns. He is also willing to continue mentoring individuals interested in hearing examiner work.

The committee’s special meeting will be held at 4 p.m. in city council chambers and online.