Olympia has opened the applications for City Councilmember Position #5.
The seat will be vacant on December 31 when Councilmember Lisa Parshley transitions to her new role as a state representative for the 22nd district.
In a public meeting on November 22, attended by city staff and Mayor Pro Tem Yen Huynh, Councilmembers Robert Vanderpool and Dani Madrone, the councilmembers set the deadline for application submissions as Friday, December 13, 2024, no later than 4 p.m.
The council will review the applications and recommend interviews to be discussed at the January 7 council meeting.
The council finalized the desired qualifications to evaluate applicants in the same meeting. These include demonstrated community involvement, the ability to work collaboratively with the council and staff, and a commitment to devoting 15-25 hours per week to council business.
The council also reviewed and refined the application questions with seven open-ended prompts. These include questions about the applicant's top three priorities the city needs to address, their community involvement, and their thoughts on the city's comprehensive plan update.
Olympia's Comprehensive Plan, which outlines the city's 20-year vision, is undergoing periodic updates as required by the state. This process, extended to December 31, 2025, will align the plan with state requirements for growth through 2045. The plan covers areas like housing, land use, transportation, and economic development.
The applicant interviews with the city council are set for Monday, January 13, 2025. The open council seat is expected to be filled at the January 14 council meeting, with the new member participating in the council's annual retreat on Jan. 24-25.
Councilmembers are required to attend various meetings and events. These include weekly Tuesday council meetings (usually 6 – 9 p.m. or later), special meetings on evenings and weekends, council committee meetings, regional and intergovernmental board sessions, and community functions.
Meetings are primarily held in person at city hall, with hybrid Zoom options available for accessibility.
As the city stated, councilmembers are expected to dedicate 15-25 hours or more per week to their duties.
The current annual salary for Olympia City Council Position #5 is $25,695.73. Councilmembers also receive a benefit stipend of $6,195.71.
The term for Position #5 ends when the November 2025 General Election results are certified. To continue serving on the council, the appointee would need to stand for election next year.
The required items listed below must be included with the signed application:
The applicants must confirm they are current city residents. Rather than asking applicants to provide a map showing their address, the city provides a map and asks applicants to verify their residence is within the city limits.
All application materials must be submitted electronically to the City Council's Executive Services Assistant at dcarvalh@ci.olympia.wa.us.
For further information, contact Dawn Carvalho, the Council's Executive Services Assistant, at 360.753.8065 or by e-mail.
All application materials must be submitted electronically to the City Council's Executive Services Assistant at dcarvalh@ci.olympia.wa.us.
Olympia says it welcomes all qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds and encourages individuals to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with different life experiences.
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