At its December 5 meeting, the City Council appointed nine residents to serve on a City Hall Advisory Committee. The committee was formed as a follow up to the property tax levy lid lift passed by voters last August to pay for Interim City Hall rent for the next four years. The next steps include working with the community to develop a plan to design, fund and construct a new City Hall on vacant city-owned property at the Civic Center. That area is occasionally being used as a staging site for projects in the city.
The City Hall Advisory Committee will help accomplish three key City Council goals: (1) Implement a Civic Center Plan to include financing options for voter consideration; (2) Protect and enhance the City’s financial health and stability while maintaining appropriate and essential public services in a cost effective manner; and (3) Develop and implement effective communication and outreach with the community.
The City Council interviewed fifteen residents and had a difficult decision selecting nine of the well-qualified group for a well-rounded Committee. The members of the City Hall Advisory Committee are Stephen Barnes, Dustin DeKoekkoek, Chris Finch, Maggie Hyneman, Stan Lake, Rory Paine-Donovan, Linda Rogers, Vic Sood, and Eiya Wolfe. Ultimately, the Council’s selection was based upon having a good representation of different perspectives, along with some specialized skills in construction/engineering/finance, involvement in previous campaigns, and individuals who would serve as positive and professional representatives in working with the community on this project.
“We were thrilled with the candidates who stepped up to serve on this committee,” stated Community Relations Director Virginia Olsen. “There was a good mix of people who are long term residents and those who are brand new to the community. All of the applicants have a great interest in this project.”
The City Council invites everyone to participate in the process to plan and design the next proposal. Stay tuned for information about upcoming meetings and open houses.
For more information, please call City Clerk/Community Relations Director Virginia Olsen at (425) 744-6206.
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