The City of Seattle is looking for a candidate to serve on the Seattle Planning Commission starting in January 2017. Planning Commission members are appointed by the Mayor or the City Council and may serve up to two consecutive, three-year terms.
Currently one position is open; this position is subject to appointment by the City Council. The City is committed to promoting diversity in the City’s boards and commissions.
Persons of color, women, persons with disabilities, and sexual minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Commissioners must reside in Seattle and serve without compensation.
The Seattle Planning Commission is a 6-member Commission of neighbors that care about the future of our city. They are a group of individuals that have served on neighborhood councils, community design review boards, as well as many other community focused volunteer roles.
“We have a broad range of skills and perspectives that include architecture and design, land use and transportation planning, low-income housing development, and community engagement,” say Commission members.
The Seattle Planning Commission advises the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on citywide planning goals, policies, and plans and provide them with independent and objective advice on land use, zoning, transportation and housing issues.
Members of the Commission have a broad range of skills and perspectives but they are always looking for new voices that bring to light issues facing all parts of the city. They are looking for someone who:
- brings a commitment to making Seattle a great place to live and has knowledge and experience in land use and planning,
- has a commitment to community-building and community engagement,
- has a working understanding of zoning and land use issues,
- has an understanding of transportation investments and how they impact the neighborhoods around them,
- can speak to the needs of affordable housing or has an understanding of what role affordability plays in the city,
- has a passion for communicating planning to a diverse set of stakeholders,
Participation in the Planning Commission is a significant volunteer commitment. This includes attendance at monthly meetings (the second and fourth Thursdays of each month) and participation on at least one sub-committee that meets monthly. Commissioners also attend and participate in relevant public meetings and events.
To be considered for appointment to the Commission, please send a letter of interest and resume by post or e-mail (Valerie.Kinast@Seattle.gov) by October 21, 2016, addressed to:
Valerie Kinast, Interim Executive Director
Seattle Planning Commission
City of Seattle
Office of Planning and Community Development
PO Box 34019
Seattle WA 98124-4019
Please consider including any voluntary personal information regarding your cultural background, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability that might assist us in meeting the City’s goal to create diverse boards and commissions.
To find out more information, contact Valerie Kinast, Interim Commission Executive Director at (206) 233-7911 or via e-mail at Valerie.kinast@seattle.gov.
