The City of Seattle is looking for candidates to serve on the Seattle Planning Commission beginning in April 2016. Planning Commission members are appointed by the Mayor or the City Council and may serve up to two consecutive, three-year terms.
The Planning Commission is a 16-member commission that 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 and zoning, transportation and housing issues.
The Commission is the steward of the City’s Comprehensive Plan; the citywide vision for how Seattle grows. They debate the benefits and impacts of these important policies and advise on how best to plan for the future.
In the recent past, the Commission has helped to raise important issues such as:
• affordable housing, creating an action plan for affordable housing that had a special focus on housing for families with children; as well as
• how to better align investments in transportation with investments in needed community spaces, creating vibrant and successful transit communities.
The Commission is looking for new voices that bring to light issues facing all parts of the city. We are looking for people who:
• bring a commitment to making Seattle a great place to live and have knowledge and experience in land use and planning,
• have a commitment to community-building and community engagement,
• have an understanding of transportation investments and how they impact the neighborhoods around them,
• can speak to the needs of affordable housing or have an understanding of what role affordability plays in the city, and
• have 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 by February 26, 2016 addressed to: Vanessa Murdock, Executive Director, Seattle Planning Commission, City of Seattle, Office of Planning and Community Development, PO Box 34019 , Seattle WA 98124-4019 or email [email protected].
For more information, please contact Vanessa Murdock, Commission Executive Director at 206-733-9271 or via e-mail at [email protected].
