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Kenmore council names members to temporary STEP housing advisory committee after split vote
Summary
After debate and a tied vote on an initial motion, the council reconsidered and appointed eight community members to a limited-term advisory committee to advise on shelter, transitional, emergency and permanent supportive housing (STEP). The final vote to appoint the applicants was 5–1.
The Kenmore City Council appointed eight residents to a temporary advisory committee to advise on shelter, transitional, emergency and permanent supportive housing, a body the council created to guide community input on housing alternatives.
Council discussion began when Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director Debbie Bent summarized the process: the city received eight letters of interest and sought council direction on selecting members for interviews or direct appointment. Council members debated whether to interview applicants or appoint the full slate; some members said the applicants’ written letters were sufficient while others preferred brief interviews.
A motion to appoint all eight applicants failed on an initial 3–3 tie. After a motion to reconsider succeeded, council voted 5–1 to appoint the applicants. The minutes record Council Member Marshall as the lone dissenter; Marshall said repeatedly during the discussion that he preferred to interview applicants prior to appointment. The appointed members were announced by the clerk during the meeting.
Councilors and staff emphasized that the committee is limited term and will operate under a charter that defines membership, scope and deliverables. Staff said interviews had been tentatively scheduled for March 31 but, following council direction, the appointments will proceed with onboarding and facilitation support. The committee’s work will be used to advise the council on program design and community engagement strategies related to shelter and supportive housing.
What happens next: staff will coordinate orientation and scheduling with the new advisory committee members and provide the council with periodic updates on the committee’s findings and any recommendations it forwards.
Votes at a glance: Motion to appoint all applicants to the STEP advisory committee — adopted 5–1 after reconsideration; a prior motion to appoint all eight had failed 3–3 and was subsequently reconsidered.
