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Pierce County updates EDC board membership, adds seats and clarifies representation
Summary
The council voted 6–0 on Aug. 12 to adopt O2025-517S2, revising Pierce County Code section 2.56.050 to expand and clarify membership on the Economic Development Corporation of Pierce County board of directors and to add a non-voting county economic development representative.
Pierce County Council unanimously adopted Ordinance O2025-517S2 on Aug. 12, 2025, updating county code provisions for the board of directors of the Economic Development Corporation of Pierce County (EDCPC). The council substituted a set of membership changes recommended by the EDCPC board and approved a single council amendment that further specified membership categories.
What changed: The amended code increases the EDCPC board to 12 members (11 voting, 1 non-voting). The ordinance refines representation categories to include: a historically economically disinvested representative or a Washington State Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprise certified firm representative; a small-business representative (50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees); a City of Lakewood representative; a small cities representative (population 50,000 or fewer); a Pierce County organized-labor representative; a Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce representative; an at-large business-sector representative with priority on complementary sectors; and an industrial/manufacturing center representative. The non-voting slot is specified for the Pierce County Economic Development Department director or designee.
Council staff explained the change and timeline. Councilmember Ayala moved the amendment that reflects the EDCPC board’s July 10 recommendations, which the council accepted. The ordinance updates language last amended in 1985 and aims to reflect current economic and civic conditions when appointing board members.
Why it matters: The EDCPC, established in 1982 under state authority and codified at chapter 2.56 of the county code, helps finance industrial development projects. Councilmembers said the update modernizes the board structure and clarifies who can represent different business and civic interests. Councilmember Morrell noted the EDCPC has not issued bond financings since 2019 and suggested the board will need to consider future funding or operational changes.
Vote and next steps
- Ordinance O2025-517S2 (as amended): Adopted 6–0. The council directed that the updated membership list be codified in county code and noted that bylaws and charter language will be updated where inconsistent with the adopted changes.
Ending
Councilmembers said the updated membership rules will be implemented through the EDCPC appointment process and that staff and the board will review bylaws and the charter to align with the revised code.
