Pierce County reconstitutes stormwater advisory board, confirms nine members

The Pierce County Council on Aug. 26 confirmed nine appointees to the Storm Drainage and Surface Water Management Advisory Board (SWAB), reviving the advisory body that had been inactive since 2019. The board, codified in Chapter 11.03 of county code, provides recommendations to the county executive and council on storm drainage and surface water issues, including utility rates, financing proposals and capital improvement programs. Council action came as part of the consent agenda and was adopted by roll call vote, 7-0. The executive appointed all nine members; five were given one-year initial terms and four were given two-year initial terms to establish staggered expirations, as described in the resolution. Members are expected to represent major watershed basins and, where possible, each council district. Members serve two-year terms after the initial staggering. Appointees who spoke at the council meeting included Bruce Morse, who described volunteer work on watershed restoration and local flooding issues; Jenny Lou, interim dean of business and social science at Pierce College with climate and watershed experience; Jim Rich, a lifelong local resident and retired business owner; and Brittney Eisel, who said she works in water utilities. Council staff and the Floodplain and Watershed Services manager said staff develops rate proposals and forwards them to the SWAB for recommendation before the county executive and council consider them. Councilmembers asked about the board’s authority and geographic representation. Staff and counsel clarified that SWAB is advisory: it makes recommendations to staff, the executive and the council but does not itself set tax rates. The code requires “whenever possible” representation from watersheds and from each council district; that phrasing is aspirational rather than mandatory. Councilmembers noted that no appointee listed was from District 1 and flagged that as an area for attention in future appointments. The motion to approve the consent agenda, which included the SWAB appointments, was moved by Vice Chair Herrera, seconded and passed by roll call, 7 ayes, 0 nays. The council thanked the new appointees for volunteering and noted the board’s role in advising on technical matters related to stormwater, water quality and flood risk. Looking ahead, staff said SWAB will review utility rates and capital proposals when they are developed and will be asked to provide recommendations to the executive and council as required by county code.