Isabelle Jones, who described herself as a lifelong Edmonds resident and career public servant, interviewed remotely for a vacancy on the city's Planning Board and told the Committee of the Whole she wants to lend her public policy and government experience to local planning work.

Jones told the committee she's "a long time, resident of Edmonds" who moved back last year to raise her family, and said she has worked at the federal, state and local levels in health policy and currently serves as a deputy director for behavioral health in King County. She said she is "action oriented" and would bring government process experience to the volunteer board.

Why it matters: Planning board members review zoning, design standards, and other land-use matters that shape development and the city's long-range plan. Applicants with public-sector experience can help the board interpret policy and coordinate with staff.

Councilmembers asked Jones about priorities and how her background would translate to land-use work. Jones said she would focus on addressing the city's budget challenges by understanding how land-use and development can generate revenue, learning more about the comprehensive plan and the "hub model," and helping advance policies to attract businesses and support livability.

Council president Tibbetts asked whether anyone objected to forwarding Jones to the council consent agenda for formal appointment; no objections were raised. Tibbetts told Jones the appointment will likely appear on the next regular council consent agenda, at which point the council will take the formal step to place her on the Planning Board.

Jones answered questions from multiple councilmembers about the Frances Anderson Center planning discussion, tree and ordinance review, and the scope of planning-board responsibilities. She said she had recently become more active in Edmonds civic affairs after following a council discussion about possible changes to the Frances Anderson Center's designation in the comp plan.

The interview concluded with the committee indicating consensus to forward Jones's nomination to the next consent agenda for formal appointment.