Lake Stevens Civil Service Commission approves minutes, accepts eligibility list and hears staffing update

The Lake Stevens Civil Service Commission on Monday approved its Feb. 13 meeting minutes, accepted an entry-level eligibility list and discussed ongoing recruiting and staffing shortages that have left the department with multiple vacancies.

Commissioners accepted the minutes and later voted to accept the staffing eligibility list after a brief staffing report from Secretary and Chief Examiner Julie Goode. "We have 107 candidates on that entry-level eligibility list," Goode said, and she added that one candidate had recently graduated from the academy and been sworn in at a council meeting. "We have one remaining officer in the academy, Amanda Van Hook, and she graduates next week," Goode said; she said the city will schedule a swearing-in for Van Hook at the next council meeting.

The update included recruitment activity and recent attrition. Goode said staff reviewed 38 new applicants since the last commission meeting and removed 11 from the eligibility list. She said there are currently no entry-level advanced candidates on the list and one lateral candidate being considered. Goode also reported one officer resignation: "But we did also have one officer resign, and that was a lateral officer who'd been with us for about two and a half years," she said, bringing total vacancies to four.

Commissioners and staff also discussed a community service officer (CSO) vacancy. Goode said a candidate in background screening for the CSO position fell through, and the department plans to re-advertise the CSO vacancy next week with interviews to follow and an eligibility list expected around April. Ray Mitchell, civil service commissioner, flagged a typographical error in the packet results: "That 1, it should be a 2 for authorized position," he said; staff agreed to correct the item for the next meeting.

Goode reported the evidence technician position has one authorized slot and no current vacancy. "We've had an amazing evidence technician in place for many years ... She's she's amazing," Goode said.

The commission briefly discussed scheduling and agreed to cancel the April meeting and move its May meeting to May 1 to allow time to complete certification of the CSO eligibility list. Julie Goode said she would send notice and a calendar appointment for the revised meeting schedule.

Formal actions taken during the meeting included approval of the Feb. 13 minutes and acceptance of the staffing eligibility list. The commission adjourned after the votes.