Edgewood council reviews liaison assignments, leaves Pierce County Regional Council seat unresolved

The Edgewood City Council on Jan. 21 reviewed its 2025 slate of liaison assignments to regional boards and local advisory groups, confirmed most primary and alternate representatives and deferred final action on the Pierce County Regional Council seat until the regular meeting next week.

Council members said they planned to keep many existing representatives in place while shifting a handful of roles. Mayor Olsen said PCRC has an annual General Assembly on Feb. 20 when all council members may vote, and that the council must finalize assignments by next Tuesday. Councilors identified Christie, Erica and Jason as interested in the PCRC role but left the final selection for the Feb. 27 regular meeting (the council’s formal vote deadline is next Tuesday). Councilors also discussed whether alternates may attend PCRC meetings and whether multiple alternates would create a quasi‑forum; the mayor said staff will check rules with the PCRC and Puget Sound Regional Council to confirm whether multiple alternates pose an open‑meeting issue.

The council confirmed several appointments during the study session discussion: Jennifer will serve as primary for the Chamber of Commerce with John as alternate; Jason and Jennifer will continue as primary and alternate, respectively, for Mountain View Edgewood Water Company matters (with an agreed option to swap primary/alternate when schedules conflict); Jeff will remain the primary and Erica the alternate for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB); Jason will remain primary for the Planning Commission, with Roseanne as alternate; Roseanne and Jennifer will continue in the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) roles as discussed; and John agreed to step up as primary for the South Sound Housing Affordability Partner Steering Committee (SHAPE), with Mayor Olsen as backup alternate when needed.

Councilors repeatedly emphasized scheduling constraints and the value of distributing assignments so more members can participate. Several members recommended reviewing agendas in advance for bodies with voting items so a smaller subteam can recommend a voting position to the full council, with the full council exercising its vote at the PCRC General Assembly when applicable. Roseanne noted some boards have “wonky rules” requiring a council member to be a full member of one body in order to sit on another, and the mayor said staff will confirm those eligibility rules.

Council members also agreed to leave two subcommittee assignments unchanged while those groups complete ongoing work and to finalize any outstanding changes at the next regular meeting.

The council did not take formal votes during the study session; the mayor said staff will prepare the formal nominations and a resolution or consent item for the regular meeting so councilors may vote as required.

Several administrative details were noted in the discussion: PCRC usually meets monthly on Thursday evenings; the Pierce County Cities and Towns Association meeting is quarterly; and the PCRC General Assembly on Feb. 20 would allow all council members to vote if they attend.