Fife council reviews 2025 liaison assignments, plans formal adoption next week

The Fife City Council reviewed its 2025 roster of liaison appointments at a study session called to order at 6:00 p.m., with Executive Assistant Smith presenting the list and council members confirming or volunteering for most seats.

Executive Assistant Smith summarized last year’s designations and walked through each line, noting which posts were still filled and which needed volunteers. “Looks like last year in 2024, we had Murphy as the primary and Wolfram as the alternate,” Smith said while reviewing the Greater Tacoma Regional Convention Center Public Facilities District entry.

The council tentatively assigned or re-confirmed primary and alternate representatives across dozens of external committees and interlocal groups. Highlights recorded in the discussion include: - Greater Tacoma Regional Convention Center Public Facilities District: Deputy Mayor Murphy (primary) and Council Member Anne Wolfram (alternate) were listed as continuing in those roles for now. - Pierce County Climate Conversation: staff noted the event’s upcoming date and time in an email (June 20, 2025, 9:30–11:30 a.m. at Puyallup City Hall). Council members discussed whether the meetings will be hybrid and whether to send an elected official or staff while the group remains in formation. - Behavioral Health Opioid Committee: staff said the committee meets quarterly and that the next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 4 at 11 a.m.; Council Member Ben Fagundes said he could serve as primary for that committee. - Rainier Communications Commission, South Sound 911, South Sound Housing Affordability Partners (SHAPE) and other recurring regional bodies: council members volunteered alternates or agreed to remain on seats, noting some meetings are typically one hour and often virtual or hybrid.

Council members repeatedly stressed the importance of matching representatives’ availability to meeting schedules. Several volunteers asked staff to mark assignments “penciled in” or to confirm meeting times before finalizing, especially for groups that meet during weekday business hours. Staff noted some committees require a signed form to confirm a city representative (South Sound 911 was cited as an example).

Deputy Mayor Murphy asked staff to circulate the updated liaison list and to place the assignments on the next regular meeting’s consent agenda for formal adoption. “Typically, the city council adopts it by motion,” Smith said, explaining the procedural step that must occur in a regular meeting rather than at a study session.

Staff also agreed to add hybrid/virtual status and meeting cadence where known, forward emails with meeting notices to council members, and help place calendar holds or Teams invites on council calendars when assignments are finalized.

The council discussed leaving some lower‑priority or high‑commitment seats open for the incoming council member so the new member can be assigned seats once sworn in; staff said the list can be revisited at a later date.

Ending: The council will see the liaison appointments again on the next regular meeting agenda as a consent item; staff will email assignments, calendar holds and relevant meeting links to council members in advance of that meeting.