Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civic Engagement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bothell opens boards and commissions recruitment Jan. 13; council discusses interview process and outreach
Summary
City Clerk Laura Hathaway laid out the 2025 recruitment schedule (Jan. 13–Feb. 21 application window; Jan. 21 open house; interviews March 25; appointments April 8; terms begin May 1). Council members debated using a subcommittee to screen and interview applicants and asked staff to expand outreach and reminder options.
City Clerk Laura Hathaway presented the City of Bothell’s 2025 boards and commissions recruitment schedule and outreach plan at the Jan. 7 council meeting. The recruitment period opens Jan. 13 and closes Feb. 21; an open house for applicants is set for Jan. 21 at city hall (rooms 107–108). Interviews are tentatively scheduled for March 25, with appointments planned for April 8 and new terms beginning May 1.
Hathaway said staff will advertise the openings on the city website, social media and through targeted outreach to diverse demographic groups; the clerk’s office will invite applicants who applied within the week before the open house to attend. The city manager and the clerk said they will coordinate messaging with the city’s DEI coordinator and staff to broaden outreach.
Councilmembers discussed whether to form a subcommittee to pre‑screen and interview applicants — the city used that approach last year when application volume was high. Some councilmembers favored offering every applicant an oral interview to honor applicants’ time and interest; others said a subcommittee can reduce council workload and preserve evening meeting time for other business. Council members also suggested prioritizing youth applicants for separate interviews and triaging adult applicants by application quality.
Hathaway and Assistant City Manager Becky Range clarified that the city cannot opt people into the general notification listserv without their permission, but staff will include clear sign‑up links in recruitment messaging and promote the city’s e‑news and targeted lists. Councilmembers suggested adding a signpost on the vacancy page linking directly to subscription options and to partner organizations (for example, shelters and volunteer groups) to boost awareness.
Hathaway said there are 16 openings across city boards and commissions this cycle, plus seven openings for a DEI advisory group that the city manager will appoint. Council directed staff to return with options for a subcommittee or other screening approaches if application volume warrants it.
