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Federal Way council selects candidates to fill Human Services Commission seats
Summary
After interviews, the council agreed to reappoint two current commissioners and to slot a new applicant for a vacant Human Services Commission seat; formal appointments will be made at the regular council meeting.
Federal Way City Council members interviewed applicants for the Human Services Commission and agreed to place three candidates into specific seats, with final appointments to be made at the council's regular meeting later the same evening.
Ashley Bird, a director of education at the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, was selected for the vacant voting seat 4; Donna Arnold, a current commissioner, will remain in position 7; and Betty Taylor, another incumbent, will remain in position 8. Council members said they will confirm appointments at the regular council meeting and that a separate interview for Harold Booker is scheduled for Nov. 18.
The selections followed brief interviews in which applicants described their backgrounds and answered council questions about budgeting, conflict of interest and outreach. Ashley Bird said she oversees roughly $5,000,000 in grant-funded programs at the Urban League and emphasized prioritizing services to residents within Federal Way rather than directing funds to organizations located outside the city. "If we are trying to service Federal Way community, it's nice to keep those funds in house," Bird said. Donna Arnold described her prior service on the Human Services and Diversity committees and said she intends to foster collaboration among commissions. Betty Taylor, a longtime commissioner, said maintaining consistency and fit among commissioners is important to the commission's work.
Council members asked applicants how they would evaluate grant requests, how they would avoid conflicts when their employers or acquaintances applied for funds, and how they would improve outreach to nonprofits that are unaware of the city's funding programs. In response to a question about potential conflicts, Bird said she would disclose relationships and avoid being the primary decision-maker in instances where a conflict could appear. "I would make my conflict aware... because I don't want it to come back on me to look as though I'm showing favoritism," she said.
Council members also noted there are alternate positions and additional vacancies to fill in future meetings. The council scheduled Harold Booker for an interview on Nov. 18 and said staff will notify candidates about appointment outcomes if they cannot attend the later meeting. The Human Services Commission interviews were part of the regular council meeting and the council indicated the formal votes to appoint will occur at the subsequent council session.
The council's interview and selection process emphasized local service and continuity: incumbents stressed the commission's heavy workload, the need for consistent membership and proactive outreach so eligible nonprofits can apply for grants. Several council members pressed applicants on how to balance limited funds and how to measure program impact when making allocation decisions.
