The Spokane Valley City Council on Jan. 7 confirmed a series of mayoral volunteer appointments to planning and advisory boards and approved councilmember assignments to external boards and committees.

The council confirmed mayoral nominations to the Planning Commission (Robert McKinley, Emily Meyer, Anne Winkler for three-year terms), two appointments to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (Carrie Gibbs and Grant Glynn for two-year terms), Jean Kindham to the Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington Board for a three-year term, Jenny McClennahan to the Spokane Housing Authority Board for a five-year term, and Jessica Glasson to the TPA Commission for a two-year term. The motion specified all terms begin Jan. 1, 2025. Council members said they had reviewed resumes and that some candidates had been interviewed or otherwise checked by the mayor.

A separate motion confirmed mayoral appointments of council members to the city's committees and external boards as listed on the council action form. Mayor Haley said most boards had asked to keep current representatives and noted the value of longevity on boards with multi-year plans. Council Member Merkle objected to his assignments and said he felt excluded from boards he had served on previously; the mayor and other council members said some past changes were made after boards reported being given misinformation that required correction, and that adherence to the governance manual was a factor in assignment decisions. The board-appointments motion passed; the meeting record shows at least one opposed vote during the vote on that item.

Council discussed a current vacancy on the TPA Commission due to an absence of an applicant from the required hotel size for that panel and confirmed that vacancy remains. The council also noted that the LTAC will continue to make recommendations for lodging-tax-related awards as applicants present.

The motions to confirm volunteers and board assignments completed the council's appointments section of the agenda; staff said they verified some applicants' business ownership and performed follow-up checks for certain nominees.