City staff outlined options for filling a mid‑term council vacancy during the Tumwater City Council work session on Nov. 25, presenting a condensed schedule that could see appointment and swearing‑in by Jan. 20, 2026, and soliciting council direction on application materials and interview questions.

City staff (Karen) told the council the statute gives the governing body 90 days from a vacancy to appoint a qualified person, after which the county could act; the packet included materials used for a prior appointment in 2021. Staff proposed publishing the opening on Dec. 8, a candidate‑packet available Jan. 2, a special meeting for interviews on Jan. 10 and appointment and swearing‑in at the Jan. 20 council meeting if the council opts for the aggressive timeline.

Council members split on pace. Several speakers — including those who said they want the new member seated in time for the council retreat — supported the faster timeline to preserve momentum and to ensure the incoming member could participate in early‑year assignments. Other councilors urged a more deliberate process, citing the 90‑day statutory window and requesting more specific interview questions that probe interpersonal skills, equity responses and how a candidate would handle disagreement.

Councilors suggested edits to the application and interview questions: remove gendered language, break compound questions (for example separating questions about community safety versus racial justice), and add prompts on homelessness and housing policy. Several members emphasized the value of personal, situational questions that reveal how candidates interact with diverse groups and handle conflict.

Staff asked the council to return comments on the packet by Tuesday, Dec. 2, and said the clerk’s and auditor’s offices would assist with candidate verification over the holidays. The proposed aggressive schedule will be brought back for council approval at the Dec. 2 meeting, with staff noting the process would require holiday‑period work and coordination with the auditor’s office.

There was no formal appointment or vote during the work session; staff will prepare the revised packet and timeline for council consideration.