The Issaquah City Council approved an amended schedule and process for filling the vacancy for Council Position 2, a seat the council expects to fill within the 90-day window that begins Jan. 1. City Clerk Tisha Gieser proposed a condensed timetable so a selected appointee could participate in the Jan. 31 council retreat and early committee work. The schedule includes an application posting, an applicant information session (proposed Jan. 12 special council meeting), candidate presentations and a question-and-answer session with council on Jan. 20, and possible final action Jan. 26 if needed.

Councilmembers discussed presentation length, whether to sequester applicants during Q&A, outreach to nonprofit and civic organizations, and adjustments to the six application questions to obtain distinctive information from applicants. Leadership agreed that council leadership would determine final Q&A questions (not to be provided in advance) and that flexibility to narrow finalists (to a small number for individual questioning) would be maintained. The council moved and seconded a motion to approve the process and timeline as amended; the motion passed unanimously, 6-0.