Everett committee confirms seven nominees to new Transportation Advisory Board focused on walking, biking and transit

The Everett City Legislative Affairs committee on Dec. 9 confirmed seven nominees to a new Transportation Advisory Board and received an outline of the board’s role from the city’s transportation planner.

Transportation planner Eric Molinari told the committee the body will center on "active transportation, that being walking, biking, taking transit," filling a gap for non-motorized users in city policymaking and public input. He said the committee is intended as a recommending body, will meet monthly and be open to the public under public-notice rules.

The appointments read into the record by the chair name Katarina Bowman, Maru Stennis, Jared Evanston, Joe Altman, Iola Andrea Boris and Derek Shuster to one-year terms expiring Nov. 12, 2025. Molinari described a public recruitment effort that yielded about 23 applicants; he said applications were scored anonymously, 17 candidates were invited for interviews, eight responded to interview invitations and seven finalists were presented for confirmation.

Council members praised the mix of expertise among the nominees. Councilor VanCampen noted the range of backgrounds — from scientists to urban planners — and Councilor Martin and others offered a favorable referral to the full council. The committee moved and voted to accept the nominations so the appointees could be confirmed at the regular meeting.

Mol inari distinguished the new advisory board from the city’s traffic committee, saying the traffic committee’s recommendations are binding and largely focused on motorist issues such as parking and flow. By contrast, he said, the Transportation Advisory Board will primarily surface perspectives of people who walk, bike or use transit and forward recommendations to staff or the council for formal action.

The committee voted to excuse nonessential guests after the appointments and then moved on to other business.