Robert Bailey was elected vice chair of the Yelm Planning Commission during the commission’s Dec. 16 meeting, with members voting unanimously in favor. The new vice chairship takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.

The vote followed a staff recognition of Commissioner Bob Howard, who is leaving the commission after eight years of service. Cody Colt, a city staff member representing the department at the meeting, presented Howard with a certificate and praised his contributions: “Bob helped build a lot of the things around us and kind of shaped planning commission and everything you guys have been doing for a while.”

Chair opened the floor for nominations; a motion to nominate Bailey was seconded and approved without dissent. Commissioners discussed whether to delay selecting a vice chair until a new member is appointed in January but proceeded with the vote at the Dec. 16 meeting.

City staff noted that applications for planning commission vacancies are open and that the mayor plans to appoint new members in January, which will change the commission’s composition and committee assignments. The commission did not specify further procedural changes tied to the vice chair transition.

The commission concluded the election portion of the agenda and moved on to a scheduled public hearing on the comprehensive plan update.