Everett Needs Your Help

Help. Many say Everett could use some. While it may be easy to complain about things in Everett here’s a chance to get involved in most any area of interest you might have in making the city better. Join a board or commission. Use your time, energy and opinions to shape parts of the city you care about. Here’s more on what’s available…

Do you have a special love for animals? A passion for art or history? Perhaps you have expertise in housing issues, or you’re a commuter with ideas about how to improve the local transportation system.

The City of Everett wants to put your interests and ideas to use as City boards and commissions are currently seeking volunteers to serve. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and current residents of Everett.

Terms are four or six years beginning Jan. 1, 2017. Mayor Ray Stephanson will review the applications and make recommendations to the City Council for approval.

Interested volunteers can complete an application on the city’s website at everettwa.gov/boardsapply, or pick up an application at the Mayor’s office at 2930 Wetmore Ave, Suite 10-A. Completed applications should be returned to the Mayor’s office or kgoepfert@everettwa.gov by 5 p.m. Dec. 2, 2016. For questions, please call 425-257-7115.

Openings include:

• Animal Shelter Advisory Board: This board provides input on all aspects of animal services including in-depth review and modification of ordinances. This board meets quarterly on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.
• Board of Appeals: The Board of Appeals was established for determining suitable alternate materials, and alternate types and methods of construction regarding codes when an appeal is filed regarding a decision or interpretation made by a building official. The board meets only when necessary.
• Board of Parks Commissioners: This board advises the Mayor, City Council and Parks and Recreation Department on Parks & Recreation activities within the City of Everett. This board meets the second Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m.
• Council of Neighborhoods: The Council is made up of representatives from all 19 Everett neighborhoods. City staff report relevant information to the members who in turn share news from their communities. The Council also serves as an advisory to the Mayor, providing ideas and concerns Everett residents may have about city plans. The Council meets the fourth Monday of the month at 4 p.m.
• Cultural Arts Commission: The Cultural Arts Commission oversees the one-percent-for-arts program, which integrates art into public buildings and the landscape of the city. They also make recommendations to City Council about the cultural arts grants to support Everett’s nonprofit arts organizations. This board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m.
• Committee for Housing and Community Development: This board promotes citizen participation for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Committee is responsible for creating Everett’s five-year Consolidated Plan and one-year Action Plan which are required to receive funding from HUD. This committee meets five consecutive Wednesdays beginning mid-February.
• Historical Commission: The Historical Commission advises the city on matters of history and historic preservation such as nominating properties to the Everett Register of Historic Places, reviewing State and National Register nominations, approving projects for “Special Valuation” tax benefits, providing design review in the Historic Overlay Zone, and sponsoring workshops and publishing books and brochures on Everett heritage. The commission meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
• Human Needs Committee: This committee meets in November and December to review applications and award grants to non-profit agencies that render services in Everett to the city’s residents.
• Library Board: The Everett Public Library is governed by the Board of Library Trustees. The Board consists of five members who are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council. Board members serve for five-year terms, and each member serves as president during the fifth year of service. The board meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
• Planning Commission: The planning commission makes recommendations to the City Council, Mayor and other city departments on the city’s broad planning, policies and long-range plans. The commission meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m.
• Salary Commission: The Salary Commission meets every other year to review and establish the salaries of the city’s elected officials, including City Council members, the Mayor and Municipal Court Judges. The commission is required to complete its work by the first week in May.
• Senior Center Advisory Board: This board gives input on various projects and assists in events to raise money for the Everett Senior Center. The board assesses the center’s changing needs. The board meets the third Tuesday of each month at 8 a.m.
• Transportation Advisory Committee: This committee studies traffic issues and proposes solutions to transportation challenges. The board also advises on transit services, long-range transportation planning and traffic safety planning. The committee meets the third Thursday of each month at 8 a.m.
• Tree Committee: The committee’s primary responsibility is to review and make recommendations to the Parks Commission concerning the implementation of the Public Tree Policy. The committee meets the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit everettwa.gov/BoardsandCommissions.