Civic-minded volunteers are needed to help guide city officials on topics pertaining to arts, ethics, recreation and youth involvement.

Serving on one of the Federal Way’s 11 commissions boards, which advise the city council and its sub-committees, offers residents a way to utilize their expertise — and add their two cents to city planning.

“(Commissioners) have the very close ear of the council,” city council member Jeanne Burbidge said.

Despite this and months of aggressive advertising, 12 vacancies on four community input boards remain unfilled.

Commission openings

The Ethics Board needs an additional two volunteers to help complete its four-person team. The board provides advisory opinions and issues provisions of the city’s Code of Ethics. It investigates and reports to the city council violations and alleged violations of the code.

The Arts Commission seeks three volunteers to join its nine-person board. Members assist city staff and council in raising public awareness of the arts. They also help preserve cultural history within the city.

The Parks and Recreation Commission seeks four commission members and two alternate members to join its crew of nine. The board advises city staff and council on policy matters pertaining to land acquisition, development and operational impacts to parks and recreation facilities and programs.

“We barely have a quorum on that one,” city clerk Laura Hathaway said. “If one person’s absent, they can’t hold a meeting.”

Three youth volunteers are needed to fill out the youth commission.

“We are always looking for students who are interested in advising the council on projects the youth would be interested in,” Burbidge said.

The youth, arts and parks and recreation commissions all provide reports to the Parks, Recreation, Human Services and Public Safety Committee, which is chaired by Burbidge.

Call for candidates

The city has advertised for these and other unpaid positions since April, but has not had much luck in catching residents’ attention, Hathaway said.

Burbidge said she does not find it concerning that the city sometimes needs to advertise multiple times to fill the positions. Eventually, qualified residents volunteer, she said.

“When I read their resumes, I’m consistently impressed with their wide variety of backgrounds,” Burbidge said.

Typically a commission member serves a three-year term, Hathaway said. The boards meet about once a month. They report to a staff member and council sub-committee, which in turn report to the city council.

The process gives everyday residents a chance to be involved with how the city operates and to voice their ideas and concerns. The only significant requirements for performing as part of a commission are to be available for meetings and to hold an interest in the board’s area of study, she said. Volunteers do not need to have a vast background on city codes, nor should they expect a great time commitment, Hathaway said.

“They do perform a huge service for the city,” Burbidge said. “They bring a breadth of experience and a great source of energy and ideas to the city planning and the city activities that we otherwise would not have.”

The deadline for applying for the commission vacancies has been extended to 5 p.m. Aug. 1.

Contact Jacinda Howard: jhoward@fedwaymirror.com