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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Boards and commissions are civic bodies of knowledgeable local residents who have been appointed by the King County Executive and confirmed by the King County Council, and who serve in an advisory capacity to county leaders. They play an important role in governance by lending professional expertise, facilitating community decision-making, and serving as a primary conduit between citizen, County staff and County elected officials. Some boards and commissions are mandated by State or Federal Statute. Others are established by King County Charter, King County ordinance, or Inter-local Agreement.

King County currently has more than 55 citizen boards and commissions with more than 600 volunteers. Click here for a a complete list of King County boards and commissions.

The majority of King County boards and commissions are appointed by the King County Executive and confirmed by the King County Council, to serve as representatives of the public at-large. Individuals can either return their completed application form to the staff liaison conducting the recruitment for the board they are interested in, or, you can submit your application to Rick Ybarra, Liaison for Boards & Commissions, King County Executive Office, via email at Rick.Ybarra@kingcounty.gov.  

In accordance with Executive Policy LES 7-1 (AEP) the recruitment and vetting of applicants is performed by the department that provides support for the board.  When the recruitment and vetting of applications has been completed, the department is to send their recommended candidates to the King County Executive's Office. The Executive reviews the department's recommended candidates and then appointments are announced.

There are also six council-nominated boards and commissions - meaning each councilmember gets to nominate one person to serve as their district representative on these boards and commissions. To apply for a Council-nominated board or commission, an individual must contact their King County Councilmember to express interest in being appointed as a Council District representative. The Council nominations are submitted to the Executive for appointment. Upon appointment by the King County Executive, the appointments are then transmitted to the King County Council for confirmation of the appointment.

Click here to find your King County Council district.

For the majority of King County boards and commissions, all that is required is an interest in the subject matter, and an interest in serving your community. Others, like the Board of Appeals and Equalization or the Washington State Boundary Review Board, require professional experience in related fields.

Yes, you must be a resident of King County to be eligible for an appointment to a King County board or commission, unless stated differently in the board or commissions enabling legislation.

The term length for most of our King County boards and commissions can be two, three, four, or five years, depending on the board. King County Executive Policy LES 7-1 (AEP), Section 6.4, limits board members from serving no more than two full terms on all King County boards and commissions, unless stated differently in the board or commission enabling legislation.

Yes, as long as you have the time available to devote to the boards and commissions on which you were appointed to serve.

No. Our boards and commissions members serve as volunteers, with the exception of the Board of Appeals and Equalization and the Washington State Boundary Review Board for King County. These two boards are required to meet several times each week for more than six to eight hours per day and are paid a per diem.

King County boards and commissions are assigned one or more King County employees to serve as the board's staff liaison. Staff liaisons provide support and general guidance to the board or commission. 

Most boards and commission meet once a month for one to two hours per meeting. Occasionally, some boards and commissions will also ask board members to volunteer to serve on a subcommittee that reports back to the entire board or commission. If you volunteer to serve on a subcommittee of the board or commission you were officially appointed to, you may be required to attend an additional monthly meeting.

No. However, anyone recommended for appointment to a King County board or commission by a King County Councilmember or King County Department must also complete a King County Board of Ethics Financial Disclosure Form. This form does not ask for specific personal financial information. However, it does ask that you respond to four 'yes' or 'no' questions asking if you personally benefitted financially from a transaction with King County - which may be a conflict of interest..

Yes. Per RCW 42.30, "meetings of the governing body of a public agency at which actions are taken shall be open and public. All persons shall be permitted to attend such meetings of the governing body."

Rick Ybarra, Boards and Commissions Liaison, Office of the King County Executive, is happy to answer your questions about serving on a King County board or commission. He may also refer you to a Staff Liaison or a King County department to answer questions about a particular board or commission.

Rick Ybarra
Boards and Commissions Liaison
Office of the King County Executive
Rick.Ybarra@kingcounty.gov

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