Olympia City Council approves advisory board appointments, honors outgoing members

The Olympia City Council approved a new slate of appointments to advisory boards on Tuesday, March 24, while also recognizing 19 departing community members for their service across multiple committees and advisory bodies.

The following appointments will fill vacancies on several council-appointed advisory committees:

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

Justin Stang

Yelena Myakisheva

Katy Wellington

Utility Advisory Committee

Audrey Perry

Planning Commission

Semir Ibrahimovic

Elle Burger

Heritage Commission

Derek Foster

Kyle Kimball

Stephanie Nace

Olympia Metropolitan Park District Board

Marcella Volpintesta

Arts Commission

Lauren Thompson

Mara Orenstein

Elizabeth Lord

Cultural Access Advisory Board

Morgan Montes

Ravi Adigarla

Design Review

V Hoy

Regine Varughis

Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee

Emily Boone

Grace Fletcher

The recommendations came from the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee, which conducted two days of interviews — totaling 10 hours — on March 4 and 5, as part of the city’s annual recruitment process. The city received 62 applications for the openings.

The new members are expected to begin their terms in April.

Advisory boards provide recommendations and community perspectives to inform council decisions. The city also offers stipends to reduce barriers to participation, particularly for low-income residents.

At the same meeting, the council issued a proclamation recognizing 19 outgoing members, whose terms end March 31.

“Since establishing its first advisory body in 1935, the City of Olympia has looked to community members for their perspectives and advice in the creation of policy and development of the city’s future,” the proclamation states.

The departing members are Jim Burlingame, Christen Greene, Jacie Hoad, Marty Slighte, Garin Schrieve, Jonathan Hutton, Mariella Luz, Paul Parker, Roussa Cassel, Ingrid Gulden, Eleanor Knight, Stacy Hicks, Garner Miller, Jamie Milletary, Brent Barnes, Jeff Prevost, Tammy Adams, Shawnna Mershon and Sherry Chilcutt.

Burlingame, who served on the Arts Commission for seven years, said he helped guide arts initiatives through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. He served on selection panels for projects, such as the Percival Plinth Project, Arts Walk poster designs and Armory Creative Campus, now known as the Olympia Arts Center.

Burlingame said he saw the Arts Commission as a central hub connecting Olympia’s arts community and expressed pride in advancing efforts that made the arts more visible and accessible in the city.

Slighte, who served as vice chair of the BPAC, spoke about both his service and personal experience as a transgender resident in Olympia. He expressed appreciation for the support received from city staff during his transition.

Slighte raised concerns about pedestrian safety and accessibility, and called for stronger action to improve infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities.

“We need safer streets for all pedestrians and cyclists. Olympia is not just for automobile owners," Slighte said.

He also urged greater representation of people with disabilities in city decision-making.

“We also need disability representation in every facet of city government. Disability rates have risen since 2020 from roughly 1 in 5 to 1 in 4 people in our country, which is a substantial portion of our community without adequate representation," Slighte said.

In its proclamation, the council expressed "deep gratitude” to the outgoing members and encouraged residents to recognize their contributions to the city.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct references to Marty Sighte, who uses the pronouns he/him.