Category: Boards and Commissions

The Seattle Women’s Commission is seeking candidates for vacant seats on the Commission. The Commission advises the Mayor, City Council and city departments on issues that impact women in Seattle. The commission identifies areas of concern and recommends policy and legislation, provides feedback and opinion on issues of city and state budget, and acts as a liaison between Seattle women and city government.

As advisors to the Mayor, City Council and city departments, commissioners have the opportunity to address issues of concern for Seattle women and to work for positive change.

Terms are three, two-year terms and are subject to confirmation by the City Council. Applicants must live or work in Seattle and be available for monthly meetings from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the 3rd Monday of the month at City Hall in downtown Seattle.

The SWC is seeking candidates with a particular interest in the following areas, in accordance with the SWC’s annual work plan:

• Economic opportunities for women, including pay equity, job opportunities, and women-owned businesses
• Health disparities affecting women, including access to healthy food, reproductive rights, and the social determinants of health such as infant and maternal mortality
• Housing and homelessness including affordable housing, tenant rights, institutional and informal housing and shelters, and vehicular residents and women living in encampments in the city
• Violence prevention including training for police and other responders, sexual assault, domestic violence and preventing youth violence
• The SWC aims to work closely with governmental and community-based organizations to make certain that women of color, women with disabilities, immigrants, refugees, returning female veterans, youth and members of the LGBTQI communities are being served appropriately by the Commission’s work.

To apply for appointment to the Seattle Women’s Commission, submit your resume and a letter of interest by September 22, 2014. Please reference your experience and interest in the previously mentioned issue areas in your cover letter. To reduce paper consumption, electronic submissions are preferred. Email your letter of interest and resume to: marta.idowu@seattle.gov.

The Seattle Human Rights Commission seeks candidates to apply for service on the Commission. Candidates will be selected and appointed by the Mayor and City Council. The Commission advises the Mayor and City Council on human rights and social justice issues.

As the City of Seattle has been declared a Human Rights City, the Commission works with the City to protect, respect and fulfill the inherent human rights for all who live in the City. It uses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments as its compass in highlighting and addressing human rights issues. The Commission also works to impact the lives of people in Seattle through its policy work and community outreach, and works with the Office for Civil Rights to end discrimination.

Participation on the Commission requires a minimum time commitment of 10-15 hours per month. This includes attendance at monthly meetings held the first Thursday of each month in the evening, participation in committee work, meeting with City departments, communicating with state legislators and addressing human rights concerns. The Commission also hears and adjudicates appeals of discrimination cases from the Seattle Office for Civil Rights.

Commissioners are appointed for two years and all appointments are subject to confirmation by the City Council. The Commission is interested in applicants with diverse backgrounds, including human rights, social services, education, law, public policy, advocacy, and business. Commissioners serve without compensation. To be considered, email a letter of interest, resume and SHRC application to marta.idowu@seattle.gov by August 25, 2014. The SHRC application is available at www.seattle.gov/humanrights/ or by request made to marta.idowu@seattle.gov.

The City is committed to promoting diversity in its commissions. Women, people with disabilities, youth, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, immigrants and people of color are encouraged to apply. All are welcome.

Mayor Murray is seeking two new members to serve on the Landmarks Preservation Board. The 12-member board reviews all landmark nominations, makes recommendations to Seattle City Council for designation of city landmarks, and reviews all proposed physical alterations to designated features of landmark properties.

The Landmarks Board is composed of two architects, two historians, one structural engineer, one representative each from the fields of real estate and finance, one member from the City Planning Commission, a Get Engaged member (for young adults ages 18-29), and three members at-large. These recent openings are for the Real Estate position and a Historian position. All appointments are made by the Mayor, subject to City Council confirmation.

Board meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 3:30 p.m. The architect and historian board members also serve on the Board’s Architectural Review Committee (ARC). In general, board members must commit approximately 10 hours per month to Landmarks Board business.

Interested applicants must be Seattle residents, and board members serve without compensation. Those interested in being considered should send a letter of interest and resume by Tuesday, July 1, 2014. Electronic submissions are preferred, if possible.

Please email your letter and resume to: Erin.Doherty@seattle.gov

(reference the Landmarks Preservation Board in the subject line).

To submit a paper copy, address it to Erin Doherty, Landmark Preservation Board Coordinator, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, P.O. Box 94649, Seattle, WA 98124-4649. For more information, call Erin at (206) 684-0380.

The City of Seattle is committed to promoting diversity in the city’s boards and commissions. Women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, young persons, senior citizens, persons of color, and immigrants are encouraged to apply.

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ Historic Preservation Program is responsible for the designation and protection of more than 400 historic structures, sites, objects, and vessels, as well as seven historic districts located throughout the city.