The Yelm City Council appointed three new members to the city’s Planning Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Mayor Joe DePinto appointed Anne Wahrmund, David Johnstone and Austin Walker to the Planning Commission, which advises the City Council on all planning and development topics within the area.
The mayor originally planned to appoint Ashley Brooks to the committee, however that motion failed after not being seconded by one of the five councilors present at the meeting.
The mayor said he looks for several different characteristics while considering his appointments. He first reaches out to Yelm City Clerk Kathy Linnemeyer to ensure applicants are eligible.
“One (aspect) is diversity on the commission itself, from different jobs they have, to [living in] different areas in the city. As you notice, some of my appointments are outside the city limits,” DePinto said. “I think that gives a voice to those outside the city limits, which many on the council have indicated they’d like to see.”
He added he considers the applicants’ qualifications, skill sets and overall relevancy to the committee itself before contacting those interested to learn how available they would be and more.
DePinto said Wahrmund lives outside of Yelm city limits but “not by far.” She previously served on the Planning Commission.
“She was an easy reappointment,” DePinto said. “She shows up. She’s engaged in meetings, and she also has a good perspective as she currently serves on another committee, which the council has appointed her to, being the parks commission.”
Wahrmund’s appointment was unanimously approved by the council.
Johnstone, who lives inside city limits, was also unanimously approved.
“I appreciate his leadership on his HOA (homeowners association). I don’t know if he’s still current, but he has served for four years as an HOA president,” DePinto said. “Having that leadership experience is important, in my opinion, especially with experience with HOA in relation to different laws and policies the Planning Commission could possibly have on those. He’s engaged in local events. I’ve seen him at multiple.”
Prior to the appointment, councilors Joshua Crossman and Joseph Richardson discussed a potential “conflict of interest” because Johnstone’s wife, Amanda, previously served on the council and stated her interest in running again, but voted in favor of the appointment.
“As I read through our protocol manual, in there it talks about having conflict of interest and seeing a separation of council and these commission boards. You get those variety of perspectives, and you don’t have influence from the council or mayor to these commissions,” Crossman said. “They’re allowed to operate separately because they are a committee to advise council on things. I’ve been against approving people that’ve been on council, seeked council, because I really wanted that separation.”
Brooks, a former city councilor, lives inside city limits and was up for appointment.
“She’s engaged and she shows up,” DePinto said. “She had great attendance as a council member, and prior to that, on the salary commission… She shows a different perspective on a lot of her thinking, and it’s not necessarily the same as others on the Planning Commission.”
The appointment was initially motioned by Councilor Brian Hess but did not receive a second motion from one of the remaining councilors, including: Crossman, Richardson, Tracey Wood or Trevor Palmer.
DePinto, wanting a third appointment to the commission, proposed appointing Austin Walker to the council. This was motioned by Palmer and seconded by Wood.
Walker lives outside city limits and has worked in the past as a contractor and carpenter. He now works in real estate, the mayor said.
“He wants to modernize building codes. He also wants to resolve homelessness in a good fashion and wants to preserve the historic history here of Yelm in the building codes,” DePinto said. “I think he would bring another perspective that would be appreciated by council.”
Walker’s appointment was confirmed, 3-2, with Crossman and Hess issuing the opposing votes.
