Volunteer Opportunities on City Committees and Commissions

The Yakima City Council is seeking volunteers interested in serving on City of Yakima boards, committees, and commissions. The Yakima Housing Authority, Historic Preservation Commission and Arts Commission each have one vacancy. The Community Integration Committee has two positions available and two youth position vacancies. The Parks & Recreation Commission has two vacant positions and one youth vacancy.

There is no residency requirement for service on the Yakima Housing Authority Board, but neither employees nor elected officials from the City of Yakima or Yakima County are eligible to apply.  The board has five members who serve five-year terms.

There are seven members of the Historic Preservation Commission, all of whom serve four-year terms and must live within Yakima city limits. Members shall include at least three professionals who have experience in identifying, evaluating, and protecting historic resources and are selected from among the disciplines of history, architecture, architectural history, landscape architecture, historic preservation, planning, folklore, cultural anthropology, prehistoric and historic archaeology, American studies, curation, traditional building crafts, the practice of historic rehabilitation or restoration, finance and banking, law, real estate, or related disciplines.

Community Integration Committee members must live within Yakima city limits and youth members must be between the ages of 16-22 at the time of appointment. Appointments shall be made to ensure that varied community perspectives are represented and, to the extent possible, reflect the current demographics of the City, including consideration of historically underrepresented communities.  The purpose and intent of the Community Integration Committee is to advise the Yakima City Council on ways to improve community engagement; diversify the city government and workforce; provide additional review of policies, ordinances and resolutions if requested; and give a voice to all Yakima residents.

Members of the Parks and Recreation Commission must live within Yakima city limits and youth members must be between 16-22 years of age at the time of appointment in order to be eligible to serve a two-year term.  The Commission advises the City Council and Director of Parks and Recreation concerning the formulation of policy, plans and programs to maintain and operate City parks and carry out recreation programs. 

There is one opening for a community representative on the Arts Commission. There is no residency requirement for the Arts Commission, whose members serve four-year terms.  The community member shall be from diverse backgrounds and shall have no vested interest in any particular art or cultural endeavor.

Additional information on the duties and responsibilities of each committee can be found at https://www.yakimawa.gov/council/boards-commissions/. Anyone interested in applying for openings can download an application from the City of Yakima website – https://www.yakimawa.gov/council/assets/Application-form-for-City-of-Yakima-Boards-and-Commissions.pdf

Contact City Clerk Sonya Claar Tee by phone, 575-6037, or e-mail, sonya.claartee@yakimawa.gov, for more information about current or future openings on City of Yakima boards, committees, or commissions. It is the responsibility of the City Council to appoint people to serve on the governing bodies of those organizations.