Public Works Board affirms 2026 committee placements, readies members for Hill Day

At its Jan. 9 meeting the Public Works Board affirmed staffing and member placements for its 2026 committees and approved routine consent items.

Maria, a board staff member, presented the executive committee's recommended placements across committees including CARB (Community Aviation Revitalization Board) representation, a proposed finance and data committee, broadband representation and the CTEC group. The board approved the placements after a motion from Dean Reynolds and a second from Mickie Harnois.

The board also approved the meeting agenda, the Dec. 5 meeting notes and a consent agenda covering two packet items by voice votes.

Board contract lobbyist Brian Baumlender reviewed plans for the board's Day on the Hill on Jan. 22: meetings are being scheduled with legislators, staff will provide talking points, and Lodestar (the contracted lobbyist team) will help pair members with their legislators or accompany member groups. Baumlender noted members will be grouped to ensure priority offices are covered and that meeting logistics allow flexibility if only one or two members are available for a particular visit.

Baumlender also announced that Chair Thuringer is receiving treatment for throat cancer and that the board is arranging an award or recognition for him, though details are still being worked out.

Staff provided logistical details for travel and the board's next in-person meeting at the Department of Commerce Columbia Room (1011 Plum Street SE) and said hybrid participation will be available for members who cannot travel. The board adjourned after thanking staff for rapid analysis of the governor's budget impacts.

Actions taken at the meeting include formal approval of the agenda, minutes, consent items and committee placements; there were no recorded roll-call vote tallies in the transcript.