Council discusses roles of boards-and-commissions liaisons, favors clearer expectations and flexible reporting

Council members spent a portion of the work session reviewing the role and expectations of council liaisons to advisory boards and commissions.

Council President (role referenced on the record) opened the conversation by summarizing language in the Lynnwood Municipal Code and asking how the liaison role works in practice. Several council members said the written description is generic and that the role varies substantially by board — sometimes a liaison is a voting chair; sometimes they are a “fly on the wall.”

"The description pretty much matches what my experience has been so far," one council member said, noting that the role shifts depending on the board and can be confusing when council members serve on multiple advisory bodies. Another member urged improved onboarding and suggested written job descriptions that clarify when a liaison is a voting member, when they should chair, and when they should observe and report back.

Council members discussed communication methods. Some favored continuing verbal report-outs during council comments; others said short written memos could be useful selectively for items that are timely and require broader awareness. Council members said staff liaisons and long-standing commission chairs are valuable sources of continuity and recommended pulling them into future work sessions on the subject.

The council did not adopt formal changes at the session; members asked staff to return with potential job descriptions and onboarding materials later this year so liaisons are clear about whether they should speak, vote or simply observe.