The Clark County Council is seeking applicants for two volunteer positions on the Solid Waste Advisory Commission.

One position represents north Clark County, and the other represents the county at-large. Applicants for the north Clark County position must live north of 179th Street or the extension thereof. The three-year terms begin Jan. 1, 2021. Upon expiration of a term, a member can apply again. There is no limit on how many terms a member can serve.

The commission advises the county council on solid waste issues, such as recycling, garbage collection, landfills, transfer stations and waste-reduction programs. Members of the commission represent a variety of interests, including the solid waste industry, the business community, agriculture, and city and county residents.

The commission meets quarterly at 6 pm on the first Thursday of the months of February, May, August and November. Meetings are currently held online. When in-person meetings resume they will be at the Center for Community Health, 1601 E Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver, which can be reached by C-TRAN’s routes 6, 25, and The Vine.

In 2021, the Clark County Solid Waste Management Plan will be updated. The 20-year plan is updated every five years. The planned 2020 update was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The advisory commission plays a crucial role in providing feedback to staff during the update process and will likely move to monthly meetings in 2021. The meetings will be at 6pm on the first Thursday of each month.

Residents with a passion for waste reduction, education and outreach experience, or experience with multifamily housing are encouraged to apply. As Clark County is a growing and diverse community with many languages and backgrounds, the county is also looking for people who can bring ethnic, cultural, social, and geographic diversity to the group. The commission is committed to inclusiveness and outreach to all Clark County residents to ensure the Solid Waste Advisory Commission reflects the community we serve.

The commission encourages applications from candidates with knowledge, ability and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities with diverse racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Although not required, we encourage candidates who can fluently speak a language in addition to English to include that information in their application.

Interested applicants should submit a brief letter of interest and résumé to Michelle Pfenning, County Manager’s Office, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000 or by email at michelle.pfenning@clark.wa.gov.

The letter of interest should include:

• How you can represent the interests of Clark County at-large or north Clark County on the commission
• Your personal or professional experience
• Your vision for the future of solid waste management in Clark County

Application deadline is 5 pm Friday, Dec. 11.

Visit the Solid Waste Advisory Commission website for more information or email SWAC@clark.wa.gov.

CONTACT

Marissa Armstrong
senior communications specialist
Public Health
marissa.armstrong@clark.wa.gov