Gregerson, Schuette Join Community Transit Board

Board composition changed with population updates

Snohomish County, Wash. – Mukilteo Mayor Jennifer Gregerson and Arlington City Council member Jan Schuette were selected to join the Community Transit Board of Directors for the next two years.

The board is comprised of nine elected officials from Snohomish County and the cities within the transit agency’s service district, as well as a labor representative selected by the agency’s bargaining units.

New members

The Community Transit board is chosen every two years at a special meeting of representatives from Community Transit’s member cities and the Snohomish County Council.  

Gregerson and Schuette were selected by a vote of their elected official peers.

Members who were re-elected to the board include Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling, Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring, Mill Creek Council member Mike Todd, Snohomish City Council member Tom Hamilton and Stanwood Mayor Leonard Kelley.

The Snohomish County Council selected Terry Ryan and Stephanie Wright to return to the board. An alternate for the county council has not been selected.

Lance Norton remains the board’s labor representative.

Three new board alternates were chosen as well: Monroe City Council member Patsy Cudaback, Lynnwood City Council member George Hurst and Mountlake Terrace Mayor Jerry Smith. Sultan City Council member Joe Neigel was re-elected as an alternate.

The new board will elect officers at its first meeting on Thursday, Feb. 4.

Board composition

Every four years, representatives within the Community Transit service district also consider changes to the board’s composition. The board has been comprised of two representatives from the Snohomish County Council; two representatives from large cities with more than 30,000 residents; three representatives from medium-sized cities with 10,000 to 30,000 residents; and two from small cities with fewer than 10,000 residents.

City and county representatives today voted to update the population categories to reflect the county’s growing population. The change did not affect which cities are in which group. The new groupings are:

• Large cities = more than 35,000 residents
• Medium-sized cities = 15,000-35,000 residents
• Small cities = less than 15,000 residents

Earling and Nehring represent the large cities and Hurst is the alternate. Gregerson, Schuette and Todd represent the medium cities, with Cudaback and Smith as alternates. Hamilton and Kelley represent the small cities and Neigel is the alternate.

The new board will make decisions on how Community Transit’s service will be expanded following the passage of Proposition 1 last fall.  That measure increased sales tax by three-tenths of a percent in the agency’s service district to fund expanded transit service. A proposal for the first phase of expansion will be made public at the March 3 board meeting.

Community Transit is responsible for providing transportation options for Snohomish County residents, including bus and paratransit service, vanpool, and ridesharing options. Call Community Transit at (425) 353-7433 or (800) 562-1375 for bus information, or (888) 814-1300 for carpool or vanpool information, or go to www.communitytransit.org. You can also read our blog at www.communitytransit.blogspot.com, visit our Facebook page or watch our videos on YouTube.