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The quality of life in Walla Walla is greatly enhanced by numerous citizens volunteering their time and energy to help the City Council shape policies for current and future generations. These Boards, Commissions, and Committees include:

• Arts Commission
• Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee
• Civil Service Commission
• Community Development Block Grant Advisory Group
• Historic Preservation Commission
• Infrastructure Improvement Committee (also known as the IRRP Committee)
• Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
• Parks, Recreation, and Urban Forestry Advisory Board
• Planning Commission
• Public Library Board of Trustees
• Solid Waste Advisory Committee
• Sustainability Committee
• TBD Improvement Committee
• Walla Walla Housing Committee
• Water & Wastewater Advisory Committee

Arts Commission

The purpose of the arts commission is to:

• Advocate for the arts as vital tools in building Walla Walla’s community and economy for the benefit of all its citizens.
• Advocate for a diversity of arts and cultural opportunities for our citizens to experience.
• Act as a catalyst to bring government, arts and culture, and private sectors together for public benefit.
• Encourage strategic investments in arts organizations that increase public connection with the arts.
• Create a unique identity and sense of place through the development and stewardship of public art.
• Fund programs that encourage artistic excellence and expand exposure to a wide variety of art forms.
• Foster the development of the local arts community, encouraging an environment for the success of working individual artists.
• Provide advice to the city in matters pertaining to the arts and culture. 

Committee members are required to be residents of the City of Walla Walla. Appointments are made to unexpired or full three-year terms.

Meets the first Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. Further information on meetings or issues facing this particular Committee may be obtained by contacting the Deputy City Manager at 509-527-4540.

• Learn about the process of deaccessioning public art

Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee

The Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the City Council regarding the planning, designing, and implementation of bicycle and pedestrian related facilities and services for the City. Generally, Committee members are required to be residents of the City of Walla Walla although one member may reside within the City's urban growth area. Appointments are made to unexpired or full three-year terms.

Meets the second Tuesday of each month at 12:15 p.m. in the City Service Center Conference Room. Further information on meetings or issues facing this particular Committee may be obtained by contacting the Engineering Division at 509.527.4537.

Civil Service Commission

The Civil Service Commission adopts rules consistent with state and local law for regulation of Police employees and uniformed fire personnel. The Commission provides for competitive employment and promotional examinations, hears and determines appeals, conducts investigations, and performs other various administrative functions. Commissioners are required to be U.S. citizens, residents of the City of Walla Walla, and registered voters within the County of Walla Walla. Appointments are made to unexpired or full six-year terms.

Meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Further information on meetings or issues facing the Civil Service Commission can be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Department at 509.527.4475.

Community Development Block Grant Advisory Group

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Advisory Group promotes  citizen participation through its role in advising the CDBG Coordinator and City Council on matters pertaining to the City's CDBG program. The board oversees the funding recommendations for CDBG dollars received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). They assure that the housing and community development needs of the City of Walla Walla's low- and moderate-income residents are addressed through projects and activities.

Meets the second Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m., in City Council Chambers at City Hall.  Further information on Board activities may be obtained by contacting Support Services at 509.524.4496.

Historic Preservation Commission

The Historic Preservation Commission is responsible for the identification and to actively encourage the conservation of the City's historic resources by initiating and maintaining a register of historic places and reviewing proposed changes to register properties; to raise community awareness of the City's history and historic resources; to make determinations concerning the eligibility of historic properties for special valuation, and to serve as the City's primary resource in matters of history, historic planning, and preservation. At least five of the seven members must be residents of the City of Walla Walla. Members may be appointed to unexpired or three year terms.

Meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 5:15 p.m. in the City Service Center Conference Room. Further information on Board activities may be obtained by contacting Development Services at 509.524.4710.

Infrastructure Improvement Committee (also known as the IRRP Committee)

Reviews records and accounts regarding infrastructure improvement projects undertaken by the city of Walla Walla, to report its findings to the Walla Walla city council, and to provide advice to the council upon infrastructure improvement projects and the funding of such projects. The committee consists of six members. At least one member shall be a certified public accountant, or a person with comparable training or experience, who is qualified to audit financial records and accounts. At least one member shall be a civil engineer, or a person with comparable training or experience, who is qualified to audit construction project records

Meets on an as-needed basis.

Lodging Tax Advisory Committee

APPLICATION FOR 2025/2026 LODGING TAX GRANT FUNDS

The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee is responsible for reviewing and commenting on proposals for the imposition of any new lodging tax; any increase in the rate of such a tax; the repeal of an exemption from such a tax; or a change in the use of the revenue received from such a tax. Comments by the Committee are to include an analysis of the extent to which the proposal will accommodate activities for tourists or increase tourism, and the extent to which the proposal will affect the long-range stability of the special fund created for the lodging tax revenues. The membership of the lodging tax advisory committee consists of five members. One member is an elected official of the City who serves as chair, two members are representatives of businesses required to collect the tax, and two members are persons involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received from the tax.

Meets on an as-needed basis, typically during the months of October through December. Further information on meetings or issues facing the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee can be obtained by contacting the Deputy City Manager at 509.527.4540.

Parks, Recreation, and Urban Forestry Advisory Board

The Parks, Recreation, and Urban Forestry Advisory Board makes recommendations to the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Director on matters relative to (a) the development, operation and use of the parks and recreation facilities of the City, and (b) the planning, designing and implementation of City park facilities and recreational services; and to obtain and review information, and advise and make recommendations to the City Council and the municipal arborist, on matters relative to: the promotion of various programs related to trees, public and private, in the City; the general health and welfare of the City's urban forest; and the development of arboricultural standards and specifications for approval by the municipal arborist. Board members are required to be residents of the City of Walla Walla. Appointments are made to unexpired or full three-year terms.

Meets the first Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the City Service Center Conference Room. Further information on meetings or issues facing this particular Board may be obtained by contacting the Parks & Recreation Director at 509.527.4527.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission considers all amendments, modifications or alterations to the City's comprehensive plan, conducts hearings as specified in the City's Municipal Code, and performs other planning functions for the City. Commissioners are required to be residents of the City of Walla Walla, except one member may live within the City's urban growth area. Appointments are made to unexpired or full three-year terms.

Meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Further information on meetings or issues facing this particular Commission may be obtained by contacting Development Services at 509.524.4710.

Public Library Board of Trustees

Advises the City Council and the Public Library Director and adopts policies under which library services are provided. The Board serves as liaison between the library and the public, advising the Library Director about the needs of the community and communicating to the public about the library and its services. Board members are not required to be residents of the City of Walla Walla. Appointments are made to unexpired or full five-year terms.

Meets the third Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Public Library. Further information on meetings or issues facing this particular Board may be obtained by contacting the Library Director at 509.524.4433.

Solid Waste Advisory Committee

The Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) is comprised of 11 members representing local governments, stakeholder industries and groups, and citizens of Walla Walla County. Members are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to three-year terms. RCW 70.95 also requires each county to establish a SWAC. The SWAC's purpose is to evaluate the waste management needs of the entire county and work with staff to develop and update the Solid Waste Management Plan.

Meetings are open to the public and a portion of each Agenda allows time for public comments.

Sustainability Committee

The Sustainability Committee conducts scenario planning to prepare for social, economic, and environmental changes in an efficient and cost-effective manner and provides advice to the City Council upon the development and integration of sustainability parameters to be used in the implementation of the goals, objectives, and policies of the Walla Walla Comprehensive Plan. Members are required to be residents of the City of Walla Walla.

Meets the third Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall (January, March, May, July, September, November). Further information on meetings or issues may be obtained by contacting the Solid Waste Coordinator at 509.524.4549.

Transportation Benefit District (TBD) Advisory Committee

The purpose of the TBD advisory committee is to review project selection and methodology, to review and propose project priority ranking, to review and evaluate project completion, to review and evaluate revenues received and used by the city for TBD uses, and to advise the Walla Walla city council upon such matters. Members are required to be residents of the City of Walla Walla.

Meets on an as-needed basis, generally once or twice per year. Further information on meetings or issues may be obtained by contacting the Transportation Engineer at 509.5274537.

Walla Walla Housing Authority

The Walla Walla Housing Authority functions as an independent board responsible for establishing policies for the operation of low-income rental housing programs and low-income housing rehabilitation programs. Housing Authority members are not required to be residents of the City of Walla Walla. Appointments are made to unexpired or full five-year terms.

The Walla Walla Housing Authority meets on the fourth Monday of each month at noon at the Housing Authority offices, 501 Cayuse St. Further information on meetings or issues facing this independent Board may be obtained by contacting the Walla Walla Housing Authority's Executive Director at 509.527.4542.

Water & Wastewater Advisory Committee

The Water and Wastewater Advisory Committee provides advice to the City Council relative to water, wastewater, and stormwater, including but not limited to water quality, water rights, water quantity, water conservation, and system finances. The Water and Wastewater Advisory Committee submits recommendations to the City Manager for distribution to the City Council. No more than two members of the Committee may reside outside of the City of Walla Walla, but within the City's designated water service area. Appointments are made to unexpired or full three-year terms.

The Water and Wastewater Advisory Committee meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. in the City Service Center Conference Room. Further information on meetings or issues facing this particular Committee may be obtained by contacting the Utilities Engineer at 509.524.4510.