Thurston County Community Planning and Economic Development staff introduced Claire Swearingen as a new associate planner and outlined staffing changes and upcoming vacancies at the Feb. 5 Planning Commission meeting. Anna Rodriguez and Andy Defovis of CPED said Swearingen will focus on the county's critical areas ordinance update while finishing a master’s degree at the University of Washington Tacoma. Swearingen told the commission, “I'm super excited to be here.”

Staff also announced recruitment and pending vacancies: an associate planner position (interviews scheduled), a water resources specialist I, a compliance supervisor vacancy after the planned retirement of Sandy Norton at month’s end, and an administrative assistant opening following a staff promotion. Andy Defovis asked commissioners to share applicant referrals for the field‑based water resources position.

The commission approved the meeting agenda as amended by voice vote. Commissioner Pestinger moved to approve the agenda; the motion was seconded and carried without recorded opposition. The commission also moved to approve the prior meeting minutes and accept the audio as the official meeting record; Commissioner Daniel Bumbarker made the motion and Commissioner Sandy Kaiser seconded it. The minutes were approved by voice vote.

Commissioners agreed to a procedural recommendation from Commissioner Pestinger that the commission keep a standing list of action requests and follow‑up items. Staff said they would add a standing item to future agendas to list outstanding staff requests and responses. The commission also formed a small, informal subcommittee to help refine plan wording and prioritize policy topics for early attention; staff will support the subcommittee on request.

Why it matters: the new associate planner will work on a major update to the county’s critical areas ordinance, a technically detailed chapter that commissioners expect will require multiple public sessions. Separately, commissioners directed staff to improve tracking of outstanding requests so the commission can monitor follow‑up and avoid duplicated or overdue queries.