City Council Position Open
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE MEDINA CITY COUNCIL
Announcement Date: March 24, 2026
Closing Date: April 23, 2026, 4:00 PM
The Medina City Council is seeking applicants for consideration to fill the unexpired term of a recently vacated City Council position. To apply for consideration you must be a resident of the City of Medina and submit a letter of interest and resume/CV to Medina's City Clerk at dnations@medina-wa.gov prior to the closing date.
ABOUT THE CITY OF MEDINA
Medina is a family-friendly, diverse and inclusive community on the shores of Lake Washington. With parks and open spaces, Medina is a quiet and safe small city, with active and highly engaged residents. Medina honors its heritage while preserving its natural, sylvan environment and resources for current and future generations.
The City of Medina serves a population of 2,915 with an annual operating budget of $8.3 million. Approximately 19% of Medina’s households are renter-occupied, and 19% of Medina’s residents are aged 65 or older (about 554 residents), with 11% of those seniors living alone (about 61 residents). Fixed incomes, limited housing options, and rising regional living costs drive significant affordability, aging-in-place, and displacement challenges for our residents, necessitating local solutions enabled by innovative, positive collaboration with state and regional partners. Medina’s population is diverse, with 26% speaking a language other than English at home.
Mission Statement: Ensure efficient delivery of quality public services, act as responsible stewards of Medina's financial and natural resources, celebrate diversity, leverage local talent, and promote the safety, health, and quality of life of those who live, work, and play in Medina.
ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL
The Medina City Council is a seven-member body elected at large by the residents of Medina. The City Council is the City's policy- and law-making legislative branch governing the affairs of the City. The City operates under the Council/Manager form of government (https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=35.18.010). The City Council appoints a City Manager who acts as the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer overseeing the day-to-day operations of the City. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are appointed by the City Council from amongst the members of the Council every two years. Council Members adopt policies and laws regulating public health, safety, and welfare, and oversee a 2026 budget of over $11.5 million. The City Council functions as the board of directors of the municipal corporation that is the City of Medina.
ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL POSITION
This appointment fills the unexpired term of a vacant City Council position. The term expires on or before December 2, 2027 upon certification of the November 2027 General Election results.
Effective participation as a City Council member generally involves:
Preparation for and participation at City Council meetings. City Council meetings are typically held the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month beginning at 5:00 PM (unless adjusted to accommodate observance of Washington State holidays). Preparation for meetings involves reviewing sometimes lengthy, detailed meeting materials distributed 3-4 days prior to a City Council meeting. Participation at meetings involves processing information from staff presentations, engaging in productive and respectful discussions about city policy matters, and casting one of seven equal votes. Matters before the City Council often relate to financial oversight, land use planning, priorities for the management and use of public spaces, or resident concerns.
Community engagement. Maintaining awareness of community issues through constituent contact, collaboration with city staff, participation in community events, and by many other means.
Representing the City outside of City Council meetings. City Council members have opportunities to serve on City Council Committees, represent the City on regional committees and organizations, and engage in legislative advocacy. The City Council adopts a legislative agenda indicating the City's priorities which can be found here: https://www.medina-wa.gov/citycouncil/page/city-council-legislative-priorities-2026.
Continuous learning. Through the Association of Washington Cities or "AWC" (https://wacities.org/) City Council members have the opportunity to engage in conferences and trainings as well as statewide-coordinated legislative advocacy for cities. AWC produces many online resources for local elected officials including "So you want to be an elected official" (https://wacities.org/data-resources/articles/2025/03/14/so-you-want-to-be-an-elected-official-guide).
More information about the role of a Medina City Councilmember can be found in the City Council's adopted Guidelines: https://www.medina-wa.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/page/98/city_council_guidelines.pdf.
