Kyer, Hanberg selected for Metro Parks Commission

Photos by Sean Dean

.Hanberg(left) and Kyer(right)

The three remaining Metro Parks Board Commissioners Tim Reid, Larry Dahl and Aaron Pointer voted on Jan. 25 to fill the two spots recently opened.

As a result of former Parks Board President Victoria Woodards winning election to Tacoma City Council in November, and former Commissioner Ryan Mello being appointed to a vacant seat on the council earlier this month, the board voted that Dahl would be board president in the interim. Members then selected Erik Hanberg, 29, executive director of City Club of Tacoma, and Krystal Kyer, 34, conservation coordinator of the Tahoma Audubon Society, for the vacant positions.

During the appointment period of the meeting, the three commissioners openly discussed with the audience their own personal processes for selecting their choices for the next two commissioners to join their board out of the 12 applicants who were in the running.

“We’re very fortunate,” Dahl affirmed. “We had 12 candidates who interviewed well. Some came in higher than others, and everyone showed great interest in the parks.”

Pointer and Reid both chose the same two candidates, Kyer and Hanberg, and Dahl had a short list of four candidates, which included the two aforementioned as well as Kathleen Olson, former head of the Point Defiance Zoological Society, and Dave Seago, former opinion page editor of The News Tribune.

When he heard the choices of his fellow commissioners, he removed Olson as a choice, affirmed his support of Kyer, giving her the unanimous 3-0 votes, but reserved his vote in favor of Seago for the second position, leading Hanberg to attain the second spot at 2-1.

All three commissioners felt that a female presence, younger commissioners as well as individuals with young families would be characteristics that would all serve as assets to the board.

“They would be a credit to citizens of Tacoma and excellent board members,” Pointer affirmed. “Krystal gave perspective of her environmental background and community and would bring energy. Plus we need a lady on board.”

Reid added, “She and her family use the parks now, and can bring that perspective we haven’t had in a while.” Kyer has two daughters ages 5 and 10.

All of the commissioners agreed that Hanberg’s involvement in many cultural aspects of the city, including two years experience as managing director of the Grand Cinema, would be beneficial in decision-making. In addition, his interest and general concern for the organization as a whole was obvious in the interview process.

“Erik brought a book with photos of every park that he visited in Tacoma with his dad in 2005, visiting every facility in Metro Parks,” Reid stated.

Pointer added, “Erik thought about running for the board two years ago but didn’t so that he could get more experience. He will offer energy, commitment and community that Tacoma deserves.”

Pointer also voiced reservations on electing Kyer due to her strong dedication to environmental causes, but affirmed that he believed she is flexible enough and will be willing to compromise on some issues due to lack of funding and practicality of projects.

The two newly elected commissioners will hold their positions on the board for two years, until they are up for re-election by voters. Reid affirmed that if the community doesn’t deem the two individuals fit for their positions, it would be noted come election time.

“Thank you to all of those who applied for the positions,” Dahl said. “And to those who didn’t win, please stay engaged and involved.”

All 12 applicants had 20-minute interviews in open session on Jan. 20-21.

Asked how he would approach cutting programs, or adding new ones depending on Metro Parks’ financial situation, Hanberg said he would want to know if there are outside partners for a program, and whether or not it duplicates another one. “There is a lot to look at before that decision would be made.”

He pointed out his community involvement and experience dealing with budgets. “I hope I have a chance to bring those to the table.”

Kyer discussed her knowledge of public process, including serving on a task force that examined the city government’s contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. Her service on the Open Space Agency Management Team gave Kyer the opportunity to work with staff from the city and Metro Parks.

“It is essential to have good policy makers and decision makers” on the commission, she said. The role of a commissioner is to build relationships and understand the concerns of the public, she added.

How she and her family utilize parks is another asset, Kyer said. “We need to diversify what we are doing and create more opportunities for more people.”

Other candidates were Andrea Donovan, a pro-tem commissioner with Pierce County Superior Court; Morgan Alexander, a commercial real estate agent; retired doctor Jane Moore; former longtime Metro Parks employee Dave Berry; Fort Nisqually Museum Board member Kristina Younger; psychologist Ana Sierra; Laura James, who has a background in developing community programs; and Whitney Rhoads, who works on the staff of Pierce County Councilmember Tim Farrell.

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