Tacoma City Council Tuesday appointed a local architect and urban planner to the City of Tacoma’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Lauren Flemister joins the 11-member commission that oversees the establishment and regulation of landmarks, local historic districts, proposed name changes for public facilities, and certain property tax incentives, according to the City’s Web site.

Commission members are appointed by Tacoma City Council; serve three-year terms; and typically include three architects, four individuals with professional expertise in preservation-related fields, one representative from the Tacoma Arts Commission, and three interested citizens. Non-voting ex-officio members may be appointed to represent property and business owners within Tacoma’s historic districts. The Landmarks Preservation Commission typically meets at Tacoma City Hall at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.

In February, the City issued a call for applicants to fill a volunteer At-Large position on the commission (see “City seeks applicants for Tacoma Landmarks Preservation Commission,” Tacoma Daily Index, Feb. 6, 2015). The deadline for applications expired on Fri., Feb. 13. Tacoma City Council’s Neighborhoods and Housing Committee interviewed candidates during a public meeting earlier this month (see “2 candidates apply to serve on Tacoma Landmarks Preservation Commission,” Tacoma Daily Index, Feb. 24, 2015). The committee then forwarded its recommendation for appointment to the full council for final confirmation (see “1 local resident could join Tacoma Landmarks Preservation Commission,” Tacoma Daily Index, March 23, 2015).

“We heard [from] a number of people interviewing for this position, but we are suggesting we appoint Lauren Flemister to this important commission,” said Tacoma City Councilmember Lauren Walker, who also chairs Tacoma City Council’s Neighborhoods and Housing Committee, during the council meeting Tuesday. “Lauren is an urban design planner and an architect. She has worked in the cities of Austin and Houston, Texas, and also in Africa. She is currently working for the City of Auburn as an urban planner. It was a very impressive interview that conveyed her love for Tacoma and wanting to make a difference in this city. So we’re very happy to move for her appointment.”