Town Mayor and Council
MISSION
The Mayor and Council’s mission is to implement the actions necessary to prudently preserve and enhance Yarrow Point’s environment and to actively encourage community involvement in government through communication of issues and thoughtful response to residents’ concerns.
We ensure efficient delivery of quality public services, act as responsible stewards of Yarrow Point’s financial and natural resources, celebrate diversity, leverage local talent, and promote the safety, health, and quality of life of residents in Yarrow Point.
The mayor job description may be found here Mayor Job Description.
The mayor salary range is from $80,000-$180,000, commensurate with direct experience.
Meetings:
Approved Council Meeting Minutes
Hybrid Environment Town Meeting Rules
Regular Council meetings are held at 4:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at Town Hall. Agendas for regular Council meetings are posted at Town Hall at least four days before the meeting. Special Council meetings may be held from time to time as issues warrant. Notices and agendas for a special meeting are posted at Town Hall at least 24 hours before the special meeting. Council meetings represent grassroots politics at its best; citizens are encouraged to appear at meetings and speak to their elected representatives directly about issues of concern to them during the meeting. Citizens wishing to contact members of the Council outside of the Council meeting may do so by calling the Town Hall at (425) 454-6994 or emailing staff using one of the email links on the Administration page of this website.
The Mayor presides over Council meetings and serves as the Town’s Chief Executive Officer. The Mayor has the authority to appoint staff to assist in implementing the executive duties of the Town and to appoint citizens to serve on the other advisory commissions and boards of the Town, with consent of the Council.
The Council of the Town of Yarrow Point is its governing body. It consists of five resident Councilmembers and one resident Mayor elected at large by registered voters residing in the Town. Each member serves a four-year term and is eligible for re-election without term limits.
The Council is responsible for establishing the policies, direction, and goals of the Town through the passage of ordinances, resolutions, and policy statements. They also are charged with authorizing the Town’s annual operating budget and its monthly expenditures.
Approved minutes of recent Council meetings can be viewed in the Town’s public portal. Council minutes for the current month will be approved at the next regular meeting. Please keep in mind that minutes are only a summation of the proceedings of the Council meeting and are not a verbatim transcript. If you would prefer to obtain an audio recording of a particular Council meeting, please visit the Town’s public portal. For audios prior to 2023, please contact Town Hall. 425-454-6994
Yarrow Point’s current Mayor and Council are:
| POSITION | COUNCIL MEMBER | TERM EXPIRES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Katy Harris | Dec 31, 2029 | mayor@yarrowpointwa.gov |
| 1 | Greg Hanson | Dec 31, 2029 | ghanson@yarrowpointwa.gov |
| 2 |
Steve Bush – Mayor Pro Tem |
Dec 31, 2027 | sbush@yarrowpointwa.gov |
| 3 | Chuck Porter | Dec 31, 2029 | cporter@yarrowpointwa.gov |
| 4 | Laurie Bugbee | Dec 31, 2027 | lbugbee@yarrowpointwa.gov |
| 5 | Brian Vanover | Dec 31, 2029 | bvanover@yarrowpointwa.gov |
Mayor and Councilmember Biographies:
Mayor Katy Kinney Harris
I learned the value of community early in my close-knit Navy family life, moving and establishing new relationships 19 times before attending college. My three kids were raised on the Eastside with those same family values instilled in them. We all immediately felt at home in the community of Yarrow Point, buying a home on 94th in 2013. I highly regard preserving the unique qualities of Yarrow Point that make it such a wonderful place to live.
Outdoor/Experiential Education is a strong family value. My children’s interest in Environmental Science and Conservation paralleled mine, which led to decades of projects and service with the Seattle Aquarium Society, Woodland Park Zoo and Pacific Northwest YMCA Camps. My decades of advocacy for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Board of Ambassadors continues to keep me grounded and grateful. In addition to various local non-profit endeavors, I frequently travel to NYC where I passionately strive to produce an Original Broadway Musical.
I enjoy triathlons, hiking, swimming at Samena or in Lake Washington off the dock at Road End Beach or at Loch Lane Beach with my Golden Retriever Langley. You will likely see me walking around YP with her.
Please reach out to me for a walk around our neighborhood!
Greg Hanson
My family moved to Yarrow Point in 2017 and we love its small town feel and sense of community. I grew up in Southwest Washington before coming north to attend the University of Washington. I then spent 20+ years in the Bay Area, first attending law school and working as a corporate securities lawyer for an international law firm, and then building a career as an investment banker running nationwide technology investment banking groups for J.P. Morgan and Wachovia. For the past 15+ years, I’ve worked primarily in private equity, investing in consumer, technology and energy related companies, advising management teams, and serving on various corporate boards. After a brief stint in France and London, my wife, Lorianne, and I moved back to the great PNW in 2010. We have two high-school aged daughters, Helena and Katie. We all enjoy good food, traveling, theatre and anything related to the outdoors.
Steve Bush
My name is Steve Bush and I am a resident of Yarrow Point. After the successful sale of Pure Networks, a technology startup I co-founded, our family moved to Yarrow Point in May 2010. I live with my wife Christine Chang, two teenage daughters, and pet Golden Retrievers at the intersection of Yarrow Point, Clyde Hill, and Kirkland town boundaries. In 2013, I decided to leave the workforce and dedicate my time, energy, and resources to family and community impacting projects.
Chuck Porter
My wife (Nancy) and I have been residents of Yarrow Point since 2010. We have two children who live in the area: one a family law attorney; and one a game company executive. And a couple of vastly entertaining grand kids. After graduating with degrees in Math (Gonzaga) and Business (Michigan), I made my career working in technology. I retired the first time from a thirty-year career at Accenture and came out of retirement to be the CIO at Seattle University, where I retired again in 2016. Although semi-retired (my wife says more semi than retired) I have broad business interests in technology & life sciences. I serve on the Boards of non-profit (e.g. Seattle University) and for-profit (e.g. Theo Chocolate) companies and am deeply involved in the Pacific Northwest start-up ecosystem. In these various roles, I’ve lived, worked, and traveled to nearly 70 countries around the world. In general, I am in favor of governance with a light touch that’s informed by information. I’ve adopted a listen first approach to life and business which has served me well. For fun, I’m a motorcyclist, photographer, traveler, and former pilot. My term of service on the Yarrow Point Council began January 2022.
Laurie Bugbee
Service to my community has been a lifelong value, shaped by my parents’ work in environmental preservation and cultural enhancement of Hawaii, where I was born and raised. Caring for natural resources and community has guided my service in executive roles with several philanthropic and nonprofit organizations.
My husband Jim and I moved to Yarrow Point in 1996 to raise our three sons, and I quickly became deeply involved in town life. I co-chaired the Fourth of July celebration and have remained an active volunteer in many aspects of the community ever since. Together, Jim and I were an integral part of a collaborative effort to complete long-needed improvements to the Sally’s Alley natural walking path, which now stands as an added jewel among our town’s parks and public spaces.
Now retired from running a small business, I have the time and commitment to give back to the town that has given so much to my family. I am honored to serve as a Council member and look forward to helping preserve Yarrow Point’s beauty and character while guiding our community through the challenges ahead.
Brian Vanover
Amazon brought our family to the Pacific Northwest in 2012. After living in Seattle, Phinney Ridge, and Mercer Island, my wife, Samantha, and our children—Cash (10) and Freya (7)—settled in Yarrow Point in 2021. We have fallen in love with this town’s character, its parks, and its vibrant community. Beyond my current role as Vice President of Global Executive Recruiting at Amazon, I bring over 20 years of experience in engineering, operations, and supply chain management. My commitment to service led me to chair the Points Fourth of July celebration for several years with Samantha, and as a Town Council member, I am dedicated to preserving our unique community while ensuring an efficient, responsive local government.