(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, if the county legislative authority establishes a county ferry district under RCW 36.54.110, it shall promptly appoint five persons who are residents of the county to serve as the board members of a county ferry district advisory committee. The board members first appointed shall be designated in two groups of board members to serve for terms of two and four years, respectively, from the date of their appointment. Thereafter, board members shall be appointed for a term of office of four years. Any vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the county legislative authority.
(2) If a county transitioning from a county-owned ferry system to a county ferry district has an existing, locally established ferry advisory committee, the governing body of the ferry district shall designate the existing committee to fulfill the requirements of this section.
(3) At least three persons appointed to the county ferry district advisory committee must be representative of frequent users of the ferry system and two persons must represent other areas of the county. The county legislative authority is encouraged to appoint at least one member who is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe.
(4) The members of the county ferry district advisory committees shall serve without fee or compensation.
[ 2026 c 187 s 6.]