Councilmember 11/28/17-12/31/27
Janice Zahn was elected to the City Council in November 2017 to fill the previously vacated Position 5 seat. Councilmember Zahn’s priorities include safe and supported neighborhoods, affordable housing, infrastructure for a healthy city, and engaged and connected communities. Given Bellevue’s diversity, Janice wants to ensure the city continues its work to be more inclusive and celebrates the richness of our many cultures.
Janice is also chief engineer at the Port of Seattle, directing capital projects delivery, small business access to public contracting and workforce development promotion. She has lived in Bellevue for over 30 years and raised her two daughters in Bellevue public schools.
Janice represents the council on the Puget Sound Regional Council Growth Management Policy Board, the Eastside Human Services Forum Executive Board, the National League of Cities Board of Directors and the King County Cities Climate Collaboration, among other assignments. She is council liaison to the Bellevue Human Services Commission.
Janice served on the city’s Transportation Commission from 2013 to 2017. She has also been involved for many years as a volunteer and leader with the Girl Scouts, PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support) and PTSA. She participated in the city’s Advance Bellevue community leadership program in the 1990s, as well as the Leadership Tomorrow and Leadership Eastside programs.
Janice volunteers on the The Sophia Way board, an Eastside nonprofit that provides shelter for homeless women, and the Chinese Institute of Engineers advisory board. She has also been on the Nourishing Networks board, addressing food insecurity in our community.
An immigrant from Hong Kong, Janice lives in the Greenwich Crest neighborhood with her husband Dwain. She is an active member of the Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
Janice holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Washington Evans School, as well as a Master of Science degree in structural engineering and mechanics and a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, both from the University of Washington.
Council Assignments and Appointments
- King County Regional Transit Committee
- King County Cities Climate Collaboration
- WRIA8 Salmon Recovery Council Alternate
- Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board Alternate
- Puget Sound Regional Council Growth Management Policy Board
- Association of Washington Cities Federal Legislative Priorities Committee
- Association of Washington Cities Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Cabinet
- State Department of Transportation I-405/SR 167 Executive Advisory Group and I-5 Study Group
- Eastside Human Services Forum Executive Board
- National League of Cities - Board of Directors
- National League of Cities - Federal Advocacy Committee
- National League of Cities - Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials board liaison
- Bellevue LEOFF 1 Disability Board Liaison
- Human Services Commission Liaison
Past Assignments and Appointments
- Issaquah School Board Liaison
- Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee
- LEOFF 1 Pension Board Liaison
- Transportation Commission Liaison
- National League of Cities Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials
- National League of Cities Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee
- National League of Cities Western Municipal Association
- National League of Cities, Real, Equity and Leadership
- National League of Cities, First Tier Suburbs Council
- Puget Sound Regional Council Transportation Policy Board Alternate
- King County Eastside Transportation Partnership Steering Committee
- Association of Washington Cities Federal Legislative Priorities Committee
- King County Board of Health
- King County Regional Transportation System Elected Officials Meeting
- Puget Sound Regional Council Regional Transit-Oriented Development Advisory Committee
- Puget Sound Regional Council Transportation Policy Board Alternate
- Eastside Transportation Partnership Steering Committee
- Bellevue Convention Center Authority Liaison
- State Department of Transportation I-5 Corridor Study
- King County Flood Control District Advisory Committee
- Bellevue School Board Liaison
- Parks & Community Services Board Liaison
- Disability Board Liaison
- Bellevue Sister Cities Association Liaison
- Youth Link Board Liaison
- Association of Washington Cities Federal Legislative Priorities Committee
- Association of Washington Cities State Legislative Priorities Committee
- Association of Washington Cities Nominating Committee
- King County Board of Health
Community Service
- The Sophia Way Board, 2021-present
- Bellevue Nourishing Network, 2012-2023
- Leadership Eastside - Executive Insight, 2018
- International School PTSA Board, 2014-2018
- Transportation Commission, 2013-2017 (chair 2016-2017)
- Girl Scouts of America – South Bellevue troop leader, 2004-2018
- PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support) Group Leader
- Advance Bellevue Community Leadership Program, 1997-1998
Employment
- Port of Seattle, Seattle
- Chief Engineer, 2022-present
- Assistant Director of Engineering, 2008-2022
- Seaport Capital Construction Manager, 2007-2008
- Construction Manager, Seaport, 2004-2007
- Consultant, 2000-2004
- Berger/ABAM Engineers, Federal Way, Project Manager/Engineer, 1996-1999
- TrusJoist MacMillan, Boise, Idaho, Strategic Product Development Engineer/Manager, 1995-1996
- Berger/ABAM Engineers, Federal Way, Project/Design Engineer, 1992-1995
- Weyerhaeuser Co., Tacoma, Product Development Engineer/Manager, 1987-1992
Education
- University of Washington Evans School, Executive Master of Public Administration
- University of Washington, Master of Science, Structural Engineering and Mechanics
- University of Washington, Bachelor of Science, Structural Engineering and Mechanics